A fantastic early winter weekend of jumps racing is in prospect, headed by the feature race of Cheltenham's November Meeting, the Paddy Power Gold Cup Chase,
Not unsurprisingly, the Paddy Power Gold Cup is one of the events that make up this weekend's Scoop6.
Last weekend’s win fund proved too difficult for ticket-holders with all remaining units eliminated by the end of the fourth leg. However, the good news is that the popular bet will start at £24,460 in the win pool as a result.
Ever in search of a big payout, I’ve put together an eight-line perm, for an investment of £16, and you can find my race-by-race guide to consider ahead of building your own ticket.
Best of luck!
Leg 1 - 1.40pm Cheltenham - From The Horse's Mouth Podcast Novices' Chase (Grade 2)
Selections: FUSIL RAFFLES & QUEL DESTIN
Despite only six runners going to post, I want to have two horses on my side.
Firstly, Nicky Henderson’s FUSIL RAFFLES, who extended his unbeaten record over fences when romping to a comfortable victory over course-and-distance last month, albeit his task was made easier when market rival Getaway Trump made a crucial mistake late on. Nevertheless, that was still a cracking performance.
If you're seeking something at a bigger price, though, the Paul Nicholls-trained QUEL DESTIN could knock out a few tickets as I find it rather interesting to see this five-year-old pitched into this high-class renewal on chase debut.
This smart hurdler has course winning form and did well to win on the Flat last month having undergone a wind operation. He will need to run to a high standard to win this first time out but he strikes me as being capable of reaching greater heights over fences.
Leg 2 - 2.15pm Cheltenham - Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
As ever, this race has attracted an extremely competitive field and I’d recommend having a couple of selections on your ticket.
Firstly, the Nigel-Twiston Davies-trained AL DANCER, who has handled the contours of Prestbury Park very effectively in the past and is definite shortlist material for Scoop6 purposes.
The 2019 Betfair Hurdle winner has plenty of useful course form to his name and his performance when fifth in last year’s Arkle wasn’t a bad effort considering he was hampered on two separate occasions. He then made a sparkling return to action at Newton Abbot when giving 6lb and a beating to the highly-regarded Master Tommytucker, who did the form no harm when comfortably winning a match-race earlier this week.
Essentially, Al Dancer relished the step up in trip last time out, which bodes well in the context of this race, given plenty winners of this event previously had winning form over this distance beforehand. He’ll be suited by the nature of this race and is no doubt a leading player for a yard who have an excellent record in the race.
I’m also quite keen on Nicky Henderson’s MISTER FISHER to make an impact on his return to action. He took well to fences last season, beating Al Dancer in the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster and was far from disgraced when fourth in a typically strong renewal of the Marsh at the Cheltenham Festival. If this progressive seven-year-old can handle the expected searching gallop, he’s surely going to be thereabouts with the strength of his form mounting up well.
Leg 3 - 2.50pm Cheltenham - Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
Selections: WEATHER FRONT & TOBEFAIR
This is one of the most open races on the card but marginal preference goes to WEATHER FRONT, who looks capable of finding improvement at this trip.
He’s quite a consistent individual, who has been in good form this year and, following a couple of encouraging spells on the Flat, he finished a creditable second on his return to hurdling at Kelso when beaten less than one length to the 146-rated Chapmanshype.
There was plenty to like about his staying-on eighth of 19 here last time out, where tactical speed possibly caught him out on the turn into the home straight before surging home to be nearest at the finish.
He came home just in front of last year’s winner of this race, Golan Fortune, but is 3lb better off at the weights with that rival here. He has the tools to get involved here with further progression highly likely.
Of the bigger-priced runners, top-weight TOBEFAIR would have needed his comeback run and shouldn’t be discounted given he’s a course specialist and goes particularly well for jockey Tom Bellamy.
Leg 4 - 15.25pm Cheltenham - Paddy Power First Millionaire Qualifier Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
David Pipe’s KEPAGGE was impressive when winning his sole bumper race last season before mopping up in a pair of small-field novices at Leicester and Doncaster. He makes his first start in handicap company and has the burden of top-weight on his first run for 259 days which won’t be easy, but he remains unexposed and recent wind surgery could prove beneficial.
The substance of his three victories to date doesn’t look particularly that strong as a whole, but there's hope that he could just be better than this opening mark.
Alan King’s Lord Lamington is the other one that I had considered. He was out of his depth in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival back in March but is best judged on his excellent second behind Navajo Pass in a Grade Two earlier last season.
A reproduction of that performance would certainly bring this four-year-old into the equation. He will undoubtedly strip fitter for a recent spin on the Flat and this longer trip could prompt improvement.
Leg 5 - 3.40 Lingfield - Betway Golden Rose Stakes (Listed)
Selection: JUDICIAL
The consistent JUDICIAL has been a real flagbearer for connections over the years and, despite his advancing years, he’s proven himself to be no back number this year with two winning performances, including a Group Three at Newcastle. He was below form when only fourth in a listed race at York when last seen but is the type to bounce back quickly.
His success in this race twelve months ago was a sterling effort and although his task is made more difficult this time having to give 5lb, he’s looked in better overall form this term. In the expectation that Paul Mulrennan can work his magic to overcome the wide berth of stall nine, this sturdy individual should make a bold bid to defend his crown.
_Leg 6 - 3.55pm Cheltenham - Karndean Designflooring Mares' Standard Open NH Flat Race (Listed) _ Selection: UCANAVER
An intriguing puzzle to conclude Cheltenham’s Saturday card as well as this weekend’s absorbing Scoop6.
On paper, this Listed mares’ bumper contest looks highly-competitive with most runners arriving here on the back of a win.
Dan Skelton’s mare Elle Est Belle wasted little time in establishing herself to be potentially above-average when visually impressive on debut at Aintree but the time-figure she achieved was only standard and many of these are open to huge amounts of improvement.
Anthony Honeyball's stable are starting to hit top gear and I’ll be taking a chance on UCANAVER to topple the market leader.
This promising four-year-old filly was sent off 80/1 on debut but shaped encouragingly well to finish second behind a useful sort at Huntingdon back in February and that form looks relatively strong on reflection of the contest.
She then advertised her promising debut effort by outclassing her opposition at Fontwell last month by 20 lengths. The time-figure she achieved indicated that to be a good performance and she looks value here to reach the frame at the very least.
__Scoop6 Summary:
Leg 1: 1 & 5. Leg 2: 4 & 3. Leg 3: 9 & 1. Leg 4: 1. Leg 5: 1. Leg 6: 10.
Total: £16 stake, 8 lines.__