Friday 15th to Sunday 17th November saw one of the most anticipated early-season jumps fixtures take place at the home of the National Hunt game. Laying on 19 contests, including seven events rated at Listed level or above, the three-day fixture regularly attracts runners who go on to compete at the big festival back here in March.
As ever, the 2024 edition presented a nice mix of established stars, promising novices, and seasoned handicappers, with the Shloer Chase, Paddy Power Gold Cup, and Greatwood Handicap Hurdle serving as the headline acts.
A meeting which provided both highs and lows will be remembered more fondly by some than others. Here, we focus on those trainers, jockeys, and sires who fared best of all and pick out our top three performances of the fixture.
Top Trainer: Dan Skelton – 4 Wins
Dan Skelton narrowly missed out on a first British Trainer’s Championship last season. If the opening exchanges of 2024/25 are any guide, the Warwickshire handler has no intention of playing second fiddle this time around.
We may only be a couple of months into the core National Hunt season, but Skelton has already surged past the £1m prize money mark – a total which is almost double that of his nearest pursuer (and former boss), Paul Nicholls.
Skelton kept the tally ticking over at the November Meeting with a quartet of wins. Having drawn a blank on Friday, he roared into life with a double on days 2 and 3 – showing his ability across all race types with wins in a Grade 2 Novice Chase, Handicap Hurdle, Maiden Hurdle and National Hunt Flat Race.
L’Eau du Sud was the clear standout amongst the four winners, with the six-year-old moving up the Arkle Chase betting order following a rout in the Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase. A strong staying effort from Doyen Quest in the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle completed the Day 2 double, with Ace Of Spades (Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice Maiden Hurdle) and Fortune De Mer (Junior Jumpers Open National Hunt Flat Race) taking Skelton to the top of the trainer standings on Day 3.
Nicky Henderson was next best with three wins, headlined by Jonbon’s successful defence of his Shloer Chase crown, whilst Neil Mulholland, James Owen, and Nigel Twiston-Davies picked up two wins apiece.
Top Jockey: Harry Skelton – 4 Wins
Where Dan goes, brother Harry follows. The man up top for all four of Dan Skelton’s wins, Harry was the only rider to finish on four wins at the meeting. Little more than a passenger aboard the excellent L’Eau du Sud, Skelton showed tactical nous aboard Doyen Quest, strength on Ace Of Spades, and an ice-cool temperament on Fortune De Mer, who was value for more than the ½l winning margin in the Bumper.
No surprise that Nicky Henderson’s number one jockey Nico de Boinville matched his boss's tally of three, with wins in the Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Novices’ Chase (Hyland), Shloer Chase (Jonbon), and mallardjewellers.com Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Peaky Boy). The pic of those rides came when displaying an outstanding judgement of pace aboard Hyland on the opening day.
Sam Twiston-Davies joined Nico on three victories, with two wins coming for his father, Nigel, and one for James Owen in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle.
Leading Sire: Doyen – 3 Wins
With three wins, the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, Doyen, was the only sire with more than one win at the meeting. Impressively, those three wins were achieved from only four runners across the three days.
Transmission set the ball rolling when staying on best to claim the Steel Plate & Sections Ltd Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase on Day 2. Around two hours later, the stallion's tally stood at two following the 5l success of Doyen Quest. Win number three came courtesy of the impressive Fortune De Mer in the concluding Bumper on the final day.
Top 3 Performances
As winners of the three signature events, Jonbon, Il Ridoto, and Burdett Road merit a mention here, as does the sadly ill-fated Abuffalosoldier, who put in one of the best rounds of jumping you are ever likely to see in the Holland Cooper Handicap Chase. However, with an eye to the future, the following three were the winners who most caught our eye.
1. Potters Charm – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
This Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained star arrived seeking a hat trick following wins at Worcester and this track in October. Whilst impressive each time, the horse left the impression that he had plenty left in the tank. Here, the son of Valirann was allowed to unleash significantly more of his considerable talent. In Dan Skelton’s Valgrande, who won by 17l at this track in October, Potters Charm appeared to face a formidable opponent. To beat that rival by an ever-widening 11 lengths rates a mighty display and justifies the high regard in which he is held. The Gallaghers Novices’ Hurdle is his long-term goal, and in this sort of form, he may give the Irish raiders something to think about.
2. East India Dock – JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle
Owned by The Gredley Family, trained by James Owen, and out of the dam Diamond Bangle, East India Dock had much in common with the 2023 winner of this race, Burdett Road. Could he repeat the 6½l success of his half-brother? In the end, he did even better. Prominent throughout, he was pushed into the lead two from home and responded impressively up the hill to create a yawning 18l gap between himself and the field. At this early stage, he looks like Britain’s leading hope for the Triumph Hurdle.
3. L’Eau du Sud – Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial
Arriving at the Skelton yard following a pair of Listed wins in France, connections may have been disappointed that this gelding failed to add to those wins in seven starts over hurdles. Placing twice in Grade 3 handicaps, L’Eau du Sud was no slouch over the smaller obstacles, but two starts into his chase campaign, the Skeltons would appear to have a potential Grade 1 star on their hands. Winning by 10l despite a bad mistake on chase debut, he was foot perfect for Harry Skelton here – jumping immaculately throughout before storming up the hill to score by eleven lengths. Stiffer challenges await, but connections can justifiably dream of the Arkle on the back of this.
Falling in love with racing at a young age, Paul’s passion for sports and betting took him to Salford University, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics with Gambling Studies. Having spent ten years in the employment of a leading bookmaker, Paul opted to go it alone and pursue his dream job as a freelance writer.
Paul Harrison
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