RENTON REFLECTS ON SOME PROPER JUMP RACING
  
Three days of thrilling Jump racing action reached a conclusion when Cheltenham's November Meeting came to a close this evening.
 
Ian Renton, Regional Director, Jockey Club Racecourses South West, said: "We have had a fantastic three days, and it is always lovely to start in the sort of glorious weather we enjoyed on Friday. The ground was fantastic, thanks to the work of Simon Claisse and the team.
 
"That was followed by a deluge on Saturday that none of us expected, but it was good to see such great racing despite that, and a crowd that came here and enjoyed the facilities despite the conditions."
 
Reflecting on Splash Of Ginge's win in the BetVictor Gold Cup, while pouring rain fell, Renton said: "We all love pictures of jockeys winning under blue skies and sunshine, but seeing the mud-spattered scenes of yesterday is true Jump racing. Everyone comes out in all conditions and it shows how stalwart the Jumping fraternity and racegoers are.
 
"Today, the Sunday of the November Meeting, is one of my favourites, with some real quality. The first and second from last season's Betway Champion Chase, Special Tiara and Fox Norton, came back, albeit they finished in reverse order today. They were lovely to see.
 
"The attendance was very similar to last year, and while we didn't quite hit the 70,000 mark over three days it was still a very good turnout.
 
"It's a huge honour for me to be part of this wonderful racecourse. I've been lucky enough to work here for five years and to be involved with the development, and to see it grow and change. The racegoers now have the space and the facilities that a racecourse of this stature deserves."
 
 
LEADING TRAINERS AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING - FINAL STANDINGS

Trainer      1st  2nd  3rd
Nicky Henderson    3  2  -
Colin Tizzard     3  -  1
Paul Nicholls     2  2  2
Philip Hobbs     1  1  3
Fergal O'Brien     1  1  1
Harry Fry     1  1  -
David Pipe     1  1  -
Dan Skelton     1  1  -
Nigel Twiston-Davies    1  1  -
Michael Blake     1  -  -
Paul Henderson     1  -  -
Alan King     1  -  -
Kerry Lee     1  -  -
Michael Scudamore    1  -  -
Tom George     -  2  1
Emmanuel Clayeux FR    -  1  1
Gavin Cromwell IRE    -  1  -
Malcolm Jefferson     -  1  -
Sophie Leech     -  1  -
Joseph O'Brien IRE    -  1  -
Ian Williams     -  1  -
Evan Williams     -  1  -
Kim Bailey     -  -  1
Henry De Bromhead IRE    -  -  1
Susan Gardner     -  -  1
Charlie Mann     -  -  1
Phil Middleton     -  -  1
Gary Moore     -  -  1
Ben Pauling     -  -  1
Nicky Richards     -  -  1
Nick Williams     -  -  1
Richard Woollacott    -  -  1
 
LEADING JOCKEYS AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING - FINAL STANDINGS

Jockey      1st  2nd  3rd
Paddy Brennan     2  2  1
Harry Cobden     2  1  -
Bryan Cooper     2  -  -
Richard Johnson     1  2  3
Tom Scudamore     1  2  1
Nico De Boinville     1  1  1
Barry Geraghty     1  1  1
Harry Skelton     1  1  -
James Bowen     1  -  1
Bryony Frost     1  -  1
Tom Bellamy     1  -  -
Kieron Edgar     1  -  -
Mr Richard Harding    1  -  -
Wayne Hutchinson    1  -  -
Richard Patrick     1  -  -
Brendan Powell     1  -  -
Adrian Heskin     -  2  1
Charlie Deutsch     -  1  -
Brian Hughes     -  1  -
Mr Hugo Hunt     -  1  -
Will Kennedy     -  1  -
Jack Sherwood     -  1  -
J J Slevin     -  1  -
Adam Wedge     -  1  -
Noel Fehily     -  -  2
David Bass     -  -  1
Felix De Giles     -  -  1
Lucy Gardner     -  -  1
Robert Hawker     -  -  1
Lizzie Kelly     -  -  1
Joshua Moore     -  -  1
Mr Roger Quinlan     -  -  1
 
THE NOVEMBER MEETING 2017 - ALL THE WINNERS
 
Countryside Day - Friday, November 17
 
12.40pm Markel Insurance Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase
What A Moment (Bryan Drew & Steve Roper) David Pipe/Mr Richard Harding 11/1
 
1.15pm Fairlight Books Novices' Handicap Hurdle
Magic Dancer (Mark E Smith & The Magic Partnership) Kerry Lee/Richard Patrick 100/30 Fav
 
1.50pm BetVictor Handicap Chase
Doitforthevillage (The Rockbourne Partnership) Paul Henderson/Paddy Brennan 13/2
 
2.25pm Steel Plate And Sections Novices' Chase
Finian's Oscar (Ann & Alan Potts Limited) Colin Tizzard/Bryan Cooper 10/11 Fav
 
3.00pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
Kingswell Theatre (John Murray) Michael Scudamore/Tom Scudamore 14/1
 
3.35pm Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)
On The Blind Side (Alan Spence) Nicky Henderson/ Nico de Boinville 9/2
 
BetVictor Gold Cup Day - Saturday, November 18
 
12.40pm JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)
Apple's Shakira (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson/Barry Geraghty Evens Fav
 
1.15pm mallardjewellers.com Novices' Chase
Black Corton (The Brooks, Stewart Families & Jeremy Kyle) Paul Nicholls/Bryony Frost 4/1
 
1.50pm BetVictor.com Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Perfect Candidate (ISL Recruitment) Fergal O'Brien/Paddy Brennan 7/1
 
2.25pm BetVictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
Splash Of Ginge (J D Neild) Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Tom Bellamy 25/1
 
3.00pm Regulatory Finance Solutions Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race)
Thomas Campbell (Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes) Nicky Henderson/ James Bowen 13/8 Fav
 
3.30pm Martin & Co Jewellers Intermediate Handicap Hurdle
Coole Cody (Wayne Clifford) Michael Blake/ Brendan Powell 25/1
 
4.00pm Experience The Theatre At The Festival Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed Race)
Posh Trish (Highclere Thoroughbred Racing - Posh Trish) Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden 9/4 Fav
 
The Open Sunday - Sunday, November 19
 
1.15pm Velcourt Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Melrose Boy (Paul & Clare Rooney) Harry Fry/Kieron Edgar (3) 11/4 Fav
 
1.50pm Racing Post Arkle Trophy Trial Novices' Chase (Grade 2)
North Hill Harvey (Mrs G Widdowson & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes) Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton 6/4
 
2.25pm Shloer Chase (Grade 2)
Fox Norton (Ann & Alan Potts Limited) Colin Tizzard/Bryan Cooper 4/5 Fav
 
3.00pm Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle
Elgin (Elite Racing Club) Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson 10/1
 
3.30pm Sky Bet Supreme Trial Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)
Slate House (Eric Jones, Geoff Nicholas, John Romans) Colin Tizzard/Harry Cobden 5/2
 
4.00pm High Sheriff of Gloucestershire's Standard Open NHF Race (Listed Race)
Crooks Peak (Andy Tilley) Philip Hobbs/Richard Johnson 4/1
 

ATTENDANCE INFORMATION
 
Today's crowd on the third and final day of The November Meeting came to 16,172. This meant that the total attendance for the three days of The November Meeting was 68,418.

2017 2016

Friday - Countryside Day    21,612  20,933   
Saturday - BetVictor Gold Cup Day  30,634  31,942
Sunday - The November Meeting Sunday  16,172  16,293
Totals 68,418  69,168
 
STEWARDS' REPORTS
 
Race 1 - 1:15pm VELCOURT CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS' HANDICAP HURDLE (Qualifier for the Challenger Staying Hurdle Series Final)
Permission was given for SHEER POETRY (IRE) to go early to post and for MAGUIRE'S GLEN (IRE) to be mounted in the chute and go early to post.
Following the race the Veterinary Officer reported that COTTERSROCK (IRE), unplaced, lost its right fore shoe.
 
Race 2 - 1:50pm RACING POST ARKLE TROPHY TRIAL NOVICES' CHASE (Grade 2)
Following the race Nicky Henderson reported that RIVER WYLDE (IRE), placed second, was unsuited by the Soft, Heavy in places ground and would prefer a sounder surface and the Veterinary Officer reported that OZZIE THE OSCAR (IRE), placed third, lost its right fore shoe.
 
Race 3 - 2:25pm SHLOER CHASE (Grade 2)
Permission was given for FOX NORTON (FR) to be mounted on the track.
 
Race 5 - 3:30pm SKY BET SUPREME TRIAL NOVICES' HURDLE (Grade 2)
Following the race the performance of DAME DE COMPAGNIE (FR), which started favourite and finished fifth of the five runners, was considered. Nicky Henderson could offer no explanation for the filly's performance. The Veterinary Officer reported that a post-race examination of the filly, during routine testing, failed to reveal any abnormalities.
Following concerns raised by the riders at the start regarding the low sun obscuring their vision at the hurdles in the home straight, the Stewards consulted with the Clerk of the Course and ordered that these obstacles should be by-passed for this race.
 
Race 6 - 4:00pm HIGH SHERIFF OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE'S STANDARD OPEN NATIONAL HUNT FLAT RACE (Listed Race)
An enquiry was held to consider interference inside the final furlong when AIR NAVIGATOR, placed second, ridden by Adrian Heskin, drifted right-handed on to the rail off the final bend, causing WOULDUADAMANDEVEIT (IRE), placed third, ridden by Lucy Gardner, to have to be checked. The riders were interviewed and shown recordings of the incident. Heskin was suspended for 2 days for careless riding as he had allowed his horse to drift right without leaving sufficient room on the rail for WOULDUADAMANDEVEIT (IRE).
Following the race the Veterinary Officer reported that LISDOONVARNA LAD (IRE), unplaced, lost its right fore shoe.
 
London Prize

London Prize, who fell two out in the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle, was immediately attended by vets and humanely put down.