Cheltenham's November Meeting comes to a conclusion on Sunday afternoon with the Greatwood Hurdle set to be the centrepiece on a six-race offering.
The Greatwood pits exciting hurdlers Dysart Enos and Burdett Road against a competitive field and is due off at 3.30. We have previewed the big race as well as some of Cheltenham's supporting races
3.30 - Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap, 2m½f)
The Greatwood Hurdle has long been pinpointed as the target for Dysart Enos, with Gloucestershire-based handler Fergal O'Brien keen to have a go at this race with his unbeaten six-year-old mare.
She returns from a 295-day break having been last seen winning at Doncaster in January before being a late absentee from the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
She runs from a mark of 131 now and will get 2lb from the very promising four-year-old BURDETT ROAD for James Owen. The Muhaarar gelding went 2-2 early last season, including winning a Grade 2 novice at this meeting impressively, but was put in his place when second behind Sir Gino on Trials Day in January.
That form is strong, however, and Burdett Road has enjoyed a good summer on the Flat since, including easily winning a Listed race at Newmarket over 1m4f on soft ground in September before contesting the Long Distance Cup at Ascot last month. He is a keen-going sort and it was notable how well he did from the front in that Newmarket success. Harry Cobden's partner could be hard to peg back under a positive ride now from a workable mark of 133.
Nicky Henderson's Under Control has the burden of top-weight under Nico de Boinville, he is also a course and distance winner and was last spotted finishing sixth of 19 in the Galway Hurdle in August.
Olly Murphy saddles Go Dante, four times a hurdles winner and 15-lengths sixth in this race last year from 8lb lower in the ratings is another solid contender.
Dan and Harry Skelton send out Be Aware, a winner at Newbury last season on his debut and second in all three outings afterwards including the Novices' Championship Final Handicap Hurdle at Sandown in April. The five-year-old is another with scope for plenty of improvement this season.
Emmet Mullins saddles a pair, Jacovec Tavern and Toll Stone, and they'll be noted in the market, while Gary Moore's Royal Way was fourth over C&D last month on his seasonal comeback and could build on that carrying a low weight.
SELECTION: BURDETT ROAD
NEXT BEST: BE AWARE
1.10 - Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Maiden Hurdle (2m½f)
The day three curtain-raiser has drawn a field of just five runners and looks on paper to be a shootout between Anthony McCann's Whimsy and the Dan Skelton-trained ACE OF SPADES.
The former had every chance at Galway in a Mares' Maiden last month and was just held at the line by the odds-on favourite and it could be more of the same here.
Ace Of Spades won a Warwick bumper in April and was beaten at odds-on in a Uttoxeter maiden early last month on his hurdles bow. He was given a patient ride by Harry Skelton there and improved to do everything bar win at Exeter a couple of weeks later when coming clear with the Joe Tizzard-trained Ambion View. He may well be good enough to come and claim this prize late in the piece.
Adrian Keatley saddles 88-rated Flat performer Maghlaak on his hurdling debut after switching from Charlie Hills and he is worth a look in the betting.
SELECTION: ACE OF SPADES
NEXT BEST: WHIMSY
2.20 - Three Counties Christmas Handicap Chase (2m)
Gunsight Ridge came good at Perth in the spring for Olly Murphy and returns now having undergone a wind op. He is also rated 5lb higher and facing strong opposition despite this small field.
CALICO just got the better of Matata here at the Showcase meeting last month in a good battle. A neck was the winning margin but the winner always appeared to be doing enough and, with just a 1lb swing, Dan Skelton's charge may emerge on top again.
A former Skelton inmate reappears here in Third Time Lucki. He is with Fergal O'Brien now and would be a key player on his best form but he hasn't been spotted in 584 days so he may be best watched on this occasion.
SELECTION: CALICO
NEXT BEST: MATATA
2.55 - Holland Cooper Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap, 3m3f)
Does He Know is a standing dish around this venue and has four course wins in eight visits, including this race in 2022. He won the Grimthorpe at Doncaster in March before pulling up in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown. Last month's comeback here over shorter looked like it was needed and eased 2lb, Kim Bailey will be hopeful of a big run.
Down at the foot of the weights is Hymac for Harry Fry. He handled this sort of trip very well when scoring in April around here and warmed up for this by winning over hurdles at Newton Abbot last month on his only start since. He is, though, racing from 3lb out of the handicap today.
Joe Tizzard's mare Rose Of Arcadia should relish the trip but she was behind ABUFFALOSOLDIER last month at Exeter when the pair both made their seasonal bows.
Warren Greatrex's seven-year-old made the running in that contest and was just touched off late by Jupiter Allen, with that rival getting 12lb. The Mahler gelding may well relish this test of stamina.
SELECTION: ABUFFALOSOLDIER
NEXT BEST: DOES HE KNOW
