The three-day November Meeting at Cheltenham is the biggest event at the Cotswolds venue outside of The Festival itself in March.
Saturday afternoon is day two and the action is headlined by the Paddy Power Gold Cup (2.20), a premier handicap chase over two-and-a-half-miles. We've previewed the big race alongside some of the supporting events at Cheltenham on Saturday afternoon.
2.20 - Gold Cup Handicap Chase
The feature race of the three-day November Meeting at Cheltenham has attracted a field of 15 runners, with Ryanair Chase winner Protektorat heading them for Dan and Harry Skelton.
He was excellent in that March success here over a similar trip on the New Course as he fended off Envoi Allen and his efforts either side at Newbury and Aintree when third in fields containing Shishkin and Jonbon were commendable.
He had hitherto held an excellent record when fresh but, last season, he was poor in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on his comeback. The Skelton team are going along nicely and he is likely to run a big race but must concede 12lb and more to some above-average rivals and that might just be too much to ask of him, although his presence does ensure that six of his rivals are forced to run from out of the handicap.
Paul Nicholls has won this race three times, including with Stage Star last time around, and the 14-time champion trainer saddles Ginny's Destiny and Il Ridoto now.
Harry Cobden partners the former. They won three times over fences together last season at this track and were second to Grey Dawning at The Festival in March. They also followed home Il Etait Temps in Grade 1 novice company at Aintree. A rating of 155 is manageable but this eight-year-old does tend to need his comeback.
Il Ridoto was fourth in this contest in 2022 and third last year and has rarely run a poor race around Cheltenham in 10 starts. He hasn't won since January 2023, on Trials Day here, and was unconvincing on his seasonal return at Chepstow last month, but his course record counts for something and Freddie Gingell takes off a handy 3lb in the plate.
The Skelton second string is MADARA, who joined the yard only recently. He was with Sophie Leech last season and had a win around here in December and then a valuable Listed handicap win at the Dublin Racing Festival in February over at Leopardstown.
He was well beaten in the Grand Annual back here in March over 2m and ran below expectations in what turned out to be his only start for Keiran Burke at Ascot a fortnight ago. That was always deemed a pipe-opener for the season ahead and his French form suggests this longer trip will suit. He has the potential to go well and Tristan Durrell's 3lb claim more than offsets the fact he's racing from 1lb out of the handicap.
In Excelsis Deo for Harry Fry and Irish raiders Lets Go Champ for Henry De Bromhead and Hartur D'arc for Gavin Cromwell are respected but Imagine shades them on his first run for Harry Derham.
He won his first two over fences in Ireland for Gordon Elliott last season and was picked up for €320,000 in the Caldwell dispersal sale in February. His new trainer took his time and skipped the spring campaign but has been quite bullish in his assessment of where this low-mileage six-year-old stands now ahead of his comeback. A big run is anticipated.
SELECTION: MADARA
NEXT BEST: IMAGINE
12.35 - JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle
Four of these youngsters arrive unbeaten over timber. They include EAST INDIA DOCK for James Owen and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Prairie Angel.
The latter is a promising filly with hurdles wins at Ballinrobe and Down Royal behind her and four wins in her last five starts under both codes. She should continue to improve and merits this rise in grade.
Golden Horn gelding East India Dock was rated 90 on the Flat and ended his time with James Fanshawe by running well in the Mallard Handicap at Doncaster in September under a penalty for his prior Goodwood win.
He was made to work for his debut hurdles victory at Wincanton (1m7f, good) last month but he pulled clear with another pair of smart Flat horses making their initial forays in this sphere and, in time, that effort may well be seen in a good light. Either way, he was much the best at the line and should have gleaned plenty from the experience.
Continuance did things very easily on his hurdling debut at Sedgefield and Martin Keighley's son of Postponed cannot be dismissed in any haste, while French import Static has plenty of hurdles experience and shaped well when second on his stable bow for Olly Murphy recently at Wetherby. He should make his mark on this race too.
SELECTION: EAST INDIA DOCK
NEXT BEST: STATIC
1.45 - Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices' Chase
It might be too soon to label him an Arkle contender but L'EAU DU SUD was impressive on his fencing bow at Stratford (2m3½f, good to soft) at the back end of last month for the Skelton team.
He showed useful form over hurdles after arriving from France last season without winning, but looks destined for bigger things now. He jumped well in the lead under Harry Skelton and dismissed his four rivals out of hand. This shorter trip should be fine around here and he is entitled to build significantly on that chasing debut, in which case he should prove a tough nut to crack.
San Salvador saw his hopes dashed by a mistake three out when he finished last of four over C&D three weeks ago and Joseph O'Brien's charge could do better now.
Lookaway was a Grade 2 novice hurdle winner here last season for Neil King and finished second in the Greatwood at this meeting. He beat Personal Ambition in a match at Uttoxeter recently on his chasing bow and is another for whom better things almost certainly lie in store as a novice chaser in the coming months.
SELECTION: L'EAU DU SUD
NEXT BEST: LOOKAWAY
