Cheltenham Sunday Preview - 14/11/21

Colin Tizzard's enjoying a rich spell of form of late boasting a 21% strike rate across the last 14 days; his horses are stripping well returning from their layoffs and Oscar Elite is potentially another to fit that profile.

Oscar Elite was a high level hurdler last season, placing in listed company before placing twice more at Grade 1 level, including here at Cheltenham.

It's strong form and he could very much be referred to as one of the stables leading lights last season given how badly the yard performed throughout their last campaign.

He now makes his chase debut here in a class 2 novice, and if progressing for the switch to larger obstacles, he holds strong claims here.

The 11yo veteran Yala Enki represents the in form Paul Nicholls yard and has already seen plenty backing in the early market.

The son of Nickname was 2nd in this race last season off just a 1lb lower mark, missing out by a shoulder, under the stewardship of Bryony Frost who partners the runner once more here.

He subsequently went on to place in Graded company at Chepstow, before landing a class 2 off a 4lb higher mark of 161 at Taunton.

A below par run at Sandown before unseating the rider in the Grand National has forced the mark back down and he now appears competitively handicapped returning from a 218 day break.

If giving his running on the back of that layoff, he looks to hold compelling claims and any rainfall would further boost his chances.

Nube Negra was deemed an unlucky loser in the Champion Chase behind Put The Kettle On at the festival in March and he's taken to reverse that form here today.

He was struggling for a clear run that day, flying home late to be narrowly denied.

The son of Dink was subsequently out of sorts at the Punchestown Festival in April and has since been off the track for 200 days.

He's been known to run well fresh, having landed the Orchid Chase first run back last season.

Looks to have a great opportunity to reverse those placings with Put The Kettle On and make his mark here.

Camprond is in top form of late, seeking a hat-trick for trainer Philip Hobbs after going 2 for 2 for the step up to 2m 4f, latterly here at Cheltenham.

He's interestingly stepped back to 2 miles here to be competitive, winning twice previous over that trip.

Aidan Coleman who boasts a highly impressive 40% strike rate across the last 14 days (10 - 25) is retained in the saddle, and if Camprond is maintaining his levels of performance here for the step back down to 2, a 3lb rise may not be enough to stop him going close once more here.

Rowland Ward beat Camprond in a competitive 2 mile conditional jockeys hurdle at Aintree last season and for that reason, with the form having been franked from that contest, appears overpriced here.

He was travelling well last time out when hampered heading into the home turn in a 19.5f Grade 3 race at Chepstow, maintaining some sort of run to make late headway into 4th however was always held approaching the last.

He now makes the step back down to 2 miles and retains in-form jockey Brian Hughes on board.

The Supreme Trials Novice appears competitive with some classy looking types destined for great things in the National Hunt sphere.

Preference however is for the Nigel Twiston-Davies trained I Like To Move It he despite jumping inadequately last time out over C&D still proved an impressive engine to comfortably land that contest by 3.25 lengths against some useful types.

That performance rated the highest RPR recorded by any of these rivals to date and with further progression expected on his third career start over hurdles, I Like To Move it looks to hold leading claims for taking this.

Timeforatune cost connections an eye-catching £175,000 in the Cheltenham sales in May on the back of an 11 length margin victory at Ffos Las on debut.

The 5yo gelding made an instant hit with new connections when taking his record to 2-2 last time out at Chepstow, going 17 lengths clear with his closest rival, and he now heads to Cheltenham to be competitive.

His winning form gives him leading claims heading into this contest and he can assert himself once more here.