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Arkle Trial Trends: Can Old Park Star Win On His Seasonal Debut?

2026-11-12T17:30:01+00:00

Billy Grimshaw goes through 16 years of Arkle Trial results ahead of Saturday’s Grade 2 at Cheltenham, where a Supreme winner making his chasing debut and a Relkeel winner could swap favouritism more than once before the off.

Saturday’s Arkle Trial is a rarity: two top-class horses heading the market, with next to nothing between Old Park Star and Kabral Du Mathan in the betting on Thursday. Old Park Star won the Supreme in March and has never been beaten over hurdles, while Kabral Du Mathan won the Relkeel here on New Year’s Day, ran in the Stayers’ Hurdle and has already had a spin over fences. Either could be favourite at the off, and the order may change plenty before then.

I have been through every running since 2010 in the HorseRacing.net database, along with the records of all seven runners, to see which of the pair the history of the race favours.

Favourites

Favourites have won eight of the 16 runnings since 2010, and the short ones have been bombproof. All five who went off at odds-on won, most recently L’Eau du Sud at 10/11 two years ago.

The record is very different when the favourite has been evens or bigger. Only three of those 11 won, and the beaten ones include River Wylde at evens, Fusil Raffles at 11/10 and JPR One at 6/5. That is the catch this year. With the two so close, the favourite may well go off at around evens or bigger, and whichever one it is, the market is telling you it is not sure. In this race it has paid to listen.

The rest of the betting

You might expect the second favourite to pick up the pieces when the market leader is beaten, but it has rarely worked out like that. Second favourites have won only twice from 18 since 2010, and none has been shorter than 6/4, so a second favourite of this class is new territory. Five winners came from fourth or lower in the betting, and three of those were the outsider of the entire field: Ghizao in 2010, Put The Kettle On in 2019 and Homme Public in 2023.

None of them was a wild price, mind. Fields are small and nothing has won at bigger than 13/2, which is a concern for everything outside the front two on Saturday. Workahead was third in the betting on Thursday.

Recent form and chasing experience

Eight of the last ten winners had won their previous start and the other two had finished second, so this is no race for a horse with something to prove. Five of Saturday’s seven won their last start over jumps. Passing Diamond was second over course and distance last month and Workahead was turned over at 1/3 at Roscommon in June.

The more interesting stat concerns Old Park Star. Nine of the last ten winners had already had a run that season, and Lalor in 2018 is the only one in that time to win it on his first run of the season. Old Park Star has not been seen since the Supreme and has never jumped a fence in public, whereas Kabral Du Mathan made all to win his beginners’ chase at Perth last month at 2/9.

Age

Eight of the last ten winners were six, and the other two were five. Nothing aged seven or older has won from 16 runners since 2016, which is not what you want to read if you fancy Newtown Rambler, who is seven, or the eight-year-old Workahead.

Old Park Star, Kabral Du Mathan, Passing Diamond and Putapoundinthejar are all six. Folie Golith is the only four-year-old and just two of her age group have tried since 2016, so there is not much to go on. What we do know is that mares won it in 2019 and 2025, and as a four-year-old filly she gets 15lb from the rest.

How the race could be run

There will be no hanging about. Newtown Rambler has made all in each of his last four wins over fences, Passing Diamond has led in all four of his chases and Folie Golith made every yard at Uttoxeter last month. Workahead likes to be in front too.

That should suit the two market leaders, who can both sit just off the pace. Old Park Star raced in second when he won the Supreme, and although Kabral Du Mathan made the running at Perth, he was ridden with more patience over hurdles. Putapoundinthejar, the Galway Hurdle winner, is the one who will be held up.

Running styles

Twelve of the 15 winners we have in-running data for either led or raced prominently, and only one of the 18 horses held up has come through to win, Eldorado Allen in 2020. Two miles around the Old Course is a sharp test and it is hard to make up ground on novices who are jumping at speed.

Leading is not without its risks either. Gumball in 2020 and JPR One in 2023 were both in front and going best when they departed late on, so with four who want to lead on Saturday, the two sitting behind them look best placed.

Trainers

Dan Skelton has had four runners in the Arkle Trial and three of them won: North Hill Harvey, Third Time Lucki and L’Eau du Sud. The other, Be Aware, was second last year. Kabral Du Mathan carries that record on Saturday.

Nicky Henderson’s is the opposite. He won it with Captain Conan in 2012, but three of his last four runners were sent off favourite at 11/8 or shorter and all three were beaten. One of them, River Wylde, went down at evens to Skelton’s North Hill Harvey. That is the record Old Park Star has to put right.

Henry de Bromhead has won two of the last seven runnings with the mares Put The Kettle On and July Flower, and he runs Workahead.

Field size

Seven runners counts as a crowd in this race. The average field since 2010 is five, there were only three in 2017, and just two runnings in that time have had seven or more. For what it is worth, the favourite won both of them, Al Ferof at 5/6 in 2011 and L’Eau du Sud in 2024.

What it means for the Arkle

The name suggests this is where you find the Arkle winner, but it has not been a reliable guide. Eight of the 16 winners since 2010 went on to run in the Arkle that season and only Put The Kettle On won it. Eldorado Allen was second at 33/1 and Al Ferof, Dodging Bullets and L’Eau du Sud were all fourth.

It has been a better pointer to the following years. Dodging Bullets and Put The Kettle On both won the Champion Chase later on. Al Ferof is the one for Old Park Star’s supporters to note: he also arrived here as the Supreme winner, won at 5/6 and was then only fourth in the Arkle at 3/1. Our Cheltenham tips cover the rest of the meeting.

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Cheltenham Friday Tips: Three ITV Racing Picks For The November Meeting

2026-11-12T16:46:22+00:00

Billy Grimshaw has spent the week going through ten years of results from Cheltenham's November Meeting, and he puts those numbers to work on Friday's ITV Racing card. He has three selections on day one at Prestbury Park, including a NAP in the veterans' chase and an each-way player at a double-figure price in the Hyde Novices' Hurdle. Picks for the rest of the three-day meeting are on our Cheltenham tips page.

I am writing this on Thursday afternoon with the ground at Cheltenham good, good to soft in places, and four races on ITV to go at on Friday. One of them is the Shloer Chase, where only four go to post and there is little to get stuck into from a betting point of view, so I have left that one to our Shloer Chase trends piece. The other three all offer a bet. Each of the selections below leans on something that turned up when I went through all 186 races run at this meeting between 2016 and 2025, and the full findings are on our November Meeting trends page.

13:45 Cheltenham - Paddy Power Novices' Chase

The withdrawal of Derryhassen Paddy has taken the likely favourite out of this Listed contest over three miles and a furlong and left six. King's Bucks now heads the market at around 7/4 for Henry de Bromhead and I can see why, as favourites have won 18 of the 37 non-handicap chases at this meeting since 2016. He is short enough for a horse who has yet to win a race under Rules, though. He was pulled up in the Albert Bartlett here in March and found one too good on his chasing debut at Galway last month, and while he may well prove the best of these in time, 7/4 about a maiden is not for me.

Intosomethinggood has solid recent form after his third at Aintree last Friday, but he jumped out to his right there, this comes just a week later, and Sam Twiston-Davies has ridden one winner from 25 rides over fences at the meeting since 2016. The one I want is KINGSTON NARCISSUS. Dan Skelton has been the leading trainer at the November Meeting in that time and his record in the non-handicap chases is the standout part of it, with seven winners from 15 runners. This horse has not been out of the first three in five starts over fences and went down by a neck in the Summer Plate at Market Rasen in July, which is as good a piece of chase form as there is in this field.

He was sent off 11/8 favourite for a Premier Handicap at Wetherby a fortnight ago and could finish only third, but the way he was outpaced before keeping on again up the run-in over two miles and three furlongs told me he wants further. He gets it here. The risk is obvious, because he has done all his chasing at up to an extended two miles and five furlongs and Harry Skelton tends to drop him in, which is not ideal at a meeting where it pays to be handy over fences. In a field of six that is less of a worry, and the general 4/1 I see as I write is fair. With only two places on offer, KINGSTON NARCISSUS is a win bet for me.

14:55 Cheltenham - Jilly Cooper Veterans' Handicap Chase

If you take one thing from the trends work, make it that front-runners are the ones to be with in handicap chases at this meeting: 13 of the 40 run since 2017 were won by a horse who made the running. The trouble with applying that here is working out which of them gets to the front. Glengouly made all to win the December Gold Cup over two and a half miles here last season, Ga Law, Mahons Glory and Time To Bite all like to lead, and Thunder Rock and Outlaw Peter are usually in the first two or three. That is six of the eight who want to be on the pace, and they cannot all have it.

That leaves the race set up for something ridden with patience, and TRIPLE TRADE is the obvious one. He came from the rear to lead in the final strides of a veterans' chase at Market Rasen last month, with Ga Law back in fifth, and he knows his way round here. He won the two-mile handicap chase on the Sunday of this meeting 12 months ago, when he collared Glengouly on the run-in. That was one of three winners from three runners for Joe Tizzard at the 2025 meeting, and the trainer has had five from 15 at the fixture since taking over the licence from his father. Harry Cobden, who has ridden 15 winners at the meeting since 2016, takes the ride.

There is a case against him and it is Outlaw Peter. Paul Nicholls's runner gave TRIPLE TRADE 11lb and finished in front of him at Haydock in April, and he gives him only 9lb here. But Outlaw Peter has been off for 212 days, he will be in the thick of that battle for the lead, and favourites have won only 12 of the 56 handicap chases at this meeting since 2016. At around 4/1, TRIPLE TRADE rates my NAP of the day. Mahons Glory is the one I fear most at 10/1 if he is allowed his own way in front, as he was fourth in a Grade 2 at Sandown in April and has more class than most of these.

15:30 Cheltenham - Hyde Novices' Hurdle

I went through 16 years of this race for our Hyde Novices' Hurdle trends piece and the short version is that the market gets it wrong more often than not. The last five favourites have all been beaten, two of them at odds-on, which is a worry for anyone taking 3/1 about Ferocimo. He could hardly have won more easily at Fontwell, but he is the only four-year-old in the field and none of that age has won the Hyde since at least 2010. Thirteen of the 16 winners in that time were five-year-olds, and since 2016 those who won last time out have a far better record than those who did not, with eight winners from 39 runners against two from 35.

Dan Skelton runs two five-year-olds who won last time and Harry Skelton has sided with the mare Divine Diva, who is 4/1. She is the pick of @RoadCheltenham in his horses to follow for the meeting, and we are on the same page in wanting to take on the favourite with a Skelton runner. Where we differ is the price. HITINTHEHEADLINES is around 10/1 and I am not convinced there should be six points between them. He won a Chepstow maiden hurdle over two miles and three and a half furlongs the day before she won over the same course and distance, coming from the back of the field to lead at the last, and the step up to two miles and five should suit a horse who finished like that.

The way the race is likely to be run helps too. Lock Stock and Red Acres Georgie have each led in their last three starts and Dallas Star made the running for most of his Flat career, so there should be plenty of pace for a closer to aim at, and held-up horses have won the Hyde at the same rate as those ridden handy. I should be straight about the negatives. Skelton has had eight runners in this race since 2010 without winning it, Tristan Durrell's mount is the stable's second string on jockey bookings, and only one winner in that time has gone off at bigger than 10/1. With three places on offer, though, HITINTHEHEADLINES is worth an each-way bet at the price.

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Best Horse Racing Betting Sites To Bet On Cheltenham November Meeting

2026-11-12T16:25:01+00:00

Cheltenham's November Meeting runs over three days from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 November 2026, and it is the first big jumps fixture of the season at Prestbury Park. Each day has a feature race worth building your betting around.

Friday opens with the Grade 2 Shloer Chase, where Jonbon bids for a third win in the race. Saturday is the big one, with the Paddy Power Gold Cup one of the biggest handicap chases of the jumps season, and Sunday closes with the Greatwood Hurdle, a competitive Premier Handicap over two miles.

Below are the five betting sites we rate for the November Meeting, with what each new customer offer gives you and how to claim it.

1. BOYLE Sports: Bet £10 Get £30 + Money Back If 2nd To SP Fav

New BOYLE Sports customers who deposit £10 and place a £10 bet at Evens or bigger get £30 in free bets once it settles. At selected meetings, including Cheltenham, your stake is also refunded as a free bet up to £10 if your horse finishes second to the SP favourite.

2. DAZN Bet: Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets

DAZN Bet gives new customers three £10 free bets when they opt in to the sports welcome offer and place a £10 bet at Evens (2.0) or bigger within seven days of registering. Each-way bets don't qualify, so use a win single. The free bets last seven days on selected markets, including horse racing.

3. Swifty Sports: Bet £10 Get £10 Free Bet If Your First Bet Loses

New Swifty Sports customers who deposit £10 and place a £10 single at Evens or bigger get a £10 free bet if that first bet loses. If it wins, you keep the winnings as normal. The free bet is credited on settlement and expires after 24 hours, so use it quickly.

4. Betahoy: Bet £10 Get £10 In Free Bets

Register with Betahoy, enter promo code ALLABOARD10 in My Bonuses within seven days, then place a £10 first bet at Evens or bigger from your cash balance. Once it settles you get £10 in free bets: a £5 sports free bet and a £5 acca free bet for four-plus legs.

5. Ken Howells: 50% Back On First-Day Losses Up To £25

Ken Howells refunds 50% of your first-day sports losses as a free bet, up to £25. Enter code CASHBACK in My Bonuses after registering, then place at least three £10 bets at Evens or bigger on separate events. Minimum losses of £10 apply, and the free bet must be used within seven days.

What To Back At Cheltenham On Friday

Jonbon is entitled to be a warm order for the Shloer Chase at 2.20pm, but available at odds-on, at the time of writing, he's worth avoiding on Friday. Away from the multiple Graded winner. There's an eye-catching Listed Novices' Chase at 1.45pm, but with Derryhassen Paddy now out it's an open goal for King's Bucks. Second at Galway last time out, he's still a maiden on the track, but he can duly break his duck and land the prize in style. Elsewhere, former Paddy Power Gold Cup winner Ga Law is back to the scene of one of his greatest displays. Now lining up in veteran events, Jamie Snowden's charge is only 3lbs higher than that Paddy Power winning mark, so he's the one to back at 2.55pm.

Suggested Friday Bets

1.45pm Cheltenham - King's Bucks

2.55pm Cheltenham - Ga Law

Please gamble responsibly. 18+ only. T&Cs apply to every offer. For free, confidential support visit BeGambleAware.org.

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Cheltenham November Meeting Horses To Follow: Four With Live Chances

2026-11-12T14:42:00+00:00

The Cheltenham November Meeting is always eagerly anticipated, with three glorious days of racing taking place at Prestbury Park. It’s always an informative fixture with a view to the spring, so there will undoubtedly be plenty of Cheltenham Festival clues.

Here, I focus on several horses to follow across all three days. Some runners will be with a view to this weekend while others will be very much on the radar for the spring. With that in mind, let’s get stuck into the opening day and a couple of runners to get started. For the day-by-day selections across all three days, head to our Cheltenham tips for the November Meeting.

Friday, 1.10pm – HIGH FIBRE

Reportedly the aim for this horse since he finished fourth in the Cesarewitch Handicap at Newmarket, High Fibre can go close as he returns over hurdles. Up 8lbs for his most recent hurdles success at Market Rasen in July, the step up in trip should suit and I’d be hopeful of a big run in Friday’s opening race.

Currently priced at 9/2, I’m expecting a big run and James Owen is in fine form – with the yard operating at a 29% strike rate across the board. Furthermore, conditional jockey Toby McCain-Mitchell has won on two of his last four rides and he’s already notched five successes this jumps season.

Friday, 3.30pm – DIVINE DIVA

I was a little surprised to see Harry Skelton choose Divine Diva over Hitintheheadlines but reports from Alcester have been glowing about the mare. She was arguably value for more than the winning margin over Princess Day at Chepstow in October and the form looks solid enough, with the third running well at Newbury earlier this month.

Ferocimo, the Nigel & Willy-Twiston Davies trained favourite, has a decent reputation but this is a big step up from a Fontwell maiden hurdle. With the Skelton yard looking ominously strong in the novice department, I’m happy to take the jolly on and the 3/1 looks like a fair price to my eye.

Saturday, 1.45pm – FOLIE GOLITH

I’m really excited to see how Folie Golith fares on Saturday, especially if both Kabral Du Mathan and Old Park Star stand their ground. She brings a wealth of experience to the race and the form of her Uttoxeter success was boosted by the Dan Skelton-trained Getawhisky in a Listed mares race at Bangor-on-Dee on Tuesday.

She gets 15lbs from her rivals and that could make a big difference, but I’m not actually too interested in betting her on Saturday. Instead, I’m very much looking at her for a big handicap in the spring – she has the rating to get into a Festival race and I’d be inclined to believe they may be giving her a run to see if she handles Cheltenham.

Saturday, 3.30pm – MONEYGARROW

Short enough in the betting here, I’ve been looking forward to seeing Moneygarrow for some time now and he could have a big race in him this year. With an official BHA mark of 133, he could easily be a 140+ horse and I’m expecting a positive run and hopefully he can blow the cobwebs away. I’m happy to let him go and win at 2/1.

This Shantou gelding would interest me massively for the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham in March if he ends up going down that route. He was travelling as well as any of his rivals approaching the final hurdle in the 2026 Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle but didn’t get home and 2m4f would be more like his optimum trip at this stage.

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Hyde Novices’ Hurdle Trends: Do Winners Need To Be Fresh?

2026-11-12T13:00:00+00:00

Billy Grimshaw goes through 16 years of Hyde Novices’ Hurdle results ahead of Friday’s Grade 2 at Cheltenham, a race that has been a graveyard for favourites and a happy hunting ground for horses who have barely run before.

The Hyde Novices’ Hurdle is one of those races that makes a mug of the market more often than not. Favourites have a wretched record, the winner usually turns out to be something we knew very little about beforehand, and this year’s field of ten is stuffed with exactly that sort: six of them have jumped a hurdle in public only once.

I have been through every running since 2010 in the HorseRacing.net database, along with the records of all ten runners, to see what the numbers say about Friday’s 3.30.

Favourites and the betting

The Hyde has been no place for favourites of late. Five on the bounce have been turned over, and two of those were sent off odds-on: Captain Teague at 4/6 in 2023 and Valgrand at 5/6 a year later.

It has not been a race for wild outsiders either, mind. Minella Missile at 22/1 is the only winner since 2010 to go in at bigger than 10/1, so the one to find is usually sitting third or fourth in the betting.

Experience

Last year’s winner tells you plenty about what it takes. No Drama This End had never jumped a hurdle in public when he lined up, bolted up anyway and was a Grade 1 winner before the year was out. That is the type the Hyde keeps throwing up: the horse who has not yet shown us how good he is.

Petersham Place, Woodstock Octo and Ferocimo all fit the bill, each arriving unbeaten after a single run under Rules. At the other end of the scale, Lock Stock and Luck Between Us have 16 hurdle starts between them, which means their form is there for all to see, warts and all.

Last-time-out form

Winning form counts for plenty here, and six of Friday’s ten got their heads in front last time out. I would not be putting a line through the other four on that alone, though. Dallas Star found one too good in a Listed race at Limerick and Lock Stock was third in the Grade 2 Persian War, and both of those are a good deal hotter than the maidens and novices most of these have been winning.

How the race could be run

Lock Stock and Red Acres Georgie both like to bowl along in front and have done exactly that in each of their last three starts over hurdles, while Dallas Star spent most of his Flat career making the running. If that trio take each other on over two miles and five furlongs, something is going to pay for it when they hit the Cheltenham hill.

Waiting to pounce would be Hitintheheadlines and Divine Diva, who were both dropped right out on their hurdling debuts and still came through to win. Just bear in mind that six of the ten have only run over hurdles once, so this map is drawn in pencil.

Running styles

In the Shloer earlier on the card, the horse in front takes some pegging back over two miles. The Hyde is a different game. Over this longer trip against inexperienced rivals there has been no advantage to being handy, and horses ridden out the back have won it just as often as those up with the pace. If the one you fancy is going to be dropped in, do not let it put you off.

Favourites who lead

Here is one for the favourite backers to chew on, because it has happened in each of the last two years. Valgrand was sent off at 5/6 in 2024 and proved a sitting duck for Potters Charm, and 12 months later Heads Up tanked along in a clear lead only to be collared at the last by No Drama This End. If Friday’s market leader is sent on, I would be looking elsewhere.

Age

Ferocimo headed the ante-post betting earlier this week, but he has history to defy as the only four-year-old in the line-up. None of his age group has won the Hyde since at least 2010 and, in fairness, very few have tried. He hacked up at Fontwell on his only start and gets a pound from his elders, so the stat is one to note more than one to fear.

Trainers

Dan Skelton must be sick of the sight of this race. He has hit the crossbar three times, most painfully when Valgrand was turned over at 5/6 two years ago, and is still waiting for a first win. He is double-handed on Friday with Hitintheheadlines and Divine Diva, who also happen to be the two closers on our pace map, so this could be the year it falls right for him.

The Twiston-Davies team finally got on the board with Potters Charm in 2024 after watching three favourites get beaten, and they rely on Ferocimo this time. Our Cheltenham tips for the meeting lean on the same trends.

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Paddy Power Gold Cup Trends: Can Meetmebythesea Defy A 0-From-36 Record?

2026-11-12T12:17:00+00:00

Billy Grimshaw goes through 13 years of Paddy Power Gold Cup results ahead of Saturday’s big handicap at Cheltenham, where the favourite has two of the race’s strongest trends against him.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup has been a poor race for favourites and a worse one for horses who turn up having won last time. Meetmebythesea heads the betting for Saturday’s renewal and he is both.

I have been through every running since 2013 in the HorseRacing.net database, along with the records of all 15 runners, to see what the numbers say about the 2.20.

Favourites and the betting

Stage Star at 4/1 in 2023 is the only favourite to have won the Paddy Power Gold Cup in the last 13 runnings. Five of the other 12 failed to get round, including Ginny’s Destiny at 3/1 two years ago.

That does not make it a race for outsiders. Ten of the 13 winners went off at 10/1 or shorter and Splash of Ginge, at 25/1 in 2017, is the only one bigger than 14/1. Second favourites have won three times since 2013, so the one to find is usually sitting just behind the market leader.

Last-time-out winners

This is the stat of the race. In the last ten runnings, 36 horses lined up having won their previous start and not one of them won. Every winner in that time had been beaten last time out.

Plenty of the 36 were well fancied. Protektorat was the 11/2 favourite when second in 2021, Al Dancer the 5/1 favourite when third a year earlier and Mister Whitaker the 6/1 favourite when fourth in 2018. They ran well enough, but the handicapper had already had his say and a horse who had been beaten came out on top each time.

Meetmebythesea won the novices’ handicap at the Festival on his last start and has not run since. O’Moore Park won over course and distance last month at 25/1, and Torneo has won his last two.

A run this season

Eight of the last ten winners had already had a run that season, and horses making their seasonal debut are two from 54. I would not treat it as a rule, mind, because the two exceptions are recent. Stage Star and Panic Attack, two of the last three winners, were both having their first run since the spring.

Four of Saturday’s field come here fresh: Matata, Meetmebythesea, Johnnywho and Blueking d’Oroux. Seven have run since the start of October, including Madara, who had his prep over hurdles at Carlisle a fortnight ago.

How the race could be run

Quebecois has led in each of his last three starts over fences, including when third in the Ultima at the Festival, and Sam Twiston-Davies will surely send him on again. Blueking d’Oroux raced up with the pace at Kempton and Aintree in the spring, so he should be close by.

Meetmebythesea made much of the running when he won here in March, but he came from last to win at Ayr in January, so he has options. At the other end, Norn Iron, Riskintheground, Dunkerque and O’Moore Park are all usually dropped in, and O’Moore Park came from last to win here in October.

Running styles

Being at the head of affairs has been a big help in recent years. Since 2017, three of the 11 horses who led early went on to win: Baron Alco, Midnight Shadow and Stage Star. Coole Cody was in front from the third fence in 2020 as well. Horses who raced in midfield have won once from 47 tries in that time.

The fields are part of it. This used to be a cavalry charge of 17 to 20 runners, but there have been no more than 15 in any of the last four years, and a horse who gets to the front in a smaller field is harder to peg back.

Age

Four of the last ten winners were nine, which is some return given only 26 nine-year-olds ran. Younger horses have found it much harder. Ga Law in 2022 is the only winner aged six or under from 36 to try since 2016, and nothing aged ten or older has won from 12.

Johnnywho, Riskintheground and O’Moore Park are the nine-year-olds this time. Meetmebythesea, Torneo and Dunkerque are six, and Guard Your Dreams is the one ten-year-old.

Weight

Taquin Du Seuil carried 11st 11lb to win in 2016 and he is the only winner in the last ten runnings to come from within 5lb of the top weight. Frodon and Protektorat both finished second from up there, so class horses do run well. They just tend to find one too good at the weights.

Matata is top weight on Saturday, with Madara, Meetmebythesea and Johnnywho all within 5lb of him.

Horses who have run in it before

This is a race horses come back to and run well in again. Il Ridoto was fourth in 2022, third in 2023 and won it in 2024. Ga Law won in 2022 and was second two years later, and Johns Spirit followed his 2013 win by finishing second a year later.

Madara is the one with that profile on Saturday. He was fourth at 16/1 as a five-year-old in 2024 and has since won the Plate at the Festival over this trip. He was also beaten last time and has had a run, so he is on the right side of both form trends, though he is one of those near the top of the weights.

July Flower has a different sort of course form. She won the Arkle Trial on this card last year, and the three winners of that race to run in the Paddy Power Gold Cup afterwards finished first, third and third.

Trainers

Paul Nicholls has won two of the last three runnings with Stage Star and Il Ridoto, and three since 2013. He relies on Quebecois, who is still looking for his first win over fences after seven tries but has been second in four of them.

Dan Skelton won it for the first time with Panic Attack last year and six of his ten runners since 2013 have finished in the first four. He has three this time in Madara, Blueking d’Oroux and Riskintheground. Jonjo O’Neill, who runs Johnnywho, has won it twice from seven runners in that time.

The Irish have a poor record. None of their 20 runners since 2013 has won, though French Dynamite was second in 2022 and Lets Go Champ third in 2024. Henry de Bromhead runs July Flower and Zurich, and Paul Nolan sends over Release The Beast. Our selections for the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the rest of the meeting are in our Cheltenham tips.

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Paddy Power Gold Cup Final Field Confirmed: Meetmebythesea a strong favourite at Cheltenham

2026-11-12T10:20:00+00:00

Cheltenham's first big Saturday of the season is just a few days away, and the Paddy Power Gold Cup has seen the field whittled down to 15 at the final declaration stage. Meetmebythesea heads the sponsor's betting, Dan Skelton unsurprisingly has a strong hand and the trends point, perhaps more surprisingly, to a winner away from the favourite. Our selection for Saturday's feature will join the rest of the weekend's picks on our Cheltenham betting tips page.

Race: Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap)
Course: Cheltenham (Old Course)
Date: Saturday 14 November 2026
Off time: 2:20pm
Distance: 2m4f44y
Runners: 15

Paddy Power Gold Cup Key Contenders

Meetmebythesea (Ben Pauling)

The JP McManus-owned six-year-old is a worthy favourite after a very good novice season. He won at Wetherby and Ayr. He was then well beaten in the Game Spirit on heavy ground at Newbury, which can be put down to the conditions. At the Festival he won the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at 9/1, leading for much of the race and pulling clear on the run-in under Ben Jones. That race is run over a very similar trip on the New Course, so he has shown he handles Cheltenham. Trainer Ben Pauling is based nearby and is looking for a first Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The trends are against him, though. Only one of the last ten winners was a six-year-old. None of the last ten had won on their previous start. He also hasn't run yet this season.

Blueking d'Oroux (Dan Skelton)

One of several Johnny de la Hey horses that moved from Paul Nicholls to Dan Skelton in the summer. He was busy as a novice last season. He won the Grade 2 Rising Stars at Wincanton and was beaten only a neck in a Kempton handicap chase in March. He finished his season by running well at 22/1 to be second in the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree. He may run at Carlisle this weekend before Cheltenham. If he does, he matches the race's main trends. As the champion trainer's leading fancy, he should be popular in the betting.

Madara (Dan Skelton)

Madara has already won over this course and distance. He won the Plate at last season's Festival over the same 2m4f44y, moving up smoothly from midfield and going clear from the last. He followed that by leading at the last in the Topham at Aintree before finishing a close third. At seven he is the right age, and Skelton won this race last year with Panic Attack. He is one of the strongest trends fits near the top of the betting.

Quebecois (Paul Nicholls)

Quebecois has strong form for this race. He was beaten only a head into third in the Ultima at the Festival, leading for a long way. He has already run this season, finishing a respectable second at Newton Abbot on 17 October. As a seven-year-old with a run this season who didn't win last time out, he fits every trend below. He also comes from the trainer with the best recent record in the race.

Others to note

Henry de Bromhead's Zurich is the shortest-priced of the Irish raiders. However, the stats below show no Irish-trained winner in the last ten years so that'll put plenty of people off. De Bromhead, however, is one trainer with a positive P&L in Cheltenham handicap chases so perhaps his horses can continue to defy the trends.

Paddy Power Gold Cup Stats and Trends

These stats cover the last ten runnings of the Paddy Power Gold Cup (2016-2025). The race was sponsored by BetVictor from 2016 to 2019.

Last 10 Paddy Power Gold Cup Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2025	Panic Attack	9	11-1	6/1	Dan Skelton	Harry Skelton
2024	Il Ridoto	7	9-13	10/1	Paul Nicholls	Freddie Gingell
2023	Stage Star	7	11-7	4/1F	Paul Nicholls	Harry Cobden
2022	Ga Law	6	11-0	5/1	Jamie Snowden	Jonathan Burke
2021	Midnight Shadow	8	11-5	9/1	Sue Smith	Ryan Mania
2020	Coole Cody	9	10-5	10/1	Evan Williams	Tom O'Brien
2019	Happy Diva	8	11-0	14/1	Kerry Lee	Richard Patrick
2018	Baron Alco	7	10-11	8/1	Gary Moore	Jamie Moore
2017	Splash Of Ginge	9	10-6	25/1	Nigel Twiston-Davies	Tom Bellamy
2016	Taquin Du Seuil	9	11-11	8/1	Jonjo O'Neill	Aidan Coleman

Weights shown are actual weights carried, including any jockey allowances.

Winner Profile

Stat	Last 10 Runnings
Average age	7.9 years
Average weight carried	10st 13lb
Shortest-priced winner	Stage Star, 4/1F (2023)
Biggest-priced winner	Splash Of Ginge, 25/1 (2017)
Leading trainer	Paul Nicholls, 2 wins (2023, 2024)
Different winning trainers	9 in 10 years

Key Paddy Power Gold Cup Trends

Trained in Britain: 10/10. All ten winners were trained in Britain. The three remaining Irish-trained entries, July Flower, Zurich and Release The Beast, have this statistic against them. French Dynamite (second in 2022) and Lets Go Champ (third in 2024) are among the Irish-trained horses to have gone close.
Aged seven to nine: 9/10. Ga Law (2022) is the only six-year-old winner in the last decade. That counts against Meetmebythesea, Torneo, Dunkerque and Passing Diamond. Ten-year-old Guard Your Dreams also falls outside the dominant age bracket.
Beaten on previous start: 10/10. None of the last ten winners arrived off the back of a victory. Meetmebythesea, Madara, Torneo and O'Moore Park all won on their latest appearances, making this an interesting trend to consider.
Had already run that season: 8/10. Only Stage Star (2023) and Panic Attack (2025) won on their seasonal reappearances. The other eight winners had the benefit of a recent outing.
Started between 4/1 and 10/1: 8/10. Eight of the last ten winners returned an SP in this range. None started shorter than 4/1, while Splash Of Ginge at 25/1 in 2017 was the biggest-priced winner.
Carried 10st 11lb or more: 7/10. Seven of the last ten winners carried at least 10st 11lb, suggesting that a relatively high weight has not been a major obstacle.
Trained by Paul Nicholls: 2 wins, 5 further places. Nicholls won consecutive renewals with Stage Star (2023) and Il Ridoto (2024). His runners also recorded five additional top-three finishes during the period.
Trained by Dan Skelton: 1 win, 4 further places. Skelton won the 2025 renewal with Panic Attack, while his runners have also recorded two second-place finishes and two thirds since 2020.

Previous experience in the race can also be worth considering. Il Ridoto finished fourth in 2022 and third in 2023 before returning to win in 2024, demonstrating how horses with proven Cheltenham handicap form can eventually get their chance.

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Front-runners hold the key at Cheltenham’s November Meeting

2026-11-11T15:35:00+00:00

Anyone who has watched Cheltenham in November for long enough will tell you it pays to be handy, and the numbers back them up in a big way. I have been through all 186 races at the last ten November Meetings, and horses who made the running won more than three times as often as those held up at the back.

It is not simply a case of the best horses going forward, either. Front-runners have won about half as many races again as their prices said they should, and you would be £64 up to a £1 stake had you backed every one of them since 2017.

There is a catch, mind, because it works far better over fences than over hurdles. That is one of nine trends in our full guide to the meeting, which also covers the favourites’ record in the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Greatwood, the age group that dominates the handicap hurdles, and the trainers and jockeys to follow. Our Cheltenham tips put that front-runner angle to work.

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Cheltenham Races & Cheltenham Festival 2027

2026-11-11T15:34:00+00:00

Cheltenham Racecourse hosts racing throughout the National Hunt season, from the November Meeting to the Cheltenham Festival. Explore our guides to the meetings and races at Prestbury Park, with racecards, tips and odds for upcoming fixtures. The 2027 Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March, with 28 races across four days, culminating in Cheltenham Gold Cup day. Find individual race guides below, alongside the latest available Cheltenham Festival odds and Festival tips.

Our guides cover the key races throughout the season, as well as the Festival schedule, past winners and how to watch. Betting readers can also explore Cheltenham betting offers and compare horse racing betting sites.

November Meeting trends

Horses who make the running win more than three times as often as those held up at Cheltenham’s November Meeting, and favourites have a dreadful record in both of the weekend’s big handicaps. Our guide to the trends from the last ten meetings has the lot.

Cheltenham Festival 2027 Race Schedule

The 2027 Cheltenham Festival takes place from Tuesday 16 to Friday 19 March, with seven races each day and 28 across the meeting. Racing is scheduled to start at 13:20 and finish at 17:20 each afternoon. All times below are UK time and are subject to change.

Day 1: Tuesday 16th March 2027

Champion Day opens the Festival with the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The Champion Hurdle headlines the afternoon at 16:00, alongside novice chases and competitive handicaps. The opening day’s schedule is:

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (13:20);
Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices’ Chase (14:00);
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (14:40);
Ultima Handicap Chase (15:20);
Champion Hurdle (16:00);
Plate Handicap Chase (16:40);
National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase (17:20).

Day 2: Wednesday 17th March 2027

Wednesday’s feature is the Queen Mother Champion Chase at 16:00. The card also includes the Turners Novices’ Hurdle, Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and Cross Country Chase, before the Champion Bumper closes proceedings. The schedule is:

Turners Novices’ Hurdle (13:20);
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (14:00);
BetMGM Cup Handicap Hurdle (14:40);
Cross Country Handicap Chase (15:20);
Queen Mother Champion Chase (16:00);
Grand Annual Handicap Chase (16:40);
Champion Bumper (17:20).

Day 3: Thursday 18th March 2027

St Patrick’s Thursday features two championship contests: the Stayers’ Hurdle at 15:20 and the Ryanair Chase at 16:00. The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle opens the afternoon, while the Kim Muir brings the day to a close. The schedule is:

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (13:20);
Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (14:00);
Mares’ Hurdle (14:40);
Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle (15:20);
Ryanair Chase (16:00);
Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (16:40);
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (17:20).

Day 4: Friday 19th March 2027

Gold Cup Day concludes the Festival, with the Cheltenham Gold Cup scheduled for 16:00. The Triumph Hurdle and Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle also feature, before the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle closes the meeting. The final day’s schedule is:

Triumph Hurdle (13:20);
County Handicap Hurdle (14:00);
Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (14:40);
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (15:20);
Cheltenham Gold Cup (16:00);
Princess Royal Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase (16:40);
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (17:20).

Cheltenham Odds

Before you bet on Cheltenham festival, it’s wise to check the odds. Whether you’re doing a bit of research on which horse to back, or simply looking for the best price for your chosen runner, you can use our Cheltenham odds to compare every race during the festival. Once you’ve found your best odds, you can click through to sign up to one of our top bookies.

Cheltenham Tips

Whether you’re a seasoned bettor or are looking to make your first wager on the festival, be sure to consult our Cheltenham tips, featuring a range of picks from around the web alongside our resident tipster, Raceolly.

Cheltenham Results

If it’s simply the winners you’re looking for, check out our Cheltenham results page, featuring results dating all the way back to 2010. For each year we have a detailed breakdown of who finished where, as well as information on each runner.

Cheltenham Free Bets

Here at HorseRacing.net, we’ve looked far and wide for some of the best Cheltenham free bet offers. Here’s a sneak preview of some of our favourites, but head over to the main page to see the full menu.

BetMGM

New customers at BetMGM can land £40 of free bets when they sign up and bet £10. The £40 comes as 4x £10 free bets: two for football accas (four selections or more) and two for sports multiples (two selections or more).

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Cheltenham Racecourse Guide

Cheltenham Racecourse features two different courses — the ‘old’ course and the ‘new’ course — which allow the four-day festival to host a greater variety of races.

Unsurprisingly, the Old Course is the original track. It’s shorter and less demanding than the New Course, and is often favoured by faster horses. Races that take place on Tuesday and Wednesday use the Old Course, and the tight turns and upward slope of the last half mile can make for some exciting finishes.

The New Course offers a wider track for races taking place on Thursday and Friday. A substantial climb means races on this course are better suited to the strongest and most durable stayers.

Cheltenham Racecourse Visitor Guide

Planning a visit to Cheltenham Racecourse? Here is the key information on enclosures, parking, transport and what to bring, whether you are attending the Festival or another meeting during the season.

Different Enclosures Available

The Cheltenham Festival offers three main enclosures: Club, Tattersalls and Best Mate. At many other meetings, Club and Tattersalls are combined into a Club/Tatts ticket. Check the options available for your chosen raceday before booking.

The Club Enclosure is the premium public enclosure, offering viewing areas near the winning post and main grandstand, access to Parade Ring viewing and a wide choice of food and drink outlets. Club ticket holders can also access the Tattersalls areas. Hospitality packages and reserved facilities may require a separate booking.
The Tattersalls Enclosure offers a middle ground between Club and Best Mate, with Parade Ring viewing, views of the Winner’s Enclosure and access to the grandstand viewing steps. There is also a range of bars and food outlets.
The Best Mate Enclosure is the most affordable of the three Festival enclosures. Positioned opposite the main grandstand, it has its own viewing areas, bars, food outlets and betting facilities. Best Mate tickets do not include access to the Parade Ring or Pre-Parade Ring.

Parking and Accommodation

On-site public parking is free at most Cheltenham race meetings. Charges apply on the Saturday of the November Meeting and on all four days of the Cheltenham Festival, when a parking pass must be purchased in advance. Follow the route and parking instructions supplied with your pass, and allow plenty of time to arrive on busy racedays.

Cheltenham and the surrounding area offer a range of hotels, guest houses and B&Bs. Book accommodation early for the Festival and other popular meetings, and plan your journey to the racecourse in advance. Raceday traffic can make journeys considerably longer than usual.

Where is Cheltenham Racecourse?

Cheltenham Racecourse is at Prestbury Park, on Evesham Road, just outside Cheltenham town centre in Gloucestershire. The postcode for satellite navigation is GL50 4SH. Follow official raceday signs and any directions provided with your parking pass as you approach the course.

The nearest railway station is Cheltenham Spa, which is a separate journey from the racecourse. Raceday bus services connect the station and racecourse, while taxis provide another option. Check the timetable and pick-up arrangements for your chosen meeting before travelling.

For visitors travelling from further afield, Birmingham Airport is approximately 48 miles from the racecourse and Bristol Airport approximately 54 miles away.

Vital Information on Visiting Cheltenham

Cheltenham Racecourse operates cashless payments for food, drink and other concessions, so bring a card or suitable contactless payment method. Cash is accepted by on-course bookmakers and the Tote. Bring any cash you intend to use for betting.

There is no formal dress code, but comfortable footwear and clothing suited to the weather are recommended. Much of your day may be spent outdoors, so warm layers and a waterproof coat can be useful throughout the jump racing season.

During the Cheltenham Festival, fancy dress is not permitted in the Club Enclosure, hospitality areas or restaurants. It may be permitted elsewhere at the racecourse’s discretion, provided it is not offensive.

Before setting off, check the official information for your meeting, including gate opening times, ticket access and travel arrangements.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Cheltenham Festival

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Shloer Chase Trends 2026: Jonbon's Cheltenham Gap And A Four-Way Pace Battle

2026-11-11T12:56:00+00:00

Billy Grimshaw digs into 16 years of Shloer Chase results ahead of Friday's Grade 2 at Cheltenham. The make up and pace both carry more weight than ever in this small field, and the numbers raise real questions for Jonbon as he bids to become the first horse to win it three times.

The Shloer Chase is the feature on the first day of Cheltenham's November Meeting, at 2.20pm on Friday, and it has cut up to a field of just four. Jonbon heads the market for Nicky Henderson as he goes for a third win in the race after taking it in 2023 and 2024, and he is joined by Jane Williams' Saint Segal, Harry Fry's Gidleigh Park and Warren Greatrex's Mighty Bandit.

I have been through every running from 2010 to 2025 in the HorseRacing.net database, along with the full records of all four runners, and two themes jump out. The market has called this race almost without fail, and the way it is run has been kind to one type of horse in particular.

Favourites and the betting

With only four runners on Friday, history all but rules out half the field before they jump off. Short-priced is not the same as safe, though: with two odds-on favourites being stunned in the Shloer since 2010. The latest was of course the returning Jonbon at 5/6 last year.

Blindly backing the second favourite every year would even have been more profitable than just backing the favourite, and is certainly the best angle judging purely by the market data given how poorly outsiders have done in the race over the years.

Jonbon’s course record

Jonbon is a model of consistency as a racehorse, but if he has an Achilles heel it is his Cheltenham record. He does not run badly here, he just keeps finding one too good and three of those defeats came at odds-on here. He never runs a bad race, but he does save the worst of his solid runs for Prestbury Park.

Now he has Father Time to contend with, too. No Shloer winner since 2010 has been older than nine, and runners aged ten or more are 0 from 10 since 2016, so victory on Friday would make him the oldest winner since Well Chief took the first running back in 2009. He could also become the first horse to win the Shloer three times.

Front-runners in the Shloer

Front-runners who were not favourite in this race often flatter to deceive, but unlike in some races when the pacesetters fall out of the back of the TV, in the Shloer they tend to keep going. Thirteen have tried it since 2011 and, while none of them won, ten finished second or third. It is a different story when the favourite goes on, with three of the four who made the running holding on. The one who didn’t was, you guessed it, Jonbon himself last year, and that matters on Friday because, back at the minimum trip, he may try to go wire to wire.

Potential pace

Saint Segal is the one most likely to insist on leading, as he takes a keen hold and has been taken to post early on multiple occasions throughout his career. Taking Jonbon on for the lead is exactly what did for Matata's chances last season, with the Henderson star outbattling him in a jostle for the lead but L'Eau du Sud picking up the pieces and powering away from them both. Jonbon sat just off the lead in his last three runs, but all three were over further than two miles, so does he go forward again back at the minimum trip? If two or three of them go hard, history points to the one sitting just behind claiming Shloer glory, and the most likely beneficiary could be the versatile Mighty Bandit.

Field sizes

Small fields have become the norm for the Shloer, and they change the race. With four runners there is nowhere to hide, so whoever makes the running has a big say in how it unfolds. A short field has not made the favourite a certainty either: three of the last six have been beaten, including Defi Du Seuil, who was pulled up at 6/5 in a four-runner race in 2020.

An eye on the trainers

Nicky Henderson’s record in the race looks formidable, but Jonbon has done most of the heavy lifting: three of the yard’s seven runners were him. Paul Nicholls is yet to taste sweet success in the Shloer. We put these trends to work in our Cheltenham tips.

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Shloer Chase 2026 final field: Jonbon faces just three rivals

2026-11-11T10:20:00+00:00

Jonbon will try to win the Shloer Chase for a third time when he heads a field of four for the Grade 2 two-miler on the opening day of Cheltenham’s November Meeting on Friday 13 November (2.20pm). With only four going to post, the betting angles on Friday lie elsewhere on the card, and they are in our Cheltenham racing tips.

Nicky Henderson’s ten-year-old is a top price of 10/11 to win back the race he took in 2023 and 2024, and the fact good to soft is now in the going description is in his favour.

Last year’s winner L’Eau Du Sud is not among the field after being ruled out for the season last week, which leaves Jonbon with the highest official rating in the race although he has to give 6lb to every rival, The Shloer Chase is run over 1m7f199y on the Old Course, is worth £56,950 to the winner and is live on Racing TV.

Shloer Chase 2026 runners and riders

Jonbon (Nicky Henderson)

Jonbon is the class act. He won this race at 4/9 and 1/3 in the two years before last season’s defeat, and he bounced back from runner-up finishes here and in the Tingle Creek to win the Clarence House Chase and the Ascot Chase over 2m5f. He then finished second in the Ryanair Chase, beaten ten lengths at 2/1.

That is solid Grade 1 form, but he hasn’t run since March, he is ten, and he was beaten 15 lengths in this race 12 months ago when sent off 5/6. Add the doubt about the ground and many will recoil from backing him at the price. If the going eases, he becomes a much stronger favourite.

Gidleigh Park (Harry Fry)

Harry Fry’s eight-year-old is a course-and-distance winner and his peak performances have indicated what he can do on his day. Last season didn’t produce many of those days, sadly. He was nine lengths second in the 1965 Chase at Ascot, pulled up in the Clarence House Chase after Bryan Carver reported he jumped poorly and ran flat, then weakened into fifth in the Melling Chase at Aintree.

He has been off since April. At 4/1 in places, he is priced on what he might be rather than what he showed last season.

Saint Segal (Jane Williams)

Saint Segal likes to go from the front, so he should decide how the race is run. He was second in the Desert Orchid Chase and the Game Spirit last season before things went wrong in the spring. He made a bad mistake at the first and was pulled up in the Champion Chase, then pulled up again in the Melling Chase.

His return at Ffos Las last month was better. He led until two out over 2m3f on soft ground before fading into fourth. Ciaran Gethings keeps the ride, and one suspects Saint Segal sets the race up for something else.

Mighty Bandit (Warren Greatrex)

The youngest in the field at six, Mighty Bandit improved quickly over fences last winter. He won three handicaps in a row at Newbury and Doncaster, making all twice, before stepping up to Grade 1 company in the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree.

He was fourth there, but it was better than the bare result. He lost his position mid-race, was hampered by a faller three out and stayed on well from the second-last. He is rated 151, so he needs to improve again, but he is the one runner open to a big leap forward. Most of his best form has come on soft ground, which he is unlikely to get.

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Greatwood Hurdle 2026 runners: 24 left in prestigious Cheltenham handicap

2026-11-10T15:06:00+00:00

Idaho Sun heads a field of 24 remaining contenders for the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday 15 November (3.10pm), with Harry Fry's Grade 1 winner the ante-post favourite for the feature race on the final day of the November Meeting. With 24 still in, the field will shrink before Sunday, and our pick goes into our Sunday Cheltenham selections once it is final.

The six-year-old is a top price of 4/1 following Monday's confirmation stage, but his participation remains uncertain because of the ground. Cheltenham was described as good, good to firm in places on Monday, with watering under way. Idaho Sun has not raced since beating Mydaddypaddy in the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree last Boxing Day, having subsequently missed the Supreme Novices' Hurdle through lameness.

Dan Skelton has five horses remaining, including Let It Rain and Harry Lowes, while Welsh Champion Hurdle winner Pioneer Pete is another leading contender despite an 8lb rise for his recent victory. Iberico Lord heads the weights off a mark of 144, with a maximum field of 20 permitted. The Unibet Greatwood Hurdle is a Premier Handicap run over 2m87y on the Old Course, is worth £56,950 to the winner and will be shown live on ITV3 and Racing TV.

Greatwood Hurdle 2026 runners and riders

Prices are the best available on Monday 9 November. There are 24 horses remaining after the confirmation stage, with a maximum field of 20 permitted. Final declarations are due on Thursday 12 November.

Idaho Sun (Harry Fry, 4/1)

Idaho Sun is the most exciting horse in the field. Harry Fry's six-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles, culminating in a Grade 1 victory in the Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day, where he beat Mydaddypaddy. He also finished sixth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March 2025, so has experience of the track.

He missed the Supreme Novices' Hurdle through injury and has not raced since December, which makes this a demanding seasonal return. His opening handicap mark of 142 looks workable for a horse with his potential, but he must carry 11st 12lb against more experienced rivals. Fry has also indicated that he wants some ease in the ground, with the Gerry Feilden at Newbury an alternative. He could be considerably better than a handicapper, but there are enough uncertainties to make 4/1 a relatively short price.

Let It Rain (Dan Skelton, 6/1)

Let It Rain represents a Dan Skelton yard with five horses remaining in the race, and the six-year-old mare looks particularly interesting from a mark of 130. Her form with French Ship and All In You suggests she has the ability to make an impact in a competitive handicap, while her relatively lightly raced profile leaves room for further improvement.

She disappointed in the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury last season, so there is a question about whether she can produce her best form in a big-field handicap. However, Skelton knows exactly what is required to win these valuable races, and she receives 12lb from Idaho Sun. At 6/1, she offers a little more value than the favourite if returning to her best.

Harry Lowes (Dan Skelton, 7/1)

Harry Lowes is another strong contender for Dan Skelton, who has five horses remaining in the race. The five-year-old enjoyed a productive novice campaign, winning twice over hurdles before finishing second on his final appearance of the season. He makes his handicap debut from a mark of 128, which could underestimate his ability if he continues progressing.

The obvious concern is his lack of experience in a race as competitive as the Greatwood, particularly after an absence of more than seven months. However, he gets 14lb from Idaho Sun and represents a trainer who excels with improving handicappers. At 7/1, there is enough potential to make him a serious player, provided he handles the demands of a big field at Cheltenham.

Pioneer Pete (Jonjo & A J O'Neill, 10/1)

Pioneer Pete has the advantage of a recent run, having won the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las last month. He travelled strongly before asserting in the closing stages, producing a career-best performance that earned him an 8lb rise from the handicapper. That puts him firmly in the picture for another valuable prize.

The question is whether the handicapper has caught up with him. An 8lb rise is significant in a race of this depth, and Cheltenham presents a different challenge to Ffos Las. However, race fitness is a genuine advantage against several rivals returning from lengthy absences, and his recent improvement makes him difficult to dismiss. He looks a solid contender rather than an obvious handicap blot.

Helnwein (Alan King, 10/1)

Helnwein has unfinished business in the Greatwood after finishing second to Alexei in last year's renewal. That form looks particularly strong given the winner subsequently finished fourth in the Champion Hurdle, and Alan King's runner has already demonstrated that he can handle the demands of this course and race.

King reports that the horse is in good order ahead of his return and believes he is versatile regarding the ground, which is a useful attribute given the uncertainty over conditions. He may lack the untapped potential of some younger rivals, but proven Greatwood form counts for plenty. At 10/1, he makes considerable each-way appeal if reproducing last year's effort.

Mister Ursus (Olly Murphy, 12/1)

Mister Ursus has improved steadily since joining Olly Murphy, winning novice hurdles at Fakenham and Perth in the spring. He made his handicap debut off a mark of 128 at Newton Abbot last month, finishing third of seven and beaten just two lengths. That was a respectable return against more experienced opposition, and he should be sharper for the run.

The five-year-old has plenty of scope for further improvement and receives 14lb from Idaho Sun, but this is a significant step up in class. His two victories came in Class 4 company, and he has yet to encounter anything resembling the demands of a Greatwood Hurdle. The ability is there, but he needs to find another level to justify his position towards the head of the betting.

Mossy Fen Road (Harry Derham, 12/1)

Mossy Fen Road looked a smart novice when winning at Lingfield and Chepstow last winter, the latter victory coming in particularly impressive fashion. He was sent off 1/3 for the Scottish Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Musselburgh in February but could only finish second, beaten four lengths by Onlyforfrankie after being outjumped at the last. He has not raced since.

Harry Derham has made no secret of his regard for the six-year-old, suggesting there is more to come and identifying the Greatwood as a possible starting point. An opening handicap mark of 136 looks reasonable given his novice form, and he has won on his seasonal debut in each of the past two campaigns. The absence is less concerning than his lack of big-field experience, but he has the profile of a horse who could be considerably better than his current rating.

Greatwood Hurdle Stats and Trends

These stats cover the last ten runnings of the Greatwood Hurdle (2016-2025). The Premier Handicap is run over approximately two miles on Cheltenham's Old Course and regularly attracts some of the most progressive handicap hurdlers in training.

Last 10 Greatwood Hurdle Winners

Year	Winner	Age	Weight	SP	Trainer	Jockey
2025	Alexei	5	11-4	100/30F	Joe Tizzard	Brendan Powell
2024	Burdett Road	4	11-10	7/2	James Owen	Harry Cobden
2023	Iberico Lord	5	11-0	7/1	Nicky Henderson	Nico de Boinville
2022	I Like To Move It	5	12-0	17/2	Nigel Twiston-Davies	Sam Twiston-Davies
2021	West Cork	7	10-13	11/1	Dan Skelton	Harry Skelton
2020	The Shunter	7	10-0	13/2	Emmet Mullins (IRE)	Robbie Power
2019	Harambe	6	11-0	16/1	Alan King	Tom Bellamy
2018	Nietzsche	5	9-7	20/1	Brian Ellison	Danny McMenamin
2017	Elgin	5	10-8	10/1	Alan King	Wayne Hutchinson
2016	North Hill Harvey	5	11-0	6/1	Dan Skelton	Harry Skelton

Weights shown are actual weights carried, including any jockey allowances.

Winner Profile

Stat	Last 10 Runnings
Average age	5.4 years
Average weight carried	10st 13lb
Shortest-priced winner	Alexei, 100/30F (2025)
Biggest-priced winner	Nietzsche, 20/1 (2018)
Leading trainers	Dan Skelton and Alan King, 2 wins each
Different winning trainers	8 in 10 years
Most successful age	Five-year-olds, 6 wins
Irish-trained winners	1, The Shunter (2020)

Key Greatwood Hurdle Trends

Aged four to six: 8/10. Eight of the last ten winners were aged between four and six, with West Cork (2021) and The Shunter (2020) the only seven-year-olds to succeed. Five-year-olds have been particularly successful, accounting for six victories. This favours younger contenders such as Idaho Sun and Harry Lowes over the more exposed older horses.
Trained in Britain: 9/10. The Shunter, trained by Emmet Mullins, is the only Irish-trained winner of the last decade. British yards have dominated, although the Irish success in 2020 demonstrates that overseas challengers cannot be dismissed.
Started at 11/1 or shorter: 8/10. Only Harambe (16/1 in 2019) and Nietzsche (20/1 in 2018) have won at bigger prices. The last six winners have all returned at 11/1 or shorter, suggesting that the market has become a relatively reliable guide.
Aged five: 6/10. Alexei, Iberico Lord, I Like To Move It, Nietzsche, Elgin and North Hill Harvey were all five-year-olds. Horses of this age have won three of the last four renewals, with Burdett Road the exception as a four-year-old in 2024.
Carried 10st 8lb or more: 8/10. Only The Shunter (10st in 2020) and Nietzsche (9st 7lb in 2018) won from below this weight. Four of the last five winners carried at least 11st, suggesting that a relatively high burden is no barrier to success for a well-handicapped horse.
Started between 100/30 and 17/2: 6/10. Six of the last ten winners returned an SP within this range, including the last three. Alexei was the shortest-priced winner at 100/30 last year, while Burdett Road was successful at 7/2 in 2024.
Trained by Dan Skelton: 2 wins. Skelton won with North Hill Harvey in 2016 and West Cork in 2021, both ridden by his brother Harry. With several contenders remaining in the 2026 renewal, including Let It Rain and Harry Lowes, the stable has a strong chance of adding another victory.
Trained by Alan King: 2 wins. King won 2 renewals in 3 years with Elgin in 2017 and Harambe in 2019, while Helnwein finished second to Alexei in 2025. His yard has a proven record in the race, making Helnwein an interesting contender if returning for another attempt.
Won by a favourite: 1/10. Alexei's success at 100/30 in 2025 was the only winning favourite during the last decade. Burdett Road was also well supported at 7/2 in 2024, but the overall record demonstrates how difficult this competitive handicap can be for favourite backers.

Recent winners also highlight the importance of identifying horses who may be ahead of the handicapper. Alexei won by six lengths in 2025 before progressing into Champion Hurdle company, while Iberico Lord and I Like To Move It also developed into high-class performers. The Greatwood regularly rewards improving hurdlers rather than simply those with the most experience, making the unexposed runners particularly interesting in the 2026 renewal.

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Japan Cup - All You Need To Know Ahead Of Ombudsman Bid

2026-11-10T14:03:54+00:00

Ombudsman is set to bring the curtain down on his career in the Japan Cup at Tokyo Racecourse on Sunday 29 November, as John and Thady Gosden bid to land one of the world’s richest turf races before the Godolphin star heads to stud.

The Japan Cup is a Grade 1 open to horses aged three and upwards, run over 2,400 metres (about a mile and a half) on Tokyo’s left-handed turf course, which has a long 525-metre home straight.

The winner collects ¥500 million (around US$3.2 million) from a total purse of ¥1.09 billion. On top of that, a record US$5 million bonus is on offer this year to a horse who wins after landing a designated race such as the Champion Stakes – which Ombudsman did at Ascot last month – taking the potential haul to around US$8.2 million.

Japan Cup 2026 Potential Runners

We take a look at some of the potential runners that could be competing for Japan Cup glory later this month...

Ombudsman (John & Thady Gosden)

Ombudsman has won ten of his 14 races and goes to Tokyo with five Group 1 wins to his name. His victories include the Prince of Wales’s Stakes in 2025 and 2026, the Juddmonte International in 2025, the Dubai Turf in March and the Champion Stakes. The latter saw him warm up for a possible tilt at the Japan Cup after beating Calandagan by three-and-three-quarter lengths last month.

The five-year-old by Night of Thunder skipped the Breeders’ Cup because the turnaround from Ascot was too short, and the six-week gap to Tokyo is seen as a better fit.

Calandagan (Francis-Henri Graffard)

The defending champion is the horse Ombudsman will most likely have to beat. Calandagan won last year’s Japan Cup in a race-record 2:20.3, beating Masquerade Ball, having already landed the King George and the Champion Stakes in 2025 at Ascot.

The Aga Khan gelding, who was bred in Ireland and is trained in France, won the Dubai Sheema Classic in March. His connections skipped York and the Irish Champion Stakes to build his season around a second Japan Cup. He was second to Ombudsman at Ascot, but he has proven form over this course and trip and is the most obvious danger. A win would make him only the third dual winner of the race, after Gentildonna and Almond Eye.

Other European nominations

Graffard also nominated Goliath, the 2024 King George winner as a potential runner in this season's iconic world event. Aidan O’Brien put in five possible entries, which includes former Derby hero Lambourn, Minnie Hauk, Jan Brueghel and Breeders' Cup winning duo Benvenuto Cellini and Diamond Necklace.

The home team

Japanese-trained horses have won 30 of the 45 runnings, and the home side will be strong as usual. Masquerade Ball was just touched off by Calandagan last year, and Danon Decile has won this autumn’s Tenno Sho (Autumn) at Tokyo. The full picture will become clearer when the JRA publishes its list of nominated horses on 16 November.

Japan Cup past winners

The Japan Cup was first run in 1981 to bring international stars to Tokyo, and the USA’s Mairzy Doates won the first running. Overseas horses won the early years, but Japan has dominated since. Before Calandagan’s win last year, no overseas-trained horse had won since Alkaased in 2005.

Japan’s great champions are well represented on the roll of honour. Deep Impact won in 2006, Gentildonna won in 2012 and 2013, and Almond Eye won in 2018 and 2020, setting a then-record time of 2:20.6 on her first win. Equinox won in 2023, Yutaka Take rode Do Deuce to victory in 2024, and Kitasan Black, also partnered by Take, won in 2016.

British and Irish-trained winners

Five Japan Cup winners have been trained in Britain or Ireland:

Stanerra (1983) – Frank Dunne’s mare became the first Irish-trained winner, getting up by a head under Brian Rouse.
Jupiter Island (1986) – Clive Brittain’s horse, ridden by Pat Eddery, became the first British-trained winner.
Singspiel (1996) – Sir Michael Stoute’s colt, ridden by Frankie Dettori, gave the Newmarket trainer his first Japan Cup.
Pilsudski (1997) – Stoute won again a year later, with Michael Kinane riding.
Alkaased (2005) – Luca Cumani’s horse won in a then-record 2:22.1 under Dettori, the last British-trained winner. Ombudsman can end the 21-year wait.

Japan Cup Winners: Last 10 Years

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Time
2025	Calandagan	4	Mickael Barzalona	Francis-Henri Graffard (FR)	2:20.3
2024	Do Deuce	5	Yutaka Take	Yasuo Tomomichi	2:25.5
2023	Equinox	4	Christophe Lemaire	Tetsuya Kimura	2:21.8
2022	Vela Azul	5	Ryan Moore	Kunihiko Watanabe	2:23.7
2021	Contrail	4	Yuichi Fukunaga	Yoshito Yahagi	2:24.7
2020	Almond Eye	5	Christophe Lemaire	Sakae Kunieda	2:23.0
2019	Suave Richard	5	Oisin Murphy	Yasushi Shono	2:25.9
2018	Almond Eye	3	Christophe Lemaire	Sakae Kunieda	2:20.6
2017	Cheval Grand	5	Hugh Bowman	Yasuo Tomomichi	2:23.7
2016	Kitasan Black	4	Yutaka Take	Hisashi Shimizu	2:25.8

Trainers are Japan-based unless stated.

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Join Our New Telegram Group: Racing News, Views, Opinions and Antepost Bets!

2026-11-10T12:55:00+00:00

With the Cheltenham November Meeting around the corner, here at HorseRacing.Net we have launched an exciting new medium for our community to talk all things racing. Our Telegram group is now live, with tabs for you to chat all things Cheltenham, antepost betting, daily racing, rumours and more. We will also be drip feeding in our choice of the best free bets and betting offers!

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We've created a number of dedicated chats to cover different aspects of horse racing, giving members the chance to get involved in the conversations that interest them most.

Our Daily Racing Chat is the place to discuss the day's action, share selections and celebrate winners, while our Cheltenham Chat offers a dedicated home for all things Prestbury Park throughout the year.

There are also spaces for ante-post betting, racing news, rumours, potential targets and the latest bookmaker offers.

Above all, we want this to be a community shaped by racing fans themselves. Whether you've spotted an interesting runner, fancy a horse for the Festival or simply want to hear what others think about an upcoming race, we'd love you to get involved.

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Cheltenham Market Movers: Love Me Tender Shortens as Kopek Des Bordes Drifts

2026-11-09T12:48:00+00:00

The road to the 2027 Cheltenham Festival took several unexpected turns over the weekend, with established stars suffering defeats, exciting novices enhancing their reputations and trainers offering fresh clues about their plans for March. Where those moves leave our own bets for March is set out in our Cheltenham Festival 2027 ante-post tips.

Sunday's meeting at Naas proved particularly informative. Willie Mullins saw his 2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Kopek Des Bordes comprehensively beaten, but also unveiled an increasingly serious contender for the same race in Love Me Tender.

Meanwhile, Champion Bumper hero The Mourne Rambler maintained his unbeaten record at Naas, although his performance prompted suggestions that a different Cheltenham target to the one he was favourite for could be on the agenda.

With the Festival taking place from 16 to 19 March 2027, we assess the horses whose prospects changed over the weekend and what their performances could mean for the biggest races at Prestbury Park.

The Mourne Rambler: Supreme or Turners Novices' Hurdle?

Last season's Champion Bumper winner The Mourne Rambler made a successful start to his hurdling career at Naas, but connections appear to be reconsidering his most suitable Cheltenham target.

Sent off at 1/4, Noel Meade's five-year-old was expected to make short work of his rivals in a two-mile maiden hurdle. Instead, he was forced to dig deep before getting the better of Whisky Lads by half a length.

Meade was encouraged by the winner's jumping overall, but suggested afterwards that a step up to two and a half miles could be preferable to remaining at the minimum trip.

That would represent a change from the original plan of tackling the Royal Bond and has significant implications for his Cheltenham Festival prospects.

Cheltenham permutations: The Supreme Novices' Hurdle had initially appeared the logical destination for the reigning Champion Bumper winner, but the Turners Novices' Hurdle over approximately two miles and five furlongs is now emerging as a serious alternative.

The Mourne Rambler was cut to around 16/1 for the Turners with some bookmakers, reflecting the growing expectation that his stamina could be better exploited over further.

A switch to intermediate distances would also remove a significant contender from the Supreme picture, potentially leaving Love Me Tender and the other leading two-mile novices with one fewer rival to contend with.

Nothing has been finalised, but the distance chosen for The Mourne Rambler's next start should provide a strong indication of the direction Meade intends to take.

Kopek Des Bordes Suffers Champion Chase Setback

Few horses attracted more attention at Naas than Kopek Des Bordes, who returned as the 1/4 favourite for the Grade 3 Barberstown Castle Chase.

The 2025 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner had looked a potential superstar over fences last season, but his campaign ended in frustration following defeat to Kargese in the Arkle at Cheltenham and a subsequent fall at Punchestown.

His return did little to restore confidence, with Irish Panther producing a decisive performance to defeat him by ten lengths.

Nevertheless, Mullins and jockey Paul Townend both identified positives in the run, particularly an improved attitude towards his jumping. Connections also believe he will benefit considerably from the outing.

Cheltenham permutations: Kopek Des Bordes remains a Champion Chase contender, but his claims are now considerably less convincing than they appeared before Sunday's race.

He faces the prospect of taking on reigning champion Il Etait Temps and Arkle winner Kargese, both from his own stable, as well as an improving Irish Panther.

There has also been speculation about a possible return to hurdles, although Mullins indicated after Naas that he intends to persevere over fences, potentially returning to action around Christmas.

That makes his next chase particularly important. A return to winning ways against established opposition could quickly restore his reputation, but another defeat would leave serious questions about his ability to challenge the best two-mile chasers at Cheltenham.

Irish Panther Enters the Champion Chase Conversation

While Kopek Des Bordes disappointed, Irish Panther arguably delivered the most significant chasing performance of the weekend.

The Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained nine-year-old was always travelling strongly under Kieren Buckley and powered clear to land the Barberstown Castle Chase by ten lengths.

Although he finished only sixth in last season's Champion Chase, Irish Panther was still a relatively inexperienced novice at that stage and appears capable of further improvement.

Connections have identified a likely return to Leopardstown over Christmas, where he could have another opportunity to establish himself among Ireland's leading two-mile chasers.

Cheltenham permutations: Irish Panther is now a genuine contender for the 2027 Champion Chase, although he still has to demonstrate that Sunday's performance was more than an early-season advantage over a rival who needed the run.

A strong showing at Leopardstown would go a long way towards answering that question.

Should he confirm the Naas form against top-class opposition, his current position outside the leading Mullins contenders in the ante-post betting could begin to look generous.

Love Me Tender Emerges as New Supreme Novices' Hurdle Favourite

Willie Mullins has another potentially top-class novice hurdler on his hands after Love Me Tender made it two wins from two over obstacles with an impressive victory in Sunday's Grade 3 Fishery Lane Novice Hurdle at Naas.

The four-year-old, who had won his hurdling debut at Listowel by 20 lengths, was similarly dominant on this occasion, pulling 15 lengths clear of Bartholomew despite several untidy jumps.

Bookmakers reacted by cutting Love Me Tender to as short as 6/1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, making him the new favourite with several firms.

However, his jumping remains a concern. Mullins acknowledged that the gelding has considerable room for improvement in that department, and suggested connections could bypass the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in favour of giving him additional time before a Christmas engagement.

Cheltenham permutations: The Supreme is the obvious target given Love Me Tender's pace and the two-mile trips over which he has excelled so far.

His jumping will need to improve considerably, however, particularly with Cheltenham's championship novice hurdle demanding accuracy at speed.

A smoother round against stronger opposition on his next start would strengthen his claims, while further mistakes might make his current position at the head of the market difficult to justify.

Anzadam Gives Mullins Another Arkle Contender

There was better news for Mullins elsewhere on the Naas card, where Anzadam made an encouraging start to his chasing career.

The six-year-old had displayed considerable ability over hurdles, but his tendency to race too freely often prevented him from producing his best performances.

He appeared more settled on his first start over fences, eventually pulling seven lengths clear of Eachtotheirown in a two-mile beginners' chase.

Bookmakers responded by cutting him from around 25/1 to 10/1 for the 2027 Arkle.

Cheltenham permutations: Anzadam's immediate objective will be to prove he can reproduce this performance in stronger novice company, but the Arkle looks a plausible long-term target.

His ability to settle more effectively over fences is particularly encouraging, as the strong gallop of a championship two-mile novice chase could suit a horse with his natural speed.

Nicky Henderson's Supreme winner Old Park Star remains a major obstacle in the ante-post market, but Anzadam has now emerged as another interesting Irish challenger.

Alexei Strengthens Champion Hurdle Claims at Aintree

British-trained Champion Hurdle contender Alexei made a successful seasonal reappearance in Saturday's Grade 2 Molyneux Hurdle at Aintree.

Joe Tizzard's six-year-old, who finished fourth behind Lossiemouth in last season's Champion Hurdle, justified favouritism with a four-length victory over Mange Tout.

It was a professional rather than spectacular performance, although Alexei was conceding eight pounds to the runner-up.

With Mydaddypaddy withdrawn because of the ground, the race arguably provided less of a test than connections might originally have anticipated.

Tizzard has indicated that the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle is the likely next target.

Cheltenham permutations: Alexei has established himself as a legitimate contender for another Champion Hurdle appearance, but whether he can bridge the gap to the very best remains uncertain.

His fourth-place finish in March demonstrated that he belongs in this company, while his subsequent third in the Aintree Hurdle confirmed his progression into a high-class performer.

However, beating Mange Tout is a different proposition from getting the better of the likes of Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead.

The Fighting Fifth should provide a clearer indication of whether further improvement is forthcoming and how seriously he should be considered for Cheltenham.

Royal Infantry Adds to Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Picture

Another British-trained novice worth monitoring is Royal Infantry, who maintained his unbeaten record for the season with victory in Friday's Future Stars Silver Bowl Novices' Chase at Aintree.

Dan Skelton's seven-year-old jumped soundly for much of the three-mile-one-furlong contest and proved too strong for Klimt Madrik, winning by two and a half lengths.

The performance earned Royal Infantry an introductory quote of 33/1 for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham.

Cheltenham permutations: Having now won twice over fences this season, Royal Infantry is beginning to look a potentially interesting candidate for the Festival's staying novice championship.

His Aintree victory provided encouraging evidence of his stamina, while his jumping appeared more assured than it had been during his previous, interrupted introduction to chasing.

He still needs to improve considerably before he can be regarded as a leading Brown Advisory contender, but Skelton has time to develop him through the winter.

What Have We Learned About Cheltenham 2027?

The biggest development from the weekend may ultimately prove to be the changing shape of the novice hurdle division.

Love Me Tender has emerged as a leading Supreme contender, but his jumping leaves room for doubt, while The Mourne Rambler appears increasingly likely to be campaigned towards the longer Turners Novices' Hurdle.

The Champion Chase picture is less straightforward. Irish Panther has enhanced his reputation significantly, but Kopek Des Bordes could still improve dramatically on his first outing of the season, and Willie Mullins retains several leading contenders for the two-mile championship.

Elsewhere, Anzadam's chasing debut and Alexei's winning return have provided further clues for the Arkle and Champion Hurdle respectively.

There is still plenty of racing to come before March, and the next round of major novice contests and Christmas Grade 1s should reveal considerably more.

For now, The Mourne Rambler's likely step up in distance and Kopek Des Bordes' uncertain standing among the Champion Chase contenders are arguably the two most significant Cheltenham developments from the weekend.

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Paddy Power Nottingham Forest vs Man City Offer: Get 50/1 For Man City To Win

2026-11-07T08:00:01+00:00

Paddy Power are offering new customers enhanced odds of 50/1 on Man City to beat Nottingham Forest in their upcoming Premier League clash. The offer applies to a maximum £1 bet on Man City to Win in the Match Odds market, with normal-price winnings paid in cash and the enhancement awarded in Free Bet Builder bets.

Man City must win the match for the qualifying selection to land, with a draw or Nottingham Forest victory resulting in a losing bet.

Paddy Power Nottingham Forest vs Man City Offer - Key Details

Offer Detail	Offer Terms
Bookmaker	Paddy Power
Who can claim?	New customers only, 18+, subject to eligibility
Promo code	YEPAAJ
Fixture	Nottingham Forest vs Man City, Premier League
Enhanced odds	50/1 on Man City to Win
Qualifying market	Man City to Win in the Match Odds market
Maximum qualifying stake	£1, placed before kick-off
How winnings are paid	Cash at normal odds, topped up to the enhanced 50/1 price in Free Bet Builder bets
Eligible deposit methods	Minimum £5 deposit. Cards and Apple Pay are eligible
Free Bet Builder bet expiry	14 days
Excluded bets	Multiples and in-play bets
Offer expiry	Before kick-off of Nottingham Forest vs Man City

How To Claim The Paddy Power Nottingham Forest vs Man City Offer

Visit Paddy Power through this offer link and register a new account using promo code YEPAAJ.
Deposit a minimum of five pounds using a debit card or Apple Pay. E-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill, Paysafe and Neteller do not count.
Find Nottingham Forest vs Man City in the Premier League fixtures and open the Match Odds market.
Place a pre-match single bet of no more than one pound on Man City to Win before kick-off. Multiples and in-play bets do not qualify, and you should not cash the bet out.
If Man City win, receive your winnings in cash at the normal odds, with the enhancement to 50/1 credited in Free Bet Builder bets.
Use the Free Bet Builder bets within their 14-day validity period.

How Does The Paddy Power 50/1 Offer Work?

The qualifying selection is Man City to Win in the Match Odds market for their Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest. Pep Guardiola's side must win the match in 90 minutes, including stoppage time, for the bet to be successful. A draw or Nottingham Forest victory would result in a losing bet.

The payment structure is the detail to understand. Your qualifying bet is settled at the normal market odds, with those winnings paid in cash. Paddy Power then credits the extra amount needed to bring the bet up to a 50/1 payout in Free Bet Builder bets, which arrive after your qualifying bet settles.

For a £1 qualifying stake, 50/1 represents £50 in winnings. However, that does not mean you receive £50 in cash. The normal-price winnings make up the cash portion, with the remaining enhancement awarded in Free Bet Builder bets. The exact split depends on Man City's normal Match Odds price when you place your qualifying bet.

The reward is also restricted to Bet Builders. These are bets combining selections from the same match, rather than conventional single bets. The promotional bets are valid for 14 days, and you can use part of them and save the rest as long as you use it before they expire. Stakes are not returned with winnings if a free bet wins, and any winnings are credited to your main wallet.

Which Bets And Deposit Methods Qualify?

To qualify, you need to open a new account using promo code YEPAAJ and place your bet on Man City to Win in the Match Odds market for Nottingham Forest vs Man City. A bet on Nottingham Forest, the draw, a goals market or a different selection would not meet that requirement. The offer is open to eligible new customers aged 18 or over.

The qualifying stake is capped at £1, and the bet must be placed before kick-off. In-play bets and multiples are excluded, as are Canadian, Goliath, Heinz, Lucky 15, Lucky 31, Lucky 63, Patent, Super Heinz, Trixie and Yankee bets. If you Cash Out or Partially Cash Out the qualifying bet, you will no longer be eligible, and Power Price bets do not count either.

Your deposit method matters too. You need to deposit at least £5, and only deposits made with debit cards and Apple Pay are eligible. Deposits made with e-wallets including PayPal, Skrill, Paysafe and Neteller do not count towards the promotion, so check which option you are using before you deposit.

Nottingham Forest vs Man City Match Preview

Nottingham Forest host Manchester City at the City Ground on Saturday 7th November in the Premier League, with kick-off at 5.30pm. The match is live on Sky Sports, with Oliver Glasner's Forest looking to end their poor run of form against Enzo Maresca's title-chasing City side.

Man City arrive sitting second in the Premier League, having won seven of their opening nine matches. However, successive league defeats to Aston Villa and Brighton have halted their momentum, although they bounced back with a 3-2 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig on Wednesday. Forest, meanwhile, find themselves second from bottom after losing four of their last five league matches. Their latest setback was a 2-0 defeat at Brentford, leaving Glasner still searching for his first home league victory of the campaign.

The sides played out a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium in March, with Elliot Anderson scoring a late equaliser for Forest before completing his summer move to Man City. The visitors will be favourites to take all three points this time, although Forest will hope a passionate City Ground atmosphere can help them produce an upset. For the Paddy Power 50/1 offer to land, City must win the match in normal time, including stoppage time, with a draw or Forest victory resulting in a losing bet.

On team news, Forest remain without Nicolas Dominguez, who has suffered a setback in his recovery from injury, while Nicolo Savona is working his way back towards fitness. Igor Jesus has returned to training following a calf problem and could be available, while Daniel Munoz and Dan Ndoye have also been managing minor issues. Man City are without Antoine Semenyo due to a knee injury, while Nico O'Reilly is a doubt. Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol could return to the starting XI, with Erling Haaland expected to lead the attack.

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ITV Racing Tips: Three Picks For Saturday At Aintree And Doncaster

2026-11-06T12:51:38+00:00

ITV heads to Aintree and Doncaster on Saturday afternoon, with eight races live including the Molyneux Hurdle and the Virgin Bet November Handicap, and Billy Grimshaw has picked out three selections across the card. One is a progressive young hurdler towards the head of the market who rates his NAP, while the other two are double-figure prices in competitive handicaps.

13:15 Aintree - William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase

The ITV4 coverage begins with a two-mile handicap chase for 11 runners, and as I pen this piece on Friday lunchtime the market is dominated by Kadastral at 11/8. I can see the appeal, as Dan Skelton's six-year-old has finished in the first two in five of his six starts and Harry Skelton is riding at a 33% strike rate over the last 30 days. For all that, he has not been seen since finishing fourth at 10/11 at Uttoxeter in March. He was a beaten favourite that day, and he has had wind surgery since. Taking 11/8 about a horse coming back from 238 days off, in a handicap with ten others to beat, is not a bet I want any part of, and I am happy to let him beat me if he is good enough and the Skelton bandwagon rolls on.

Instead, I am siding with BLEU D'ENFER at 16/1 with BOYLE Sports. Donald McCain's eight-year-old got his head in front at Uttoxeter last month, winning at 11/4 off a mark of 120, and that came on the back of a second at the same track in September off 122. He goes up 4lb to 124 for that success, but Harry Brown keeps the ride and his 7lb claim means he carries 11-1 in real terms rather than 11-8. Brown was on board for both of those last two runs, he clearly gets on well with the horse, and he is riding at a 40% strike rate over the last 30 days, so the young claimer is in cracking form himself. BLEU D'ENFER has had 22 days rest since that win, which should mean he is refreshed but still in fine form.

There is a course angle too, as he finished second at 33/1 at Aintree back in May off this same mark of 124, so the track holds no fears for him. The risk is plain enough: he has won only three of his 34 career starts, so he is not a habitual winner and can find one too good. The flip side is that he has finished second ten times, which suits each-way backers rather nicely, and BOYLE Sports are paying three places at 1/5 odds in this 11-runner field. At 16/1 I only need BLEU D'ENFER to hit the frame to get a return, and I fancy he will be right in the thick of it with Brown taking off that valuable 7lb.

15:00 Aintree - Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

This Pertemps Hurdle Series qualifier over three miles has 14 runners, and Our Guide heads the betting at 3/1 with BOYLE Sports. Jamie Snowden's five-year-old won three on the spin at Exeter, Stratford and Worcester in the spring and early summer, but he has since been beaten at Worcester and then finished third at Chepstow last month off 124, and he races off 125 here, so the handicapper looks to have him in his grips. Snowden's yard is flying at a 32% strike rate over the last 30 days and Jonathan Burke takes over in the saddle, so I would not be shocked if he ran well, but 3/1 is short enough in a race this competitive. Walden and French Ship are next at 6/1, with French Ship having to lump top weight of 12-0 after 196 days off.

My NAP of the day is THE EGYPTIAN GINGE at 7/1 with BOYLE Sports. Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies' five-year-old has won his last three starts, at Ludlow in April, Worcester in September and Market Rasen last month, where he was sent off at Evens and won off a mark of 130. He goes up 5lb to 135 for that, but Mr Jamie Neild's 7lb claim means he carries 10-10 in real terms rather than 11-3, and Neild has been on board for all three of those wins. The amateur is riding at a 50% strike rate over the last 30 days and the stable is going at 23%, so everything about THE EGYPTIAN GINGE is pointing in the right direction, and he has had a nice 21-day break since Market Rasen.

He is a distance winner, so stamina should not be an issue, and at five he is the type who can keep progressing through the winter. The concern is that he has gone up 20lb since that Ludlow win off 115 in April, and at some point the handicapper will catch up with him, while a Saturday handicap at Aintree is a deeper race than anything he has encountered so far. For all that, I would rather be with the improver than the exposed older horses, and this is the one selection I am backing win only, as I think THE EGYPTIAN GINGE is the most likely winner of the race at a price that still has a bit of juice in it.

15:25 Doncaster - Virgin Bet November Handicap

Over to Doncaster, where the November Handicap has attracted 23 runners on soft, good to soft in places ground, and the market is headed by the three-year-old Nobody Knows at 7/2 with BOYLE Sports. Richard Hughes' runner has Ryan Moore booked, which always draws money, but his last two starts read three and five, and 7/2 in a 23-runner handicap over a mile and a half is the kind of price that sends me looking elsewhere. Alfred Wincham is next at 5/1 for Patrick Neville, whose yard is going at a 31% strike rate over the last 30 days, and he deserves respect after winning last time out, but neither of the market leaders is a price I want to take in a race where so many hold a chance.

I am going with SOLARIZE at 16/1 with BOYLE Sports. Charlie Johnston's four-year-old has won his last two starts, at Southwell in September and then at Leicester in October, where he was sent off at 11/4 and won off 89. He has been raised to a mark of 94 for that, but he is a distance winner, he carries a handy 9-2, and he gets the services of William Buick, who is riding at a 32% strike rate over the last 30 days. That is a booking that catches the eye on a horse at this sort of price, and the 32 days since Leicester should have him fresh for one final crack at a big handicap before the turf season winds down. Buick may also have a point to prove, given the Loughnane news this past week.

Most of his best form has come on the all-weather, with wins at Southwell, Wolverhampton and Chelmsford, so the soft ground is the big question mark and I will not pretend otherwise. The Leicester win came on turf, which gives me some confidence, and with BOYLE Sports paying five places at 1/5 odds in a field of this size, SOLARIZE looks a strong each-way play. Plenty can go wrong in a 23-runner handicap, from the draw in stall eight to getting a clear run at the right time, but at 16/1 the price more than covers the risk.

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Aintree Weekend Tips: @RoadCheltenham Picks Out 5 To Follow

2026-11-05T14:28:00+00:00

Declarations are in for two glorious days of racing at Aintree and I for one cannot wait for Friday’s action to get underway. Wincanton’s loss is very much the Merseyside course’s gain and it should be a stellar weekend of racing.

Racegoers are in for a real treat, with competitive racing across both days and I’ll do my best to steer you in the direction of a winner or two – but also looking ahead to potential future targets down the line. Without further ado, it’s time to get stuck into the action and we kick things off with an exciting novice chase prospect for Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore.

Friday, 1.15pm – STRIDE ON

It’s hard to know what to expect from a horse on chase debut but Stride On could be well handicapped and I like how connections have gone straight for a novice handicap chase with him. This Walk In The Park gelding finished behind the well-touted Apache Tribe, now with Gordon Elliott, in April and he should relish stepping up in trip.

He’s clearly held in high regard and I wonder if he could be one for the Ultima Handicap Chase come March. The stable have Derryhassen Paddy but aren’t averse to running more than one in the race and I’m really intrigued to see how Stride On fares on Friday afternoon. Hopefully there will be plenty of positives to take from the run.

Friday, 3.35pm – HERE COMES GEORGIE

Dan Skelton hinted at the Coral Gold Cup as a potential target for Here Comes Georgie after his success at Cheltenham’s Showcase Meeting but he may need to win here to stand any chance of getting into the Newbury race. Currently priced as the 5/2 favourite on Friday, Harry Skelton will look to play his mount late in the day.

He’s gone up 7lbs for that success but he idled out in front and is perhaps worth more than that increase. There are plenty of exposed types in the field but many go well fresh and the likes of Leave Of Absence, Konfusion and Montregard are obvious threats. But going forward, the Skelton horse is the one with the most upside.

Saturday, 1.15pm – KADASTRAL

Well supported in ante post markets ahead of this weekend’s race, Kadastral looks to be ahead of his mark and I’m hoping he can prove too strong for his rivals here. Potentially one for a Grand Annual or a Red Rum in the spring, his trainer holds him in high regard but has also stressed how important good ground is for him.

He’s gone a little short for Saturday’s race but I’ll be watching with a view to the spring and he’ll gain valuable Aintree experience this weekend. It looks a big weekend for the Alcester yard on paper and Kadastral will be one of their top hopes for Saturday as they look to add to their tally of winners for the season.

Saturday, 1.45pm – MANGE TOUT

I’m really looking forward to seeing Mange Tout again – I was at Aintree for her success in April and she could develop into a classy filly in open company. She has a bit to do at the weights but she likes the track and she’s got a real blend of stamina and speed, and she should give a decent account of herself.

She’s a fascinating runner in this race and credit to connections for bringing her over at this stage of the season. Interestingly, she has a BHA rating of 138 – which is the same as her mark in Ireland – heading into Saturday’s race but she won a Grade 1 as a juvenile and I’d imagine she will likely be campaigned at that level unless she’s not up to it.

Saturday, 2.25pm – TALK TO THE MAN

Talk To The Man looked like an absolute weapon on chase debut at Worcester and he looks to have improved considerably for a fence. He’s a huge prospect and I’d be shocked if he wasn’t competing at Grade 1 level in the spring. He might not be one for Cheltenham but he is certainly capable of going to Aintree.

Talk To The Man faces former stablemate No Drama This End on Saturday afternoon and Paul Nicholls would love to get the better of the Skelton runner. We’re yet to see the Ditcheat star over fences though and I’m siding with the experience of Talk To The Man over the potential of No Drama This End. It should be a fantastic race to watch.

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What is a maiden in horse racing?

2026-11-05T13:04:30+00:00

In short, a maiden is a horse who has never won a race under a certain code, which is why you can be a maiden on the Flat and not over jumps and vice versa, and this status makes a horse eligible for maiden races, which are races for horses who have never won.

Maidens are one of most common race types, especially on the Flat and are very common in Ireland.

What is a maiden race?

According to the British Horse Racing Authority’s (BHA) official guidelines is a horse race which is restricted to horses who have never won a race under a specific code (Flat or Jump) and once a horse wins a maiden, they will no longer be eligible for them in the future.

The point of maidens is to give usually inexperienced horses a chance to learn their trade without being disadvantaged by racing against more experienced rivals. Younger horses at the start of their careers tend to contest maidens, before going on to handicaps or grades.

Can you be a maiden on the Flat but not over jumps?

Absolutely you can. Maiden status is tracked differently between the two, as they are different codes. A winner of a Flat handicap for example would still be a maiden over hurdles, and vice versa, and winning a bumper doesn’t remove maiden status on the Flat.

It’s also worth noting that you can be a maiden chaser despite having won over hurdles, even though the races are run under the same code. Novice chasers tend to start out over hurdles before going over fences and remain a maiden in each discipline until victorious.

A beginners’ chase is similar to the chasing equivalent of a maiden or maiden hurdle, and a winner of a beginners’ chase is no longer eligible for that type of race.

How are British maidens different from maidens in the US?

Anyone familiar with US racing may have seen terms such as Maiden Special Weight, Maiden Auction and Maiden Claiming. The closest examples we have in Britain would be maiden, median auction and maiden handicaps, all though we do things very differently.

The maiden part of the title remains the same but the precise conditions of each race type will be different and not the same as the similar British equivalents.

What is the difference between a maiden and a novice race?

The main difference between maidens and novice races is that the former are only open to horses who have never won before, whilst previous winners can run in novice races, they will just carry a penalty for doing so. The value of the weight penalty depends on the race.

Novice status over jumps applies to a horse for the whole season, provided they haven’t won over hurdles or fences respectively the season before. There are top-class novice programmes for chasers and hurdles, with major race targets at the big festivals.

How do you bet on maiden races?

There are some key factors to help with betting on maidens and chief amongst them is prominent trainers. There’s a higher chance that the horses running in maidens for the top trainers are being aimed at bigger races further down the line and are more likely to win.

Pedigree and sales price are always worth considering as the more expensive horses with deep pedigrees tend to do well, especially at this level. An advantageous draw can help, as does previous course form, and these small details can help, as information is limited.

Horses running in maidens are usually unexposed and lightly raced, which makes it hard to know how good the runners are, and we have a guide to unexposed horses available here.

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Tote Placepot explained: How the Placepot works

2026-11-05T13:01:51+00:00

Betting on the Tote is different to placing a bet with a conventional bookmaker, as your bet isn’t against the operator, rather an attempt to win a percentage of a shared pool. The size of the pool is stipulated by the number of punters placing bets, rather than the individual odds.

How does the Tote Placepot work?

A placepot is a Tote pool bet wherein you select a horse to place in each of the first six races of a card and all winning bets share a percentage of the total pool, with the operator taking a percentage. Big dividends are usually generated when favourites fail to place, as there are fewer winning tickets with which to share the pool, rather than due to the actual price.

How many places count in each Placepot leg?

There are fixed rules and formulas for deciding how many places count in a placepot and below we’ve included a table to make things clear and concise. It’s important to note that extra places on offer with conventional bookmakers do not apply.

Runners	Race type	Places that count
1-4	Handicap, non-handicap	Winner only
5-7	Handicap, non-handicap	First and Second
8+	Handicap, non-handicap	First, second, third
16+	Handicap	First, second, third, fourth

How much does a Placepot cost?

The basic formula is the number of selections for each leg multiplied together, times the unit stake. Below we have included an example of how the calculation is worked out.

Number of selections per leg:

Leg 1 (three selections), Leg 2 (two selections), Leg 3 (one selection), Leg 4 (three selections), Leg 5 (two selections) and Leg 6 (one selection) = 36 lines

Multiply by your unit stake:

The next step is to multiply the total number of lines by your unit stake per line (e.g. 10p, 50p, or £1). 36 lines x 50p = £18 stake.

What happens to a non-runner in a Placepot?

Non-runners in a placepot are replaced by the SP favourite, which differs from conventional betting, which would result in the bet being voided. In the case of there being joint or co-favourites, the runner with the lowest saddle cloth number is selected instead. The downside is that non-runners can impact the number of places on offer for each leg.

How are the dividends calculated?

(Pool x return percentage) ÷ total winning units = return for a £1 stake.

The Tote takes a percentage out of the pool (for example, 27%) and the remainder is shared out between the winning tickets. There could in theory be a pool size of £1,000,000 for major events like the Cheltenham Festival or the Grand National Festival so here’s an example.

Tote would take £270,000 out, which leaves the participants with a pool of £730,000 to take a share of. 1000 winning units would result in a dividend of £730 for a £1 stake. Those staking 10p or 50p per line would receive 50% or 10% of that total, per successful line.

How can you improve your Placepot chances?

Successful strategies include banking on one well fancied horse in the strongest legs, while picking numerous selections in the big-field handicaps with more factors to consider. Take on the short-priced favourites when the form isn’t much to shout about. Using the unnamed favourite option when you can’t decide can help but no strategy can guarantee a return.

How does the Placepot compare with the Quadpot?

The Placepot requires you to make selections in races one to six, whereas the Quadpot is a shortened version and you only pick runners for races three, four, five and six. Obviously the latter costs less to place per line but the dividends are much smaller as a result.

FAQs

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ITV Racing Tips: Trio Of Each-Way Picks For Friday At Aintree And Hexham

2026-11-05T11:33:00+00:00

ITV4 shows live racing from Aintree and Hexham on Friday afternoon, and Billy Grimshaw is steering clear of the short-priced favourites in search of each-way value. His trio of big-priced selections runs from a modest handicap chase at Hexham to the valuable BetMGM Premier Handicap Chase at Aintree, and not one of the three is a short price.

13:35 Hexham - carpetgallop.co.uk Handicap Chase

Hexham's 13:35 is a three-mile handicap chase for a field of eight, and as I pen this piece on Thursday lunchtime the market has settled on C'Mon So at 8/5. He won last time out 17 days ago and the figures of 64341 show a five-year-old heading in the right direction, but he has to carry 10-10 off a mark of 82 and I cannot see the sense in taking 8/5 about a progressive handicapper in an eight-runner field. Hexham on a Friday in November is no Cheltenham, but the bookmakers still take the same stakes, and I would rather chase a bigger price than a nice story.

That bigger price is 16/1 about LUNAR CONTACT, who runs off exactly the same mark of 100 as the 9/4 second favourite Walk Tall and is listed at the same 12-0, yet has the services of Miss Rebekah Duffy, whose 7lb claim effectively drops him to 11-7. He finished second in each of the two runs before he unseated his rider last time, and he is a past winner over this distance. Put simply, that price discrepancy against Walk Tall is just plain wrong, and a horse with two second places in his last four starts should not be a double-figure price.

There are plenty of reasons to be wary, which is why this is an each-way play and not a confident win bet. LUNAR CONTACT has not been seen for 207 days, he unseated his rider on his final start, and Susan Corbett's yard has not had a winner in the last 30 days. Against that, three places are paid at a fifth of the odds, so he only has to be placed to give us a decent return at 16/1, and I am happy to take that chance on a horse with the same rating as the second favourite and a jockey claiming 7lb.

14:45 Hexham - carpetgallop.co.uk Handicap Hurdle

The 14:45 is a nine-runner handicap hurdle over two and a half miles and Kool Raoul heads the betting at 85/40 after winning 17 days ago. He is a course and distance winner, so there is plenty to like on paper, but the figures of 5785-1 tell us he was never closer than fifth in the four runs before a break, and he now has to prove that one good day was not a flash in the pan off a mark of 107. High Dancer at 5/1 is the other the market respects, but he is top weight on 12-0 and finished sixth last time, so I am happy to leave both of them alone.

The one I like at the prices is SNOWROCCO at 20/1. Looking down the form figures, he is the only runner in the field with two wins in his last five starts, and he is rated 110 and carries 11-4, which is 8lb less than top weight. Ryan Mania, who is riding at a 17% strike rate over the last 30 days, takes the mount, and a 220-day break might be exactly what a seven-year-old needed. At 20/1 with three places paid, I will happily forgive the 4-0-5 that followed those two wins.

I will not pretend SNOWROCCO is a certainty. The three runs since his last win were no better than fourth, he has been off the track for 220 days, and Adam Nicol's yard has a 6% strike rate over the last 30 days, so the stable is not exactly flying. Even so, the price is simply too big to ignore in a race where nobody else has back-to-back wins on the form line, and with three places paid at a fifth of the odds he only needs to run a respectable race to give us a return.

15:35 Aintree - BetMGM Premier Handicap Chase

The BetMGM Premier Handicap Chase at Aintree is a valuable prize, worth £47,552 to the winner, and has attracted 12 runners over three miles and 210 yards on good to soft, good in places. Here Comes Georgie is the 13/5 favourite after winning 13 days ago, and with Harry Skelton in the plate, riding at a 31% strike rate over the last 30 days, I can see exactly why he is popular. But he is an eight-year-old rated 130 who has just won, and in a field this competitive with this much money on offer, 13/5 is not a price I want to take.

I would rather side with KAP VERT at 8/1. He is the youngest runner in the line-up at six and his figures of 13411 show wins in each of his last two starts, three from five overall, so he is clearly on the up. Rated 136, he carries 10-12, a whole 14lb less than top weight Master Chewy, who is rated 152, while the other market principals Konfusion (145) and Leave Of Absence (142) are rated higher but carry 11-7 and 11-4 respectively. At 8/1 with four places paid at a fifth of the odds, I think the market is underestimating an improving young chaser.

The obvious concerns are a 202-day absence and whether a six-year-old stays three miles and 210 yards, and Philip Hobbs and Johnson White have a 4% strike rate over the last 30 days, although the jumps season is only just warming up. The one I fear most is Master Chewy, who is top rated on 152, a course winner and 20/1, with both Sam Twiston-Davies and Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies in good form, but he has been absent for 239 days and his last run was a sixth. KAP VERT rates my NAP of the three.

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Clonmel Oil Chase Runners 2026: Il Etait Temps a hot favourite for Grade 2

2026-11-04T15:20:00+00:00

Four runners have been declared for Thursday’s Grade 2 Clonmel Oil Chase, with last year’s winner Il Etait Temps returning to defend his title. The Queen Mother Champion Chase hero faces three rivals, including stablemate Kappa Jy Pyke, who looks his biggest threat, while Blaze The Way and Herja complete the field. Firefox, Ile Atlantique, Champ Kiely, Croke Park and Lecky Watson were among the original entries but will not take part. We assess the chances of all four runners.

Clonmel Oil Chase 2026: Key Race Details

Race: Clonmel Oil Chase (Grade 2)
Course: Clonmel Racecourse, Powerstown Park, Co Tipperary
Date: Thursday 5 November 2026
Time: 3:10pm (same time in the UK and Ireland)
Distance: 2m4f 171y
Field: 4 runners, aged four and up
Prize money: €42,000 to the winner
Going: Yielding

Clonmel Oil Chase 2026 Leading Contenders

Il Etait Temps (Willie Mullins / Paul Townend)

The reigning two-mile champion and the one they all have to beat. Il Etait Temps won this race 12 months ago, travelling strongly and winning easily on soft ground. That opened a brilliant campaign. He won the Tingle Creek, fell two out in the Clarence House, then landed the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham and the Champion Chase at Punchestown. Form figures of 11F11 tell the story. He carries top weight of 11-12 and is rated 174, well clear of his rivals. Paul Townend, who has ridden him in all of those races, keeps the ride.

Kappa Jy Pyke (Willie Mullins / Danny Mullins)

The youngest in the field at six, and the obvious danger. Kappa Jy Pyke won a Thurles beginners' chase and then a Grade 3 novice chase at Punchestown last winter. He followed that with a fine second in the Grade 1 WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse over two and a half miles, beaten 2¾ lengths. He was only seventh at the Punchestown Festival, but this trip looks ideal. He gets 10lb from Il Etait Temps, and Danny Mullins, who rode him in all four of those starts, is in the saddle again.

Clonmel Oil Chase 2026 Outsiders

Blaze The Way (Margaret Mullins / J J Slevin)

Blaze The Way's big day came at Cheltenham last December, when he won the Turners Handicap Chase comfortably. He has not managed to build on that, finishing seventh in the Ultima, pulling up in the Scottish Grand National and running tenth at Listowel in September. J J Slevin takes over from Danny Mullins, who rides Kappa Jy Pyke. He has plenty to find at this level.

Herja (Mrs P Griffin / Harry Sexton)

The six-year-old mare gets a handy weight of 10-6. Herja is in the form of her life with figures of 262313. She won a mares' beginners chase at Sligo in September and then ran a fine third in the Grade 2 Racing Post Chase at Down Royal on Saturday. This is a quick turnaround and a big step up, as she is rated 110 to Il Etait Temps' 174. Regular partner Harry Sexton keeps the ride.

18+. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org

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Melbourne Cup 2026 Result: Point Of Law Wins As Ciaron Maher Trains The First Three Home

2026-11-03T09:51:10+00:00

Point Of Law produced a decisive late burst to win the 166th running of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, giving trainer Ciaron Maher a second success in Australia's most famous race and completing the first clean sweep of the first three places in the history of the contest.

Melbourne Cup 2026 Result: Top Five

Point Of Law (Ethan Brown, trained by Ciaron Maher)
Zahrann (Ben Melham, trained by Ciaron Maher)
Juja Kibo (Sam Clipperton, trained by Ciaron Maher)
Sons And Lovers (Dylan Browne McMonagle, trained by Joseph O'Brien)
Royal Supremacy (trained by Ciaron Maher)

How Point Of Law Won The Melbourne Cup

Point Of Law, a four-year-old who had won the Geelong Cup only weeks earlier, was making just his sixth career start in the $10.2 million contest, which was run over 3200 metres on ground officially described as Soft 5 after rain earlier in the day. Drawn in barrier nine, he was settled by Brown in the early stages before being brought into contention approaching the home straight. His stablemate Royal Supremacy had made the running and was reported to have built a lead of around 20 lengths at the halfway stage, but the tiring leader was reeled in on the inside and Point Of Law pulled clear in the closing stages to score with authority. The winner was previously owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla before being purchased by Maher, adding a notable footnote to a memorable renewal.

Ciaron Maher Makes Melbourne Cup History

Maher, who saddled a record seven runners in the race, also trained Zahrann and Juja Kibo, who finished second and third under Melham and Clipperton respectively, with Royal Supremacy holding on for fifth. No trainer had previously filled the first three places in the 166-year history of the Cup, and the achievement was all the more significant for the stable given that its only earlier winner in the race was Gold Trip in 2022. For Brown, the success represented a remarkable personal triumph, as the jockey recovered from a near-fatal fall in the 2023 Australian Guineas to claim the first Melbourne Cup victory of his career. Point Of Law succeeds Half Yours, who won the race in 2025 under Jamie Melham.

Other Notable Performances And Pre-Race Developments

Joseph O'Brien's Sons And Lovers was the best of the remainder in fourth under Dylan Browne McMonagle, with Shockletz sixth for the Maher stable and O'Brien's James J Braddock seventh. Hopewell Rock, one of the market leaders for the George Boughey stable, was unable to land a telling blow and finished ninth. The build-up to the race had been overshadowed by the late withdrawal of Asterix, who was scratched by Racing Victoria stewards after it was found that the Chris Waller-trained runner had been administered a medication in breach of the rules on raceday, leaving jockey Jye McNeil without a ride. Twenty-three runners ultimately went to post.

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Melbourne Cup Runners 2026: A look at the horses bidding for Flemington glory

2026-11-03T02:46:01+00:00

The field is confirmed for the 2026 Melbourne Cup, with 24 runners set to line up at Flemington on Tuesday 3 November for the iconic race that stops a nation. Hopewell Rock, Point Of Law and Trustyourinstinct lead the way in a fiercely competitive betting market. We assess the leading contenders, highlight potential outsiders and provide the latest odds for every runner.

Melbourne Cup 2026: Key Race Details

Race: Lexus Melbourne Cup (Group 1 Handicap)
Course: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
Date: Tuesday 3 November 2026
Time: 3:00pm local time (AEDT), which is 4:00am UK time
Distance: 3,200 metres (about two miles)
Field: 24 runners, aged three and up
Track: Turf, currently rated Good

Melbourne Cup Runners 2026: Full Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Sons And Lovers	Joseph O'Brien	Dylan Browne McMonagle	3	57.5kg
2	Trustyourinstinct	Joseph O'Brien	James McDonald	18	57kg
3	Knight's Choice	John Symons & Sheila Laxon	Robbie Dolan	2	56.5kg
4	Middle Earth	Ciaron Maher	Mark Zahra	1	56.5kg
5	Vauban	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Jordan Childs	22	56.5kg
6	Enfjaar	Roger Varian	Rob Dawson	8	56kg
7	Royal Supremacy	Ciaron Maher	Ben Allen	21	56kg
8	Wine Dark Sea	Harry Charlton	Damian Lane	23	56kg
9	Asterix	Chris Waller	Jye McNeil	6	55kg
10	Goodie Two Shoes	Joseph O'Brien	Wayne Lordan	19	55kg
11	Juja Kibo	Ciaron Maher	Sam Clipperton	14	55kg
12	Hopewell Rock	George Boughey	Zac Lloyd	15	54.5kg
13	Onesmoothoperator	Tony Fitzsimmons	Declan Bates	13	54.5kg
14	Soul Of Spain	Chris Waller	Tommy Berry	5	54.5kg
15	Zahrann	Ciaron Maher	Ben Melham	11	54.5kg
16	So You Are	Bjorn Baker	Rachel King	7	54kg
17	Future History	Gerald Hickman	Jamie Melham	12	53.5kg
18	James J Braddock	Joseph O'Brien	Craig Williams	24	53.5kg
19	Kizlyar	Joseph O'Brien	Beau Mertens	20	53.5kg
20	Point Of Law	Ciaron Maher	Ethan Brown	9	53kg
21	Strictly Business	Thomas Carberry	Daniel Yendall	4	53kg
22	Mr Monaco	Ciaron Maher	Jabez Johnstone	16	52.5kg
23	Zakouma	Gai Begg	Will Pike	10	52kg
24	Shockletz	Ciaron Maher	Harry Coffey	17	51kg

Melbourne Cup 2026 Leading Contenders

Hopewell Rock (George Boughey / Zac Lloyd)

Hopewell Rock is one of the leading fancies. George Boughey's five-year-old comes here in form, with recent figures of 9-3612: a win and a second from his last two starts. He carries 54.5kg from barrier 15. That draw isn't ideal, but Zac Lloyd has enough time to find a position before the first turn. He is the youngest of the market leaders, still improving, and on a fair weight.

Point Of Law (Ciaron Maher / Ethan Brown)

Point Of Law is the most interesting of Ciaron Maher's big team. The four-year-old has finished 2-1-4-1-1 and comes in on a two-race winning streak. He has just 53kg and a good middle draw in barrier 9. The market rates him the pick of Maher's seven runners.

Trustyourinstinct (Joseph O'Brien / James McDonald)

Joseph O'Brien has five runners in the race, and Trustyourinstinct is the one booked for James McDonald. His recent form is 7-2-1-2-1-4, so he is consistent and hasn't been out of the first four in his last five starts. Top weight of 57kg (just behind stablemate Sons And Lovers) and barrier 18 are the obstacles. Still, the O'Brien and McDonald combination makes him a serious player.

Shockletz (Ciaron Maher / Harry Coffey)

Shockletz runs off the bottom of the weights with just 51kg, and that light weight is why he is so prominent in the betting. The five-year-old ran second last time out and has a win in his recent form figures of 8-6-4-1-6-2. Barrier 17 is wide, but with so little weight he can afford to use some petrol early.

So You Are (Bjorn Baker / Rachel King)

No horse comes into the race in better form. Bjorn Baker's five-year-old mare has won her last four starts (4-2-1-1-1-1). She has a nice barrier in 7 and 54kg. This is a big step up in grade and distance, but horses on winning streaks like this are hard to oppose in a handicap. Rachel King knows her well.

Juja Kibo (Ciaron Maher / Sam Clipperton)

Juja Kibo is another of the Maher team on a winning run, having won his last two (3-9-3-2-1-1). He carries 55kg from barrier 14 and is a solid each-way option at a double-figure price.

Melbourne Cup 2026 Outsiders

Knight's Choice (John Symons & Sheila Laxon / Robbie Dolan)

The 2024 Melbourne Cup winner has to be considered at 40/1. His recent form (0-8-0-9-3-0) has been poor, and he carries 56.5kg. But barrier 2 is ideal, and Robbie Dolan, who rode him to victory, is back on board. He knows how to win the race.

Wine Dark Sea (Harry Charlton / Damian Lane)

Wine Dark Sea is the British-trained runner with the best form figures at a big price: he has won two of his last four starts (2-1-1-5-1-0). The draw (barrier 23) is very wide, and 56kg is plenty. But he has class, and Damian Lane is one of the best big-race riders in Australia.

Kizlyar (Joseph O'Brien / Beau Mertens)

The least-fancied of the O'Brien runners in the betting, but Kizlyar has form figures of 1-0-1-1-2-0, with three wins among them. He has just 53.5kg. Ignore the last run and he has a bit to like at a big price.

Zahrann (Ciaron Maher / Ben Melham)

Zahrann won two starts ago (5-3-4-1-0-6). Barrier 11 and 54.5kg give him a chance to get a good position. He is one of the bigger prices in the Maher team, so he is worth considering for each-way and exotic bets.

Vauban (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / Jordan Childs)

Vauban was once one of the most hyped stayers to come to Australia. Now nine, he is 50/1 and has to overcome barrier 22. His recent form includes a win and two thirds (6-1-3-3-9). If the old ability is still there, he is too big a price.

Melbourne Cup 2026 Each-Way Terms

Most UK bookmakers are paying five places at one-fifth the odds on the Melbourne Cup. Some go further: Midnite is paying six places. Shop around before placing an each-way bet. In a 24-runner handicap, the extra place can make all the difference.

18+. Please gamble responsibly. BeGambleAware.org

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Melbourne Cup Free Bets: Best Betting Offers For Tuesday's Race At Flemington

2026-11-02T16:25:00+00:00

The Melbourne Cup is the race that stops a nation, and this year it is a very early alarm for British punters, with the 24-runner Group 1 handicap over two miles at Flemington going off at 3pm in Melbourne, which is 4am UK time on Tuesday 3rd November. That means most of us will be placing our bets on Monday night, and there are plenty of ways to get extra value out of the race. I've rounded up some of the best new customer offers from BOYLE Sports, DAZN Bet, bet365, Proper Bet and BetAhoy below, and the free bets across them add up to £100 if you claim every one, although they are far from the only offers on the market.

If you are still deciding who to back, I have written a full preview with my selection in the Melbourne Cup tips, and the Melbourne Cup page has the latest runners and odds. A big field like this is exactly where a free bet comes into its own, because most of the runners will be Evens or bigger and so qualify for the minimum odds on offer, but the rules differ from one bookmaker to the next, so it pays to read the small print before you place your qualifying bet.

Some of these offers can be used on any sport, while others carry restrictions on the markets or bet types that qualify, and a couple do not count each-way bets towards the offer, which matters in a race like this. Below, I've broken down each of these offers, including how much each one is worth, what you need to do to qualify and exactly how to claim it.

Melbourne Cup Free Bet Offers At A Glance

Bookmaker	Offer	Min qualifying bet	Promo code
BOYLE Sports	Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets + Money Back If 2nd To SP Fav (Selected Meetings)	£10 at Evens (2.0) or bigger	None needed
DAZN Bet	Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets	£10 at Evens (2.0) or bigger, excluding each-way bets	None needed (opt-in required)
bet365	Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets (Bet Credits)	£10 qualifying bet	HR365
Proper Bet	Proper Boosts, Proper Value	No free bet qualifying bet listed	None listed
BetAhoy	Bet £10 Get £10 In Free Bets	First £10 bet at Evens (2.0) or bigger	ALLABOARD10

BOYLE Sports Melbourne Cup Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets

BOYLE Sports gives new customers £30 in free bets for a £10 qualifying bet at odds of Evens or bigger, so a bet on any Melbourne Cup runner at those odds or longer will qualify. You need to register, make a minimum deposit of £10 with a debit card, because e-wallets and some other payment types are excluded, and place your first bet within 30 days of opening the account. The free bet is credited once your qualifying bet has settled, which for a Melbourne Cup bet means early on Tuesday morning.

The free bets expire after seven days, so plan to use them quickly, and as always the stake is not returned when a free bet wins, only the winnings. BOYLE Sports also adds a racing extra, with your stake back as a free bet, up to £10, if your horse finishes second to the SP favourite at selected meetings, although Flemington is not included.

Offer detail	Terms
Welcome offer	Bet £10, get £30 in free bets
Eligibility	New UK customers aged 18+, excluding Northern Ireland
Minimum deposit	£10, by debit card
Qualifying bet	£10 at minimum odds of Evens (2.0)
Time to qualify	30 days
Free bet expiry	7 days, stake not returned
Promo code	None needed

DAZN Bet Melbourne Cup Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets

DAZN Bet gives new customers three £10 free bets when they place a £10 bet at odds of Evens (2.0) or bigger. You need to opt in, and the qualifying bet has to be placed within seven days of registering, so make sure you tick the opt-in box when you sign up rather than after you have bet.

The Melbourne Cup is a straightforward way to qualify, as long as your selection is at Evens or longer, but there is one important catch for a race like this: each-way bets and boxing bets don't count, so your qualifying bet needs to be a straight win bet. The free bets are valid for seven days on selected markets, so check where you can use them before you place them.

Offer detail	Terms
Welcome offer	Bet £10, get £30 in free bets (3 x £10)
Eligibility	New UK customers aged 18+, excluding Northern Ireland
Opt-in	Required
Time to qualify	Within 7 days of registration
Qualifying bet	£10 minimum at odds of Evens (2.0) or bigger, excluding boxing and each-way bets
Free bets	Valid on selected markets, stake not returned
Free bet expiry	7 days

bet365 Melbourne Cup Offer: Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets

bet365's welcome offer is delightfully simple. New customers place a £10 qualifying bet and receive three £10 free bets, which bet365 calls Bet Credits, so you get three times the value of your first bet in credits. You need to use bonus code HR365 when you register, and the free bets are available once your qualifying bet has settled.

As with every Bet Credits offer, the stake is not returned when a bet placed with credits wins, only the winnings, and there are minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions, so read the terms before you deposit. The offer comes with time limits on both qualifying and using the credits, which makes it one to claim only when you know you will use them. It suits anyone who wants a big, well-known bookmaker for the Melbourne Cup.

Offer detail	Terms
Welcome offer	Bet £10, get £30 in free bets (Bet Credits)
Eligibility	New customers, registration required
Qualifying bet	£10, subject to minimum odds, bet and payment method exclusions
Bet Credits	Available once the qualifying bet settles, stake not returned
Promo code	HR365

Proper Bet Melbourne Cup Offer: Proper Boosts, Proper Value

Proper Bet is the odd one out here, because its pitch for new customers is built around boosts and value rather than a headline free bet. The brand's message is to forget the gimmicks, with its regular Proper Boosts raising the odds on selected markets, and that can be appealing for a big betting race like the Melbourne Cup, where the price you take matters as much as the horse you pick.

I have not listed a welcome free bet here because Proper Bet does not currently advertise a standard one, and there are no set boost terms to quote, so look at the Proper Bet site for the latest boosts and any conditions before you sign up. If you would rather have a clear free bet to qualify for, the other four bookmakers on this page are better suited, but Proper Bet is worth a look if you like to shop around for the best price.

Offer detail	Terms
Offer	Proper Boosts, Proper Value
Welcome free bet	None listed
How it works	Regular odds boosts on selected markets, check the Proper Bet site for the latest
Eligibility	New UK customers aged 18+
Promo code	None listed

BetAhoy Melbourne Cup Offer: Bet £10 Get £10 In Free Bets

BetAhoy gives new customers £10 in free bets for a £10 first bet. Register, enter promo code ALLABOARD10 via My Bonuses within seven days, then place your first £10 bet at odds of Evens (2.0) or bigger using your cash balance, which is easy enough with a Melbourne Cup runner.

Once that bet settles, you get a £5 sports free bet to use at odds of Evens or bigger, plus a £5 acca free bet for an accumulator of four or more legs at 2/5 or bigger per leg. It is the smallest of the five offers, but the acca free bet is a nice extra if you like to build a multiple around the Melbourne Cup and the rest of the day's racing.

Offer detail	Terms
Welcome offer	Bet £10, get £10 in free bets (£5 sports free bet + £5 acca free bet)
Promo code	ALLABOARD10, entered via My Bonuses
Time to qualify	Enter the code within 7 days of registration
Qualifying bet	First £10 bet at odds of Evens (2.0) or bigger, using your cash balance
Sports free bet	£5 at odds of Evens or bigger
Acca free bet	£5 on an accumulator of 4+ legs at 2/5 or bigger per leg

Which Melbourne Cup Free Bet Offer Is Best?

If you want free bets to use on the Melbourne Cup itself, BOYLE Sports is my pick. You get £30 in free bets for a £10 bet, plus a racing extra that gives your stake back as a free bet if you finish second to the SP favourite at selected meetings, although you do need to use the free bets within seven days.

DAZN Bet and bet365 each give you £30 for a £10 bet. bet365 needs bonus code HR365, DAZN Bet needs you to opt in, and DAZN Bet's free bets are for selected markets only and do not count each-way bets. BetAhoy is the smallest offer at £10, split between a £5 sports free bet and a £5 acca free bet, and you need code ALLABOARD10. Proper Bet is more about boosted odds than a welcome free bet.

You can claim all of these offers if you are new to each bookmaker, as long as you meet the eligibility rules for each one.

How To Claim A Melbourne Cup Free Bet

Sign up with a bookmaker: Follow the link from this page to your chosen bookmaker and register for a new account.
Add the promotional code: Enter the relevant bonus code when required. Use HR365 for bet365 or ALLABOARD10 for BetAhoy, which must be entered through the My Bonuses section. DAZN Bet requires you to opt in to the promotion, while BOYLE Sports doesn't require a code.
Make a qualifying deposit: Fund your new account using an accepted payment method. A debit card is generally the most straightforward option, although you should check the promotion's payment restrictions.
Place your first bet: Bet at or above the minimum qualifying odds for your chosen offer. A Melbourne Cup selection at Evens (2.00) or bigger will qualify for most of these offers, but remember that DAZN Bet does not count each-way bets. The race goes off at 4am UK time on Tuesday, so place your bet on Monday night.
Receive your free bets: Free bets are credited once your qualifying bet settles, so expect them on Tuesday morning after the race.

A few things to keep in mind before you claim:

Payment methods: e-wallets are excluded from some of these offers, so deposit by debit card.
Free bet stakes: the stake is not returned when a free bet wins, only the winnings.
Expiry: DAZN Bet and BOYLE Sports free bets last 7 days, so use them quickly.
Each-way bets: DAZN Bet does not count each-way bets as a qualifying bet, so back your Melbourne Cup selection to win if you want to claim it.

Melbourne Cup Free Bets FAQs

Can I use these free bets on the Melbourne Cup?
Yes, in most cases. BOYLE Sports free bets can be used on most sports including horse racing, DAZN Bet free bets on selected markets and BetAhoy's reward is a £5 sports free bet plus a £5 acca free bet. bet365 Bet Credits and any Proper Bet boosts are subject to their own terms, so check before you bet.

Can I claim more than one Melbourne Cup free bet offer?
Yes. Each offer is for new customers of that bookmaker, so you can claim one from every bookmaker you don't already have an account with.

Do I need a promo code?
bet365 needs bonus code HR365 and BetAhoy needs ALLABOARD10. DAZN Bet needs you to opt in, and BOYLE Sports doesn't need a code.

Can my qualifying bet go on the Melbourne Cup?
Yes. Each of these offers accepts a sports bet as the qualifying bet, as long as it meets the minimum odds. DAZN Bet does not count each-way bets, so use a win bet there.

What time is the Melbourne Cup in the UK?
The Melbourne Cup is run at 3pm Melbourne time on Tuesday 3rd November, which is 4am UK time, so most punters will place their bets on Monday night.

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