‘There will be Festival pointers aplenty’ – A guide to Cheltenham’s November Meeting

The Cheltenham Festival is National Hunt racing’s Olympics but there are several excellent fixtures at the Gloucestershire track throughout the season. Arguably next in the pecking order, the three-day November Meeting is often jam-packed with quality and is undoubtedly one of the season’s highlights. We’ve created a guide to the three-day fixture which will tell you all you need to know. Why not check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.

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Course

Cheltenham’s November Meeting is run on the old course, which is half-a-furlong shorter than the new course and the run-in from the last fence or hurdle is shorter. This can make a surprising amount of difference as some horses perform significantly better on one course than the other.

Cheltenham’s infamous uphill run-in is still stamina-zapping on the old course though and plenty of staying power will be required.

Big races

Paddy Power Gold Cup

This £150,000 handicap chase is one of the best races on the calendar and it has a long history of providing future Grade 1 performers. Gold Cup winners Long Run and Imperial Commander are included on the list, although the former was beaten in the race. Paul Nicholls’ highly progressive gelding Ginny’s Destiny is currently the 3/1 favourite for this year’s race.

Greatwood Handicap Hurdle

One for the hurdlers, this very competitive affair often has a significant impact on the Festival’s County Hurdle. Hopefully there will be Festival pointers aplenty this year and Fergal O’Brien’s star mare Dysart Enos heads the ante-post market.

Trainers and jockeys to follow

Nico de Boinville has a strike-rate of 26 per cent at this meeting in the last ten years and has yielded 10 winners from 29 rides. That’s particularly eye-catching bearing in mind the competitive nature of this fixture. Harry Cobden‘s total of 13 winners is the best on offer and he’s set to ride the favourite in the big one.

Paul Nicholls has warned that he won’t have too many runners this year due to unseasonably dry ground. That being said, the runners he does send out will have big chances, if his record of 17 winners at the meeting in the last decade is anything to go by.

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