Jump racing’s season moves up a gear this weekend. This year, the Cheltenham November Meeting 2026 runs from Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, with the Paddy Power Gold Cup as its Saturday centerpiece. Before that, Jonbon goes for a third Shloer Chase on Friday. Then the Greatwood Hurdle closes the meeting on Sunday. On top of that, the ground is the story of the week, because several of the market leaders want more rain than the forecast offers.
Cheltenham November Meeting 2026 at a Glance
According to Cheltenham Racecourse, racing starts at 1:10pm UK time on Friday, which is 8:10am ET. On Saturday, the first race goes earlier at 12:35pm UK, or 7:35am ET. Sunday then opens with a Shetland pony race at 12:15pm UK before the main card. So all three days suit an early coffee and a morning of betting from the US.
| Day | Feature Races (ET) |
|---|---|
| Fri Nov 13 | Shloer Chase (Grade 2) at 9:20am, then the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) at 10:30am |
| Sat Nov 14 | Triumph Trial (Grade 2) at 8:10am, then the Arkle Trial (Grade 2) at 8:45am |
| Sat Nov 14 | Paddy Power Gold Cup (Premier Handicap) at 9:20am, while the card closes at 11:00am |
| Sun Nov 15 | Oddschecker Handicap Chase at 9:35am, then the Greatwood Hurdle (Premier Handicap) at 10:10am |
UK times are ET plus five hours. Race times from Cheltenham Racecourse and subject to change.
Cheltenham described the going as good, good to firm in places when the Racing Post checked in on Monday. That matters more than usual, since the connections of Madara, Idaho Sun and Jonbon have all raised the ground. As a result, we expect some late defections. Saturday’s final field also depends on Thursday morning’s declarations.
Also, all prices in this guide are indicative ante-post guide prices from UK bookmakers. MyWinners settles on the pari-mutuel dividend, so your payout will differ from the quoted figure. And for more on the jargon, our horse racing terms guide explains handicaps, official ratings and more.
Friday, November 13: Shloer Chase Day
Friday is Countryside Day. The Grade 2 Shloer Chase is the race to watch at 2:20pm UK, which is 9:20am ET. In all, seven runners head to the two-mile start. The winner then collects £56,950, or about $76,000. Meanwhile, the Listed Paddy Power Novices’ Chase at 1:45pm UK and the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at 3:30pm UK give us two more quality races on the card.
Shloer Chase 2026: Can Jonbon Win It a Third Time?
First of all, Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon won the Shloer Chase in 2023 and 2024. He also owns Grade 1 wins in the Clarence House Chase and the Ascot Chase, and his official rating of 165 tops this field by four pounds. Still, he has questions to answer. He finished 15 lengths behind the winner in this race last year as a 5/6 favorite. He also has not run since March.
| Horse and Trainer | Rating | Guide Price |
|---|---|---|
| Jonbon (Nicky Henderson) | 165 | Evens |
| JPR One (Joe Tizzard) | 161 | 8/1 |
| Libberty Hunter (Cath Williams) | 159 | 6/1 |
| Gidleigh Park (Harry Fry) | 155 | 6/1 |
| Saint Segal (Jane Williams) | 153 | 7/1 |
| Mighty Bandit (Warren Greatrex) | 151 | 7/1 |
| Calico (Dan Skelton) | 148 | 10/1 |
Ratings are official ratings. Guide prices are the best ante-post odds as of Monday, November 9, so they are indicative only. MyWinners pays the pari-mutuel dividend.
His rivals are not easy to dismiss, either. Joe Tizzard’s JPR One holds a rating of 161, while Libberty Hunter sits on 159. Harry Fry’s Gidleigh Park adds another live chance off 155. Even so, Jonbon headed the market at around evens on Monday, with Gidleigh Park and Libberty Hunter next at around 6/1.
Saturday, November 14: Paddy Power Gold Cup Day
Saturday, of course, is the big one. The Paddy Power Gold Cup goes off at 2:20pm UK, which is 9:20am ET. It also carries a £160,000 prize fund, or about $214,000. Because it runs over about two and a half miles on the Old Course, it is also the first big handicap chase of the British jumps season. In addition, the card features two key trials for March, the JCB Triumph Trial at 1:10pm UK and the Arkle Trial at 1:45pm UK.
Paddy Power Gold Cup 2026: Runners and Guide Prices
Nineteen horses stood their ground at the confirmation stage, so the field will shrink once Thursday’s declarations come through. For now, Ben Pauling’s Meetmebythesea leads the betting at around 7/2 to 4/1. In March, he won the Grade 2 Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival by four and three-quarter lengths, and he runs in the colors of JP McManus. So he already has the course form that this race demands.
| Horse and Trainer | Guide Price |
|---|---|
| Meetmebythesea (Ben Pauling) | 4/1 |
| Quebecois (Paul Nicholls) | 9/2 |
| Blueking D'Oroux (Dan Skelton) | 6/1 |
| Madara (Dan Skelton), still a ground doubt | 7/1 |
| July Flower (Henry de Bromhead) | 8/1 |
| O'Moore Park | 8/1 |
| Zurich | 10/1 |
| Johnnywho | 14/1 |
Top of the market from the 19 confirmed entries, with William Hill guide prices as of November 9, so they are indicative only. Paddy Power also had Meetmebythesea at 7/2 and Madara at 5/1 on November 10.
Paul Nicholls’ Quebecois sits close behind at around 9/2, while Dan Skelton’s Blueking D’Oroux is around 6/1. Then there is Madara, also trained by Skelton. He won the Plate at the Festival in March, but owner Bryan Drew told the Racing Post he was pessimistic about running on quick ground. Henry de Bromhead’s July Flower, around 8/1, also gives Ireland a strong chance.
Arkle Trial and Triumph Trial
Before the Gold Cup, Dan Skelton’s Kabral Du Mathan heads the Grade 2 Arkle Trial at around 4/6. Earlier still, James Owen’s Charles Darnay leads the JCB Triumph Trial at around 7/4. However, the Racing Post suggested both races may depend on the ground, so check the declarations before you bet.
Sunday, November 15: Greatwood Hurdle Day
Finally, Carnival Sunday closes the meeting with the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at 3:10pm UK, which is 10:10am ET. It is a Premier Handicap over about two miles. The winner also takes home about £56,000, or around $75,000. Before that, the Oddschecker Handicap Chase over three miles and three and a half furlongs runs at 2:35pm UK.
Greatwood Hurdle 2026: Idaho Sun and the Ground
At the moment, Harry Fry’s Idaho Sun heads the Greatwood market at around 5/2. After all, he won the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day and went unbeaten through his novice season. However, Fry told the Racing Post that he needs good to soft ground to run. So if Idaho Sun stays home, Let It Rain at around 5/1 and Harry Lowes at around 6/1 move up the pecking order.
Our Picks for the Cheltenham November Meeting 2026
On Friday, we side with Jonbon in the Shloer Chase. He has the best form in the race, and he has won it twice already, so we will forgive last year’s flop. Then for Saturday’s Paddy Power Gold Cup, Meetmebythesea is our pick. He has won over fences at this track at the Festival, so the course holds no fears. That is enough for us at around 4/1.
Sunday, by contrast, comes down to the weather. If Idaho Sun runs, he is the one to beat. However, if he does not, we like Harry Lowes as the each-way alternative. In short, check the going on race morning, because it could reshape all three feature races.
Bet the Cheltenham November Meeting With MyWinners
Since the Shloer Chase, the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Greatwood Hurdle all fall across three days, this is the weekend British jumps racing really gets going. Early starts in the US mean you can bet the big races with your morning coffee, then switch to the US cards in the afternoon.
Bet online at app.mywinners.com, on the MyWinners: Racing & Sports app on iOS or Android, or go here to find your nearest MyWinners or Winners venue in CT.
Image by Paolo Camera. Licensed under CC-by-2.0.
