De Bromhead duo ready to bloom at Cheltenham

CHELTENHAM’s three-day November Meeting begins on Friday with several big guns of the Jumps scene set to emerge.

Jonbon is slated to return in Friday’s Grade Two Shloer Chase (2.20pm) in a bid to win the contest for a third time and looks to have every chance once again.

However, there are more enticing ante-post opportunities on Saturday with the big betting race of the meeting being the Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.20pm).

A winner at the Festival in March, Meetmebythesea makes his anticipated reappearance, and with such a good record when fresh and at Cheltenham, he could be tough to beat.

At 3/1 he’s short enough though, and I’d rather play a couple against him in a race that could cut up on account of the lack of rain.

With the going at Prestbury Park currently described as good and not much rain in the forecast before the weekend, conditions should remain quick for the time of year.

ZURICH is one horse that should relish the ground.

Irish raiders don’t have a great record in this race, but I think Henry de Bromhead could set that record straight this year.

It’s often important to have had a run prior to arriving at this race, and this seven-year-oldappeals as a type that has been targeted at the contest.

He returned last month when finishing fifth over just shy of this trip at Limerick and that run should have left him spot on for this assignment.

He ran a big race in the Plate at the Festival in March, finishing fifth behind Madara, which was a fine effort considering he was badly impeded at the first fence.

With a win over this course and distance last October on good ground already to his name, we know he handles conditions and the demands of Cheltenham well.

He’s now eight pounds better off at the weights with Madara, and after only 13 starts, there should be more to come from him.

At 12/1 in places, he’s well worth an each-way play.

I’m also keen to have a 12/1 each-way saver on De Bromhead’s other runner, JULY FLOWER, who judging by recent stable tour comments has also been aimed at this prize.

This mare won the Grade Two Arkle Trial at last year’s November Meeting, so also has good course form to her name.

That win came on her seasonal reappearance, meaning coming here without a run is not really a concern.

She ran some fine races in Grade One company last season, including when third behind Romeo Coolio at Leopardstown, where she was only half-a-length behind recent Kopek Des Bordes conqueror Irish Panther.

That sort of form suggests she is well treated off a mark of just 142.

She has won over this trip in the past and, while she might benefit from a bit more of an ease in the ground, having won on good-to-yielding in the past, conditions should be manageable for her.

In the following three-mile handicap hurdle (2.55pm) on Saturday, GOLD FOR ALEC makes plenty of appeal at 6/1.

Tom Symonds’ six-year-old arrives here fit and in good form after two runs so far this season.

He was in the process of running a big race when crashing out at the last at Chepstow on reappearance, and proved himself no worse for that experience when a fine second over this course and distance last month.

In all likelihood, he bumped into a well-handicapped horse that day in Seaniecon, and while he has been put up three pounds for that effort, another big run looks on the cards.

POINTERS                                       SATURDAY

Zurich e/w                                        2.20pm               Cheltenham

July Flower e/w                               2.20pm               Cheltenham

Gold For Alec e/w                          2.55pm               Cheltenham