Tanya Stevenson's 3 Selections From The November Meeting At Cheltenham
National Hunt expert Tanya Stevenson joins The Panel once again to preview the action from this week's November meeting at Cheltenham.
She has cast her eye over Friday's card and made three selections which can be backed with the best horse racing betting sites.
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Tanya Stevenson's Selections For Friday
- Selection 1: 13:45 Cheltenham - Mister Coffey - (Each-Way)
- Selection 2: 14:20 Cheltenham - Wade Out - (Nap)
- Selection 3: 14:55 Cheltenham - Libberty Hunter - (NB)
I hope you are all well and raring to go for the three days of the November Meeting when I am on weather watch as heavy rain is expected.
I'm writing this assuming that the forecast is right and there will be ground-changing rain on Thursday night and Friday, but bear in mind that if that is not the case, the markets will reflect it on betting sites.
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 1: Cheltenham 13:45 - Mister Coffey (Each-Way)
The first pick definitely comes with a wealth warning, but the enigmatic Mister Coffey is renowned.
He has a habit of placing and the ability to travel well in a race but not winning. There’s no cross country race for him to keep his attention span to a maximum, and the skill required by Nico de Boinville to coax him along will be massive.
Mister Coffey is more than capable over this shorter distance. He can now run in veterans' races; he is a veteran of testing our patience!
Sixteen races over various big obstacles and still no win, yet he has eight seconds and three thirds. Friday could be the day we can finally put out the bunting.
He is such a price there is the each-way safety net. He is a bold pick, but here’s hoping there aren't any non-runners. I'm ready to watch through my fingers as he jumps the last in contention.
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 2: Cheltenham 14:20 - Wade Out (Nap)
The Listed Novices Chase that follows is a belter and there is a case to be made for all five of them.
Wade Out was nothing short of brilliant at Worcester and, in fairness, so was the runner-up Wendigo.
Wade Out showed potent acceleration from the last fence. He was ridden with such confidence by Sean Bowen, it might be the same over this extra distance.
It’s also worth referring back to his last run from the previous season over hurdles at Aintree. Horses that finished behind him included Helnwein, Be Aware, Minella Missile and Beacon Edge.
I'm gutted that Double Powerful has popped up in the race as he has a lot of talent.
I was hoping he would take the alternative Handicap Chase route, but he hasn’t, so I might put him in a forecast.
Leave Of Absence was overlooked at Cheltenham last month when they omitted eight fences and the ground was good.
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 3: Cheltenham 14:55 - Libberty Hunter (NB)
Friday will be Jonbon day at Cheltenham as he attempts to become the first horse to win the Shloer Chase three times.
He is unbeaten in his career in November and December, but his Cheltenham record is always called into question.
It’s worth calling out his horrific error at the ninth in the Queen Mother Champion Chase in March. As I'm about to take him on, I will remind myself that Jonbon is a winner of 10 Grade Ones.
If the rain dance works, then I go again with Libberty Hunter. He was the each-way pick at the Festival in March and was still travelling comfortably with a real possibility of at least third when the landing gear never unfurled jumping three out.
Obviously, he was level weights that day, but on Friday he receives six pounds from Jonbon and three from L’Eau du Sud.
He has raced four times at Cheltenham and the only time he didn’t finish in the first two was that calamity at the Festival.
He must have at least soft going and his first time out record is 312F1. Fingers crossed for a great contest!
Two For The Notebook
Over the course of the next few weeks, I plan to flag up a few notebook horses, such as Upon Tweed which may already be etched in the memory after his bumper win at Ayr, beating Conman John and then fulfilling his promise with a victory on seasonal debut at the same course over hurdles.
I went to Ayr that day, so I was lucky enough to see him live and can’t wait until his next appearance.
The second notebook horse may not be so obvious while everyone was enjoying Conman John at Ayr.
Just a few minutes before, Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore had landed the 1-2 in the 13:35 at Kelso. It was just a maiden hurdle, but I was really taken by the winner Smoke Trail.
There was a wry smile when the entries for Cheltenham’s Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle included the second to Smoke Trail, Eagles Reprieve.
Sadly, there was no declaration, yet it may confirm it was a decent maiden hurdle and Smoke Trail’s next adventure might be worth watching.
🗣️ "He's very similar to Rocky."
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 25, 2025
Debs Thomson on an emotional success on Rules debut for Smoke Trail who ran in the same colours of her prevous star Corrigeen Rock who sadly passed away earlier this week 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/UIc34ff0gs
Anzadam Can Compensate For State Man Blow
In other sad news, I'm really gutted for all concerned that State Man will miss the season.
However, there is a small consolation that connections may have the ideal stand-in ready and waiting in the form of Anzadam.
A gentle approach last season didn’t escape the attention as the manner of his success in two Grade Three Hurdles was stunning.
Although I never make ante-post selections, he does stand out as a Champion Hurdle contender, so we may see him in either the Morgiana or Fighting Fifth. I can’t wait!
