This week the top horse racing jumping action returns to the home of the National Hunt – Cheltenham – for their three-day November Meeting. The racing runs from Friday to Sunday with many top contests over the fixture that include the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday and also the Greatwood Hurdle on the final day – a race trainer Dan Skelton loves to target.
So, here at Bettingsites.co.uk we thought we’d take a look at the possible Skelton Greatwood Hurdle 2023 runners as the Warwickshire-based handler looks for this third win in the race since 2016.
Can Dan Skelton Win His Third Greatwood Hurdle?
Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham is one of the most competitive handicaps on the racing calendar each season and over the years has been won by some top horses.
These include former Champion Hurdler Rooster Booster (2002), past Triumph Hurdler Detroit City (2006) and more recently in 2020 by The Shunter, who won the 2021 Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and more showed his versatility to win the Ceasarewitch Handicap at Newmarket on the flat just last month.
It’s also a race that two trainers have dominated since 2016 – winning four of the last seven renewals between them (two each).
Step forward Alan King and Dan Skelton.
King doesn’t have a runner this year, but at this stage Dan Skelton has two entries as he looks for his third Greatwood Hurdle success – and both have been given leading chances by the best UK betting sites.
The final entries will be out later in the week (Friday 17th Nov) but there is every chance Skelton could be double-handed in the race with L’EAU DU SUD and KNICKERBOCKERGLORY.
Sir Alex Ferguson-Owned L’Eau Du Sud Looking To Score For Skelton
Skelton will be hoping to ‘hit the back of the net’ with this part-owned Fergie hurdler, who is back from a 260-day break. We last saw this 5 year-old running third at Kelso in the Morebattle Hurdle in March (watch below) and returns here off a pound lower rating. If running, this will only be his fourth run in the UK, having come over from France at the end of 2022, so we can expect more improvement to come.
The lay-off is the only concern but Skelton is sure to have his grey tuned-up in a race he loves to target and he’s no stranger to winning this race with a horse off a break. West Cork took the prize running off a 631-day absence.
- Back L’Eau Du Sud at 7/1 with BetMGM.
Knickerbockerglory Hoping To Be Cream Of The Crop
The second possible Dan Skelton entry in Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle is Knickerbockerglory. This 7 year-old has won four of his nine hurdles starts to date, including last time out at Ascot.
That recent win at the Berkshire track was an easy 4 1/4-length success that also came off a 204-day break, so there is every evidence to suggest he’ll come on for it too. Up just 5lbs here and up in grade, but any further rain will be a plus, as he acts well with give underfoot, and with that recent run will be a lot more ‘match-fit’ than some of the others.
- Back Knickerbockerglory at 8/1 with BetMGM.
When Is The Greatwood Hurdle 2023?
📅Date: Sunday 19th November 2023
🕙Time: 3:30pm
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham (2m 1/2f)
💰 Winner: £56,270
📺 TV: ITV4 / Racing TV
Greatwood Hurdle Betting Odds
See below the latest betting odds for Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle, with the odds supplied by BetMGM.
- Onlyamatteroftime 11/2
- Nemean Lion 6/1
- L’eau Du Sud 7/1
- Gin Coco 8/1
- Knickerbockerglory 8/1
- Luccia 8/1
- Anyharminasking 10/1
- Blueking D’Oroux 11/1
- 12/1 Bar
Note: Odds are subject to change and others on request
Greatwood Hurdle Winners (Last 10 Years)
2022 – I LIKE TO MOVE IT (17/2)
2021 – WEST CORK (11/1)
2020 – THE SHUNTER (13/2)
2019 – HARAMBE (16/1)
2018 – NIETZSCHE (20/1)
2017 – ELGIN (10/1)
2016 – NORTH HILL HARVEY (6/1)
2015 – OLD GUARD (12/1)
2014 – GARDE LA VICTOIRE (10/1)
2013 – DELL ‘ARCA (12/1)
WATCH: Dan Skelton’s West Cork Winning The 2021 Greatwood Hurdle
Andy Newton is a well-known horse racing and sports betting writer that specialises in using key trends and stats to help find winners and unique betting approaches. Over the years, Andy has built up many industry contacts, including with some of the leading horse racing stables in the UK with his time running the Trainers-Quotes site and has also ghost-written for former top jockey Richard Dunwoody. Andy is also the former sports betting editor of odds comparison site Easyodds and JuiceStorm and appeared on many betting podcasts for MatchBook and BetBright. You can also find his views via his monthly Racing Ahead magazine column, which he’s held a slot for over 10 years. Now a regular on Bettingsites.co.uk too giving his views, trends and tips mainly on horse racing and football - so if there's a stat to be unearthed and it's a sport, Andy is sure to find an interesting betting angle. Here’s a look at a sampling of where Andy’s expertise has been mentioned: Racing Ahead Magazine Trainers-Quotes JuiceStorm GeeGeez
