Ireland’s five best chances at the November meeting – including a smart Flat stayer and a Cheltenham Festival runner-up
We have assessed the Irish challenge for this year’s Cheltenham November meeting and picked out five key names that are looking to be successful across the Irish Sea.
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2m4f, 2.20 Saturday)
Coming Up Easy made his chasing debut last December at Navan, when he was beaten 75 lengths, before suffering another heavy defeat over fences the following month.
However, since March he’s gone unbeaten in three chase starts, showing a remarkable upturn in form and now heads to Cheltenham bidding for a four-timer.
His latest win came at Killarney in August, where he produced a career-best Racing Post Rating of 142 after finishing five-and-a-half lengths clear of Dreal Deal.
He’s scored on both heavy and good-to-yielding ground, proving himself versatile under varying conditions.
The market for the Paddy Power Gold Cup is headed by Jagwar, a proven course-and-distance performer, while the in-form Dan Skelton will saddle Panic Attack among the chief dangers to Henry de Bromhead’s runner.
Jky: Tnr: Henry De Bromhead
Trainer: Gavin Cromwell
JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (2m½f Grade 2, 12.35 Saturday)
Since leaving Kevin Philippart de Foy for Gavin Cromwell, the former Godolphin runner has won both his starts for his new yard. The first came on the Flat, before he made a stylish start over hurdles with a six-and-a-half-length success at Punchestown.
The speed he showed in that Punchestown win will stand him in good stead over the minimum trip of 2m and makes him a serious danger in Saturday’s juvenile hurdle.
He faces some other exciting prospects, with David Pipe’s Parchment and Dan Skelton’s Precious Man heading the market. Both, however, return from breaks, while Cromwell’s runner arrives fit and in form following his October victory.
Trainer: Tony Martin
Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2m½f, 4.00 Friday)
Alphonse Le Grande is an interesting contender in the novice handicap hurdle on Friday. The six-year-old has raced 36 times, winning six, although all of those victories have come on the Flat.
Alphonse Le Grande: won the Cesarewitch in 2024Credit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
He’s made seven appearances over hurdles, the last of which came in November 2023, so it’s difficult to gauge how he will shape on his return to the discipline.
He’s been kept busy on the Flat through the summer, contesting some of the big staying handicaps such as the Ascot Stakes, the Stayers Handicap and, most recently, the Cesarewitch, in which he failed to defend his title and finished eighth.
The Dan Skelton-trained Fortune De Mer looks the one to beat, having landed the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham’s Showcase meeting, and will take plenty of stopping if reproducing anything close to that run.
Jky: Daniel King Tnr: A J Martin
Trainer: John McConnell
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2m5f Grade 2, 3.30 Friday)
Heads Up recorded his second career victory on his most recent start at the end of September, landing a maiden hurdle after five runs in bumpers. He won one of those five and finished runner-up in three more, notably when a 33-1 chance behind Bambino Fever in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival.
On that form, he’s the deserved market leader for the Albert Bartlett. His main danger is the Paul Nicholls-trained No Drama This End, who finished ninth in that same Champion Bumper, while for Dan Skelton, Great Fleet bids to go one better after finishing second in a novice hurdle at last month’s Showcase meeting.
After his bumper win, John McConell said: “He was quite green, so there is still more improvement. He’s just a relentless type of horse that has the stride that keeps going. He’s very exciting. He’s a very good horse and I’m really looking forward to next season.”
Jky: Mark McDonagh Tnr: John C McConnell
Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (2m Grade 2, 1.45 Saturday)
July Flower has been a terrific mare throughout her career, finishing outside the top three in only four of her 15 starts and winning six of them.
She announced herself early on by landing a Grade 1 bumper in France during her first season racing, while her biggest success over hurdles came in the Grade 3 Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown last December.
July Flower on her way to victory in a mares’ beginners’ chase at LimerickCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)
She lines up in the Paddy Power Arkle Trial following an impressive chasing debut at Limerick in October, where she justified favouritism to win by 11 lengths on her seasonal reappearance.
July Flower heads the market, with James Owen’s dual-purpose performer Burdett Road close behind as he makes his first start over fences.
In his stable tour, Henry de Bromhead said: “She was electric in a mares beginners chase the other day at Limerick. We were delighted with her. She seemed to love jumping fences.
“I’m starting to wonder if I got her trip slightly wrong – I’d say she might be a two-mile to two-and-a-half type, rather than two-and-a-half up to three miles. She seemed to really enjoy being ridden positively.”
Jky: Tnr: Henry De Bromhead
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