A plethora of good action on Saturday and Sunday across Britain and Ireland, which of course sees the heavyweight clash between Faugheen and Samcro in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle over two miles at Punchestown on Sunday.
Morgiana Hurdle
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The duo form part of an excellent sextet in the G1 event and Faugheen is bidding to return to winning ways over two miles following a clinical display over three miles in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in April. However, the son of Germany is a 10-year-old rising 11 and it remains to be seen as whether he will be fleet of foot to go head-to-head with the younger Samcro.
Focusing on Gordon Elliott's charge, the six-year-old son of Germany looked to have the world at his feet when justifying the hype in the G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival. A faller in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle on his final start last term, the gelding was beaten in a G2 contest on his reappearance at Down Royal earlier this month, but connections think he will improve significantly for that outing. One factor which tempers enthusiasm slightly is the drying ground which will certainly not be in Samcro's favour.
The other horse to focus on in the race is Supasundae who landed the Punchestown Champion Hurdle in April. He has not been since but drying ground is not a significant issue for him and there is certainly more to come from the eight-year-old son of Galileo.
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Overall, I think if Samcro does turn up, he is still the horse to beat. He has inexperience to overcome in these big races but he has untapped potential and is still an exciting prospect going forward.
BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase
There's a lot of good action at Cheltenham this weekend with the November Meeting taking centre-stage in Britain.
The feature race on Saturday is the £160,000 BetVictor Handicap Chase which looks a tricky puzzle to solve for punters with 20 runners going to post.
The market for the extended two mile and four furlong event is headed by the Nicky Henderson-trained Rather Be. A horse who goes well fresh, he finished second to another of today's rivals Mister Whitaker at the Cheltenham Festival. However, he gets a handy pull at the weights with that rival in this event as he bids to provide Nicky Henderson with a first victory in the BetVictor Gold Cup since Fondmort in 2003.
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His chief threat could come from Neil Mulholland's Kalondra, who has been strongly supported in the last few days. A faller two fences from home when travelling strongly at Galway in August, second-season chasers have a good record in this event and he fits that profile. Other horses worth a positive mention are the Gary Moore-trained duo of Benatar and Baron Alco, who will come on plenty for their respective reappearances, whilst consistent mare Happy Diva should not be ruled out at bigger odds.
Rest of Saturday's Action
One horse to watch at Prestbury Park on Saturday is The Worlds End, who lines up in the 1.15pm. A talented horse over hurdles, he made the perfect start to his chasing career at Chepstow and could take high-rank in the staying chase division this term.
The Sophie Leech-trained Anteros has a good record in the 3.00pm at Cheltenham, winning the contest in 2016 and filling the runner-up position last year. He is now a 10-year-old but has run respectably in two efforts to date this term.
Away from Cheltenham, Fast-Track Qualifier action takes place at Lingfield Park and Addeybb makes appeal in the 10-furlong Betway Churchill Stakes (2.45pm). Winner of the Lincoln and the bet365 Mile earlier on this term, ground conditions have not be in his favour since, but if he handles the All-Weather surface, he is of definite interest.
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Rest of Sunday's Action
A stellar six-race card also takes place at Cheltenham on Sunday and Champion Chase clues could be found in the G2 Shloer Chase (2.25pm). The Alan King-trained Sceau Royal has won four of his five starts over fences, before injury curtailed his season following a smooth. Victory in a G2 event at Doncaster in January. He remains thoroughly unexposed over fences and looks one to watch this season.
The G3 Unibet Greatwood Hurdle (3.00pm) is a tricky puzzle for punters to solve, but recent G2 Unibet Elite Hurdle winner Verdana Blue has attracted good support in recent days. She only ran last Saturday at Wincanton, but Seven Barrows maestro Nicky Henderson is keen to make hay with the classy mare whilst the ground remains dry. She does have to carry plenty of weight in this event however and with that question mark hanging over her, Western Ryder could be of interest for Warren Greatrex. He has a rating of 145 but in fairness competed in top company last season, including when sixth in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at The Festival. Good ground is also in his favour and he could make his presence felt on his handicap debut. At an each-way price, Nube Negra Is also interesting for Dan and Harry Skelton. A fine third in the G3 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at The Festival in March, he is a progressive four-year-old who could enjoy a good season this term, given his lightly raced profile.
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