Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Star set to take centre Stage

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty looks ahead to Saturday’s action from Cheltenham’s November Meeting as well as some big names returning at Navan.

Cheltenham, Saturday

Milan Tino looks a strong favourite in the opening juvenile hurdle (12:35pm). He was third on his second start in a Grade 2 and, prior to that, finished a good runner-up in Listed company at Auteuil, both of which look to be strong pieces of form. He is taking on a horse who’s form we know more of in BURDETT ROAD, who was very impressive on his hurdles debut at Huntingdon. He’s a Royal Ascot winner, so is obviously a high-class horse. They look like two quality types, and you’d be surprised if one of them doesn’t run out the winner here.

I like Fergal O’Brien’s MANOFTHEPEOPLE in the amateurs’ race (1:10pm). He was a good second at Exeter on his return and had some nice form last season, when winning twice at Chepstow. I thought he could step up on his reappearance.

The Listed Novices’ Chase (1:45pm) looks like a very tricky race. Mister Coffey has the strongest level of form, but he is going into his third season chasing and is still a novice. I think an end-to-end gallop is what he really needs and I’m not sure he’s going to get that in this relatively small field. BROADWAY BOY ran a big race behind Flooring Porter here last month. He won his previous three starts before that, is only a five-year-old and looks to be progressing the whole time. He’s five pounds better off with Weveallbeencaught here, but it’s interesting that Sam Twiston-Davies has chosen to ride Good Risk At All.

STAGE STAR sets the standard in the Gold Cup (2:20pm) and he looks the one to beat. I think the market has it about right. Notlongtillmay was a good second behind Stage Star in the Turners at the Festival, and then ran well on his reappearance at Cheltenham last month, so he looks to be the main danger to me. Unexpected Party’s Chepstow form was franked when Knappers Hill came out and won last time, but he might have caught that rival when he wasn’t 100 percent. The Real Whacker was excellent when winning the Brown Advisory in March and that form has worked out really well with Gerri Colombe winning last weekend. That was over three miles though and I just wonder whether he’s better at that trip than this two-and-a-half.

BUDDY ONE (2:55pm) was third to Iroko in the Martin Pipe and he’s progressed since. Last time out he was a good winner at Galway and while he’s now 13 pounds higher than when running at the Festival, Jack Gilligan does take a valuable seven pounds off his back. He looks to be progressing as a five-year-old and I think he could still be a step ahead of the handicapper. Both Chantry House and Shan Blue are interesting returned to hurdles, but you would imagine they would have other targets further down the line.

SPRINGWELL BOY might well be the right favourite in the Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (3:30pm) on the basis of his good Graded form from last season, including when third in the Supreme Novices’ Trial at this meeting. He also won well at Ascot and followed that up at Wetherby.

The favourite for the Listed mares’ bumper (4:05pm) is Willie Mullins’ Baby Kate who won a bumper in Ballinrobe on her debut, but that form wouldn’t necessarily excite me. SHARP OBJECT looks to have stronger form. She won first time out in September and then was second in a Listed bumper to Aurora Vega, who is full sister to Facile Vega, last time out. The third placed from that race, Abi’s Champ, has since come out and won a Cork maiden hurdle impressively, so that looks like the best form in this contest.

Navan, Saturday

FACILE VEGA makes his eagerly anticipated debut over fences at Navan (3:15pm). He was obviously a high-class bumper horse and had some really good form over hurdles last season, including when second to Marine Nationale in the Supreme. He showed great scope over hurdles, so I’d like to think that he’s going to take well to fences. It’s a good race with Inthepocket in there and Saint Felicien, who missed last season, is highly thought of at Gordon Elliott’s. You’d like to think though that if everything goes well for Facile Vega he will take a lot of beating and this will be a stepping stone towards greater things.

The Grade 2 Fortria Chase (2:40pm) is a very competitive race where the one I like is DYSART DYNAMO. He gets nine pounds off Captain Guinness here and should love conditions. He did fall at the last in the Arkle but he does tend to jump well in the main.

Home By The Lee won the Lismullen Hurdle (2:05pm) last year, beating Bob Olinger into second. ZANAHIYR comes here with the benefit of a run, when winning at Punchestown, and he should improve a lot from that so he looks like the one to be with.