Cheltenham Festival 2025: November Meeting Sees New Stars Emerge
The jumps season cranked up a notch last week, with some of racing’s big names firing in the winners at Navan and Cheltenham. While we wait for Willie Mullins to unleash the Closutton battalion, the likes of Dan Skelton, Nicky Henderson and Gordon Elliott were all successful on the big stage.
We’ve got the Premiere Weekend at Punchestown this week and jumps fans will be excited to see the likes of Fastorslow, Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs. But for the time being, let’s take a look back at the best of the action over the past seven days.
#AD 18+ New Customer offer - Use promo code YSKAST. Place a min £5 bet on the sportsbook at odds of min EVS (2.0) and get £30 in free bets. Free bet rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via Debit Cards & Apple Pay will qualify for this offer. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly
JAGWAR is now 2-2 over fences after a much improved display at Bangor-on-Dee and he could end up being a nice type for a handicap in the spring. He still appears to have a bit in hand and I’d say connections will be keen to make hay while he is thriving.
Look no further than Sean Bowen on SHECOULDBEANYTHING for Ride of the Week, he certainly earned his riding fee in the Listed Mares Novices’ Chase. She found the pace of the race a little hot to handle early doors but her rider galvanised her up the run-in to get her head in front.
It was great to have a three-day card at Cheltenham and HYLAND was one of the stars of the show on Day 1, jumping like a buck to put his rivals to the sword. Nico de Boinville gave him a fantastic ride from the front, getting the fractions spot on and leaving those in behind with too much to do.
There were mixed views on JONBON and I was a little underwhelmed on the whole. He jumped brilliantly – quite possibly better than he’s jumped before – but I’d say he is now at the stage of his career where we’d see a better horse up in trip. He looks more like a Ryanair Chase horse than a Queen Mother Champion Chase one to me.
Safer Gambling Week runs from 18-24th November and is led by the gambling industry. The aim is to create conversations with customers, staff and the wider public about safer gambling whilst driving awareness of:
- How to gamble more safely
- Tools available to help people gamble safely all year round
- Sources of further advice and support
For more details, follow this link or find Safer Gambling Week on X, Facebook or Instagram.
POTTERS CHARM was mightily impressive in the Grade 2 Hyde Novices’ Hurdle and he’s looking like one of the top prospects on this side of the Irish Sea. The Dan Skelton-trained Valgrand was all the rage in the betting but Potters Charm made light work of his market rival to win eased down.
It was great to see IRANCY – last seen finishing third behind Firefox and Ballyburn last December – bolt up in the maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Friday. Mark Walsh kept it simple on the short priced favourite and he duly obliged, pulling clear of Punchestown Festival winner Will The Wise and £335,000 purchase Tumuch.
Most eyes were on Navan and Cheltenham on Saturday but we start at Uttoxeter and the very talented KINGSTON PRIDE. I was rather taken by his performance in the opening race of the day and I’d say he could blossom into a nice horse going forward. He’s one to keep an eye on, that’s for sure.
I’ve always been a fan of WINGMEN and I thought he won cosily enough, beating a well regarded horse of Henry de Bromhead’s called FORTY COATS. The runner up is a winner in waiting and Wingmen’s performance can be marked up given his tendency to jump a little out to his right. He’s a good horse.
#AD 18+. New customers only. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 4 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non-withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply. 18+. Gambleaware.org
It was great to see BLEU DE VASSY prevail in the Grade 3 novice hurdle and he could be a real prospect for a nice handicap in the spring. I’m not convinced he’s a true Grade 1 horse but he may be given the opportunity to test himself at that level and we’ll learn a little more about his credentials next time out.
HOME BY THE LEE appeared to be back to his best when winning the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle and you’d have to say he is a contender in the Stayers Hurdle division. He was six lengths adrift of Teahupoo last season but at the prices he is worth considering as an each way play for the Cheltenham Festival.
The Fortria Chase was billed as a competitive affair but it didn’t really turn out that way as two of the market leaders flopped. FOUND A FIFTY clinched another Grade 2 victory but it was far from straightforward and he looks to be crying out for a step back up in trip to me. Keep SOLNESS on the mind for a nice handicap in the spring.
DOWN MEMORY LANE came out on top in what looked like a hot Beginners Chase on paper and I really hope this horse can fulfil his potential. He was highly regarded as a possible superstar when JP McManus bought him and chasing was always likely to be his calling. Fingers crossed he stays healthy and the sky is the limit.
#AD 18+ Place a min £10 bet on Sportsbook on odds of min EVS (2.0), get £50 in Free Bet Builders, Accumulators or multiples to use on any sport. Rewards valid for 30 days. Only deposits via cards or Apple Pay will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly.
It was a weak enough Grade 2 but you couldn’t help but be impressed at the manner of EAST INDIA DOCK’s success in the Triumph Hurdle trial. The form of the race may not work out but he certainly passed the eye test and he jumped much better than half-brother Burdett Road (more on him later) did as a juvenile.
L’EAU DU SUD stamped his authority on the two-mile novice chase division, bolting up to win the Grade 2 Arkle trial with consummate ease. Lookaway is a useful yardstick on his hurdles form and Dan Skelton’s mount blew him away, putting 11 lengths between himself and the rest of the field – recording a 153 RPR in the process.
It was third time lucky for IL RIDOTO in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, with young Freddie Gingell giving his mount a superb ride to claim victory for Paul Nicholls. The Ditcheat handler had a rough start to the campaign but there’s no doubt that the yard are hitting their stride and Il Ridoto will once again be campaigned in those lucrative handicaps.
It’s only November but I’m already thinking of the Fred Winter as a potential spring target for QUANTOCK HILLS. Trained by Warren Greatrex, he has some nice French form in the book and has already raced four times, putting him in contention for that Festival race.
Another potential Fred Winter horse is BEYOND YOUR DREAMS – who had to settle for second for the second race in a row. It’ll be interesting, given his connections, to see where he goes next and what the plan is going forward but I’m already thinking he’ll be aimed at a nice pot down the line.
The Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle has a nice roll of honour and THE YELLOW CLAY backed up his Down Royal maiden hurdle to prevail. I’m not sure how strong the race was if we’re being completely honest but you’d love his attitude and visually he was much improved on his hurdles debut.
Martin Pipe winner BETTER DAYS AHEAD downed Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Slade Steel on chase debut and I’d say the former is the horse to keep onside. While both made novicey mistakes, Gordon Elliott’s mount is arguably more straightforward and I’m of the view that he can blossom into a Graded novice chaser.
#AD 18+. New customers only. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 4 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non-withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply. 18+. Gambleaware.org
I thought PEAKY BOY was very good at Cheltenham in the Limited Novices’ Handicap Chase and he’ll be some horse when he steps up to three miles. Soft ground will be a help to him too, which makes his success over 2m4f on quick ground all the more impressive. He could be one of Nicky Henderson’s better novice chasers this year.
BURDETT ROAD won the Greatwood Hurdle, fending off DYSART ENOS before keeping the fast-finishing BE AWARE at bay. The front three were all prominent in the betting and my view is that those three will all go on and improve as the season goes on. The winner has been touted for the Champion Hurdle by his trainer.
Last but not least, we have FORTUNE DE MER. Harry Skelton toyed with his rivals as he cruised through the field, barely breaking a sweat to win on the bridle. It was a taking performance on the eye but you’d have to question the form at this stage – he’s one to keep at the back of the mind though, with a view to the Champion Bumper.
#AD 18+. New customers only. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 4 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets are non-withdrawable. Free bets expire after 30 days. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply. 18+. Gambleaware.org
Star Performance Of The Week
I have to go with POTTERS CHARM here. There were several outstanding performances but I was really impressed at the manner of his success. The distance he put between himself and Valgrand was something to behold and Gale Mahler was a similar distance behind the Skelton horse as she was the last day – which suggests the form stands up.
Connections were raving about Potters Charm before the weekend and now he’s backed up the hype. He is more of a Turners Novices’ Hurdle horse than an Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle type and I can’t wait to see him next time out. The Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle could be next on the agenda.
This Week’s Tracker Horse To Follow
I’d say FORTY COATS will come on leaps and bounds for his run behind Wingmen at Navan and he is one that I’ll be backing next time out. The front two pulled some way clear of the rest of the field and Henry de Bromhead’s often improve for the run. I’d be fairly confident that he’ll mature into a decent horse this season.