It's the November Meeting at Cheltenham across this weekend alongside some high profile racing from Ireland on Saturday and Sunday and the What A Shout team have been previewing the action
On this week's show, host Dave Orton was joined by Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders and bet365's Pat Cooney to preview the weekend action at Cheltenham.
Dave also spoke to leading trainer Dan Skelton about his runners at the Cheltenham November meeting and their plans for the future, while the team give their best bets of the weekend including selections from Uttoxeter and Naas.
We've picked out some of the best bits from this week's What A Shout – which can be viewed below.
Skelton planning longer term
Leading trainer Dan Skelton has some big runners this weekend, including Nube Negra at Cheltenham on Sunday, and he has revealed that a slight alteration to his trainer regime means some of his string are coming back needing a run this season.
"We decided this year, taking into consideration the ground and how dry the summer was, that we weren't going to be hard on them in August/September time, just leave them to improve instead when the ground comes right," he said.
"[The owners] understand what we are doing and hopefully we see home dividends come Christmas. Our novices, in particular, should improve massively for their first runs."
Nube Negra defends his Grade 2 Shloer Chase (1.45) crown at Cheltenham and he's 5/4 to get the better of Arkle winner Edwardstone at 8/11.
"Conditions look like they are going to be favourable for us – the track, two-miles, good ground – it's Nube Negra heaven, to be honest with you," said the trainer.
"It's not a surprise he's turning up here, this has been the aim since the start of the season. We've had Molly Ollys Wishes win first time out in a race we targeted and, like her, when we've had a target in mind we've tightened the screw on them."
Oscar performance possible in Arkle Trial
Saturday's Arkle Trial Novices' Chase (1.45) sees Festival hurdles winners Banbridge (7/4) and Pentland Hills (4/1) for Joseph O'Brien and Nicky Henderson respectively are joined by one of last year's progressive hurdlers Tommy's Oscar, already a winner over fences and 7/4 here for trainer Ann Hamilton.
"Chasing debutants have a pretty bad record around Cheltenham over the last five years," cautions Robbie Wilders.
"I think long-term Monmiral is the best horse but only five chasing debutants from 47 over the last five years have won around here.
"I'd rather be with one that has jumped a fences and Tommy's Oscar did well at Carlisle, plus he was rated higher over hurdles. He probably should be favourite but he's not."
Observe the Law in Gold Cup
The November Meeting is of course famed for the first major handicap pot of the Cheltenham season and the Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2.20) is a typically wide open affair.
Cheltenham regulars such as Coole Code at 16/1 – a winner at The Festival in March – and Simply The Betts (14/1) for Paul Nicholls and owner/rider David Maxwell are joined by Irish raider French Dynamite at 5/1 for Mouse Morris and 6/1 chance Stolen Silver for Sam Thomas – the latter an impressive scorer over C&D in April on his most recent start.
With a helter-skelter pace forecast, Pat Cooney points to 6/1 Ga Law for trainer Jamie Snowden as one with a chance.
"One thing that struck me about this race is the amount of front-runners in there," says Pat. "Coole Cody knows his way around here like the back of his hand, it's going be a pretty wild race, even over two-and-a-half-miles.
"So many of these like to be up there punching. Ga Law was coming back from a long layoff at Aintree behind Hitman and Riders Ofthe Storm. Jamie Snowden's been amongst the winners and he's only a six-year-old this fella, I think he could be quite well-handicapped."
Robbie Wilders is also a fan of Ga Law, adding that: "He's the horse most likely to have quite a bit in hand in this field."
Everything set for Nube Negra in Shloer defence
The Grade 2 Shloer Chase (1.45) on Sunday at Cheltenham features the Arkle winner Edwardstone at 8/11 for Alan King and the aforementioned Nube Negra at 5/4 for Dan and Harry Skelton.
They are joined by Sizing Pottsie, Daly Tiger and Ganapathi but it will be a major shock if the winner doesn't emerge from the market leading duo.
Host Dave Orton is siding with Edwardstone, but Robbie Wilders went the other way – on this day.
"He's very straightforward Edwardstone but Nube Negra is top, top drawer when everything falls his way," says Wilders.
"This set of circumstances, decent ground at Cheltenham after a layoff – his two best runs have come here. I'd have Nube Negra favourite, personally."
Irish worth taking on in Greatwood puzzle
The big handicap on Sunday's card is the Greatwood Hurdle (2.55) and a field of 16 were declared for this fiercely competitive contest.
At the front of the betting are 4/1 Thousand Tears for Emmet Mullins and 9/2 Dads Lad for Willie Mullins. The former hasn't run over hurdles for his new trainer yet and lacks form in the book, while the latter won here over fences last month and is rated 7lb lower now, though perhaps not as effective as a hurdler.
"Emmet Mullins and these connections have to be feared but, on paper, you can't have Thousand Tears, though he will love the good ground," said Dave Orton.
Looking for some value, Robbie Wilders put forward 12/1 Nina The Terrier for Alan King and Tom Bellamy.
"On a line through Sonigino, who is half the price [she has a chance]. Sonigino beat her two-and-a-half-lengths on his return at Chepstow and he's now a stone worse off.
"He's won again since but this is a well-handicapped mare I think. She fell last time at Wetherby in the race Molly Ollys Wishes won, but I reckon she might have gone close there.
"I know it's not ideal coming off a fall, but Alan King has won this twice in the last five years and she's definitely better than a mark of 131."
