Greatwood Hurdle tips and predictions: Lookaway our selection

Belfast Telegraph

18 November 2023

Greatwood Hurdle tips and predictions: Lookaway our selection

The third and final day of the November Meeting at Cheltenham on Sunday features the Greatwood Hurdle, one of the most keenly contested handicaps at the celebrated Cotswolds venue in the opening half of the season.

Run over the Champion Hurdle course and distance, the Greatwood typically goes to an improving sort with their best days in front of them – and there have been nine winners aged four or five since 2010.

A field of 16 have been declared for Sunday’s showpiece and our expert has picked out a pair to follow.

Greatwood Hurdle, Cheltenham, Sunday November 19, 3.30pm

Lookaway @ 10/1

Greatwood Hurdle tips

Selection: Lookaway @ 10/1 with BoyleSports

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Henderson and Mullins contenders in the mix

Nicky Henderson is doubly represented in this contest, with the first of his runners Iberico Lord, the mount of Nico de Boinville in the JP McManus silks.

The five-year-old broke his duck over timber at Stratford in April and was then second in the Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle at Sandown on the final day of the season behind Seven Barrows stablemate Under Control. Iberico Lord is 6lb higher now and has potential to do better.

Luccia, twice a Listed winner in the early part of her hurdles career last term but denied here when only fourth in the Jack de Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in March, was second to the winner of that Festival race, You Wear It Well, in her recent Wetherby comeback and could be a player under James Bowen.

Willie Mullins, meanwhile, has Onlyamatteroftime off bottom weight, carrying 10st 3lb on his first start for the yard.

He runs in the colours of shrewd owner Paul Byrne, who landed this with The Shunter in 2020. Having moved to the Closutton powerhouse, he has assumed the favourite’s spot, although he blotted his copybook at Cork in August when he ran out three from the finish. He is, though, off a mark of just 115 and respected for leading connections.

Don’t Lookaway just yet

Neil King’s LOOKAWAY deserves more than a passing glance on what is set to be his handicap bow.

After taking a few runs to get the hang of things, he has won his previous three over hurdles. Prior to his summer break, he landed successive Uttoxeter victories in May and a 160-day break did not prevent him taking a Grade 2 here last month on his return to action.

He did the legwork in front – and when challenged late by the race-fit Worcester winner Kamsinas for the Fergal O’Brien team, he found plenty.

An opening mark of 132 is his reward and while that October contest is not traditionally one of the stronger Grade 2s run over track and trip, there was plenty to like about his effort. He could well prove a tough nut to crack in the hands of Jack Quinlan with that liking for the Cotswold course advertised.

Selection: Lookaway @ 10/1 with BoyleSports

Afadil not discounted for champion trainer

Last month’s Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Nemean Lion is tempting and could be capable of better still – he beat Lookaway at Kelso in March though that rival has clearly improved since and is 8lb better off here.

The market has not missed the chance of Kerry Lee’s charge and it is a tough ask to carry top weight to victory in this contest. Anyharminasking was second at Ffos Las and could go well for Jonjo O’Neill.

AFADIL ran quite well for a long way in the Fred Winter here in March, eventually finishing eighth, before signing off with a second at Ascot and a win at Ayr’s Scottish National Festival for Paul Nicholls.

He went off favourite for a Conditional Jockeys’ contest here last month on his comeback and folded late on as if perhaps in need of the run. Harry Cobden takes over now and he looks the pick of the pair for the champion trainer in this puzzle as he bids for a fourth career win.

The Camelot gelding is just a four-year-old with plenty of time on his side for better, and perhaps the market is underestimating him on the back of that run here last time. He remains tempting at a decent price and should prove better than his mark in time.