Three Cheltenham November meeting tips - with a 'cracking each-way bet' at 20-1

An exciting three days at Cheltenham awaits and bookmakers have priced several races across the meeting. Here we pick out three horses who catch the eye at the early prices . . .

Umbrigado (2.20 Cheltenham, Saturday)

I backed Umbrigado ante-post for the Paddy Power Gold Cup and was delighted to read he was on track for Saturday's feature when David Pipe spoke to my colleague James Burn on Monday.

Pipe won the race in 2011 with Great Endeavour and Umbrigado is down to a rating of 144 over fences, the same mark he ran off when winning the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury in March 2021.

The eight-year-old has won half of his six runs over fences and has proven his stamina with two solid hurdle runs beyond three miles since a wind operation. Having been deemed good enough to take his chance in a Grade 1 Aintree novice chase won by Protektorat over this trip, I think Umbrigado is a cracking each-way bet in handicap company with a fast-paced 2m4f on the Old course bound to suit.
Charlie Huggins, reporter

Eva's Oskar (2.20 Cheltenham, Sunday)

Stamina is without doubt a key asset for Eva's Oskar and he should relish the 3m3½f handicap chase on Sunday.

The Tim Vaughan-trained eight-year-old ended last season with a career-best win at Exeter and earlier in the campaign he finished a two-length second to Corach Rambler at Cheltenham, with Grimthorpe Chase winner Undersupervision in third.

Given his good record fresh, Eva's Oskar may have ran a little below par on his return at Kelso but that appeared a good renewal of the Edinburgh Gin Chase and he was hampered early on. He can go well at double-figure odds.
Jack Haynes, reporter

A Different Kind (2.55 Cheltenham, Sunday)

This five-year-old went down by just a short head to a well-handicapped rival at Aintree in a race won by top-class horses like Paisley Park in recent years.

He travelled strongly there and on several occasions last season, so the drop back to this trip should eke out further improvement after a fruitful novice campaign.

He was a respectable third in a Grade 2 at Cheltenham over an intermediate distance last season so boasts useful course form, and a bold bid is expected on just his second try in handicap company.
Maddy Playle, reporter

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