TimeformBlog

Timeform look ahead to the next week's racing, which features the biggest meeting yet of the National Hunt season...


Sunday November 7

There are five National Hunt meetings in Britain and Ireland on Sunday, the best of which takes place at Navan, where there are two Grade 2 events on the card, namely the two-and-a-half mile Lismullen Hurdle (13:25) and the two-mile Fortria Chase (15:00), won last year by Champion Chaser Big Zeb.


Monday November 8

Monday's jumping takes place at Carlisle, Limerick and Southwell, while they go on the all-weather at Wolverhampton.


Tuesday November 9

Three National Hunt cards to get stuck into on Tuesday, at Exeter, Lingfield and Sedgefield.


Wednesday November 10

Bangor looks the best of Wednesday's three jumps meetings, with the graduation chase at 13:40 having the potential to be a particularly informative affair. The other two jumps cards take place at Huntingdon and Naas, while there are all-weather meetings at Southwell in the afternoon and Kempton in the evening.


Thursday November 11

Clonmel hosts a seven-race jumps card on Thursday, the highlight of which is the Clonmel Oil Chase (14:25), which has gone the way of some high-class chasers down the years, including War of Attrition, Edredon Bleu and Beef or Salmon.
Racing in Britain takes place at Ludlow and Taunton over jumps and at Southwell and Wolverhampton on the all-weather.


Friday November 12

Cheltenham's Open Meeting kicks off on Friday with a seven-race card on which the sole Graded race is the Sharp Novices' Hurdle (13:50), though there is no shortage of competitive action on the rest of the card.

The day's other meetings take place over jumps at Newcastle, and on the all-weather at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.


Saturday November 13

The Paddy Power Gold Cup (14:35), a handicap chase run over Cheltenham's extended two and a half mile course, is the showpiece event on Saturday. One of the most competitive handicaps of the year, it often produces a horse that proves competitive at an even higher level, with recent winners including Exotic Dancer and Imperial Commander. This year's renewal looks no exception, with last year's highly promising novice Long Run the current favourite. The card opens with the Grade 2 Triumph Hurdle Trial (12:50) while there is also a Grade 3 staying handicap chase at 13:55.

The day's other two jumps meetings take place at Uttoxeter and Wetherby, and the all-weather action rolls on at Lingfield and Wolverhampton.

(read more at betting.betfair.com)