Dates, race times, latest odds and betting tips for the November Meeting at Cheltenham.
Cheltenham’s November meeting welcomes punters with not only another dose of Festival clues, but also two of the most anticipated handicaps of the season; the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Greatwood Hurdle.
Cheltenham November Meeting Dates
The three-day meeting (17-19 November) is Cheltenham’s biggest racing fixture away from the Cheltenham Festival and the total prize money extends over £1 million. Some of jump racing’s biggest stars have laid down their markers for the season at this fixture including Altior, Thistlecrack, Sprinter Sacre and Defi Du Seuil.
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Cheltenham November Meeting Odds & Race Times
Friday’s Racing at the Cheltenham November Meeting
Friday, or Countryside Day, offers a six-race card with a conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle kickstarting the meeting at 1.10pm.
ITV4’s coverage does not begin until 1.45pm as it previews the 2 mile Handicap Chase. Formerly won by Editeur du Gite in 2021, Amarillo Sky was also a brilliant winner last year for Joe Tizzard when beating subsequent Cheltenham Festival 2nd, Fugitif, who is among the market leaders for Saturday’s Paddy Power.
Richmond Lake, once 2nd to Jonbon in Haydock’s Supreme Trial, heads the entries this year for Donald McCain and was last seen winning a handicap chase at Ayr’s Scottish Grand National meeting. Another entry to note is Lucinda Russell’s Do Your Job who is having his 2nd run after wind surgery and was a formerly smart novice, 2nd in a Grade 1 at Aintree’s National festival.
The Grade 2 Arkle Trial takes place at 2.20pm in which JPR One is a fascinating contender for Joe Tizzard. Owned by the same connections who own the aforementioned Amarillo Sky, the son of Court Cave is already one for one as a chaser having accounted for the Imperial Cup 1st and 5th, Iceo and Monviel.
Previous winners include two Queen Mother Champion Chase winners; Put The Kettle On who Dodging Bullets; as well as Banbridge who swerved Cheltenham but followed up in the Grade 1 Manifesto at Aintree.
At 2.55pm there is a Cross Country Handicap Chase in which the 1-2, Delta Work and Galvin, both hold entries. However, unlike the Festival, they will have to give weight away to the field which include last year’s winner Back on the Lash.
The Hyde Novices Hurdle, also known as the Ballymore, takes place at 3.30pm where Captain Teague is a warm favourite following his 9½ length victory in the Grade 2 Persian War at Chepstow’s jump season opener. Indeed, Paul Nicholls won the race last year with Hermes Allen before going on to win the Grade 1 Challow over Christmas and has touted the same route for Captain Teague.
Saturday’s Racing at the Cheltenham November Meeting
Saturday provides a seven-race card and, as such, racing begins earlier at 12.35pm, commencing with the JCB Triumph Trial. The last horse to win this and subsequently follow up in the Triumph was Defi Du Seuil who collected this race in 2016 before victory at 2017’s Cheltenham Festival.
The most eye-catching entry is Royal Ascot winner Burdett Road, who finished off his flat campaign with a 3rd in a Group 3 and a rating of 101. Having been gelded and transferred to James Owen’s yard, the son of Muhaarar easily won on his hurdle debut at Huntingdon by 12 lengths.
Terrestrial coverage does not begin until 1.45pm where we have a listed 3 mile novice chase. Last year’s race was a memorable one as we saw The Real Whacker rise to the stage. Patrick Neville’s stable star followed up in the Dipper on New Year’s day before winning the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in March to make it three out of three at Prestbury Park.
This year, Broadway Boy stands out as an interesting runner for Nigel Twiston-Davies. The son of Malinas won a Cheltenham handicap hurdle in April and jumped impeccably on chase debut when accounting for subsequent winner Mofasa. He was next beaten by Flooring Porter at Cheltenham’s showcase meeting but losing to a dual Stayers Hurdle winner is nothing to be scorned out and he was also conceding him 5lbs.
Previous winners of the race also include Coral Cup hero Ibis Du Rheu, King George winner Thistlecrack, and more recently, Welsh National 2nd and Scottish National 4th Threeunderthrufive and The Big Breakaway.
The Paddy Power Gold Cup takes place at 2.20pm where the aforementioned The Real Whacker, who’s 20/1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, bids to make it four out of four at Cheltenham for Patrick Neville. He faces another Grade 1 festival winner in Stage Star, however, who could ideally be suited to reverting to the sharper old course.
There seems to be even more competition for the lead considering the Skeltons Unexpected Party, who was forcefully ridden on reappearance at Chepstow. That form has been boosted, too, with 2nd place Knappers Hill winning the Grade 2 Rising Star’s at Wincanton last weekend.
Plate 2nd Fugitif will appreciate any rain falling and Angel’s Breath, who was 6/1 for the 2019 Supreme, bids to build on his prep run over hurdles here in October. Remarkably this race looks set to affect markets for the King George, Arkle, Ryanair, Brown Advisory, Plate and Gold Cup. Two handicap hurdles and a mares listed bumper round off Saturday’s card.
Sunday’s Racing at the Cheltenham November Meeting
Sunday reverts to a six-race card and, as such, racing begins at 1.10pm with a maiden hurdle. Ben Pauling’s Tellherthename is an interesting runner for the local trainer, who beat a touted Paul Nicholls recruit, Joyau Allen, in an Irish Point, before finishing 2nd by a nose on hurdle debut at Ascot a few weeks ago. The Kemble Brewery catches the eye after impressively winning a bumper here at the Showcase meeting but perhaps Jonjo O’Neil’s Zonda can build upon his Chepstow 3rd.
ITV4 begins coverage with a 2m 4f novice handicap chase, a race whose previous winners include both Protektorat in 2020 and Finian’s Oscar in 2017. The Jewson takes place at 2.20 where Classic Chase 4th and Midlands National 4th Guetapan Collonges heads the market.
However, it looks a competitive thanks to Venetia WIlliams with King George 2nd, Royal Pagaille, and 2021 Coral Gold Cup winner, Cloudy Glen, both holding entries. Nicky Henderson’s graded winner Dusart also features.
At 2.55pm the Grade 2 Shloer Chase takes place where Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon, a 6/1 chance for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, is odds on at 1/2. Nube Negra looks to complete a hat-trick of wins in the race and Banbridge is entered to have his first start over fences outside of novice company.
The feature Greatwood Handicap Hurdle takes place at 3.30pm where Willie Mullins’ Onlyamatteroftime heads the betting. Nicky Henderon’s Luccia looks interesting off a mark off 136 based on her 3rd behind Inthepocket at Aintree. As does Aintree winner Punctuation who is fit from a spin on the flat as well as Aintree 3rd Sonigino who is also fit from his 3rd in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow.
The race has often produced festival winners which include the Shunter’s 2020 win followed up by victory in the Plate in March and Dame De Compagnie running 5th in the 2019’s race before winning the 2020 Coral Cup.
2023 Cheltenham November Meeting Tips
Both featured handicaps look mightily difficult to solve especially with final declarations not yet confirmed. However, both Sonigino and Punctuation look overpriced in Sunday’s Greatwood Hurdle. Paul Nicholls’s runner is also entered in the novice chase on Sunday’s card and the trainer’s expressed his desire to go chasing but he’d be very interesting if turning up.
His 3rd to Fennor Cross at Aintree can be upgraded as he fared best of those ridden patiently whereas Punctuation’s win at Aintree should not be taken as a fluke despite his 40/1 price. His 4th at Cheltenham on trials day doesn’t look to be his full running with connections opting for wind surgery a week later and he’s previously beaten Anyharminasking at the course. He is also fit after winning on the flat at York under Hollie Doyle.
