Jaysella’s Cheltenham Autumn meeting Racecard for 15th November 2025

Jaysella’s Cheltenham Autumn Meeting Racecard for Saturday 15th November

JCB Trial Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 12.35
Secret Force
Well, I’ve gotta tell you, Saturday’s opener was a toss of the coin between Secret Force and Precious Man for me. Heads it was, so my money’s on Secret Force, who was impressive enough on his debut over hurdles for Gavin Cromwell, and wont be minding the conditions here I would think. That said, Dan Skelton’s Precious Man has come over from France, so also should be happy enough on this ground after Storm Claudia did her worst on Friday, and did show plenty to nab hot favourite Novak on the line at Auteuil back in May. However, this is a pretty different track to Auteuil, so it could be that Secret Force’s win on Punchestown’s undulations will see this Frankel colt in his best light round here. Harry Derham’s One Horse Town has been racking up the wins, and he’s my each-way angle if that’s your thing, but Secret Force is the one they all need to beat.

Debenhams Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase 1.10
Sound And Fury
A tricky little one this, where not one of these really stands out at first glance, but you probably won’t be far away with Sound And Fury. He won nicely enough at Carlisle a couple of weeks back, and Ben Pauling is certainly a trainer in a purple patch just now, so with Gina Andrews booked for the trip, plenty of boxes ticked I reckon. The Irish raider Aurea Fortuna looks the obvious danger, having scored twice in his last three races, but that profile ain’t so different from Sound And Fury’s, so I can easily see this pair being right there up the finishing straight. Autonomous Cloud completes my three as the each-way angle, but I like Sound And Fury for the win.

Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 1.45
July Flower (nap)
I can’t look any further that Henry de Bromhead’s July Flower for this Arkle Trial. The style in which she won at Limerick on her chasing bow made me stand up and take notice, and on the day that Rachael Blackmore got enlisted into the Racing Hall Of Fame, she was interviewed on BBC Radio and picked out July Flower for special mention. I do think there’s stacks of quality in Dan Skelton’s Be Aware and James Owen’s Burdett Road, but both might not want ground this deep, so for me, July Flower is my Saturday banker. Yabba Dabba Doo if she does!

Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2.20
Il Ridoto
I get that Jagwar has been well fancied to take this Gold Cup Handicap Chase, and I know he’s two from two here, but I’ll buck that trend and go for Il Ridoto. Last year’s winner gets a 6lb pull from Jagwar, but what really concerns me is the lack of recent yard form, so there we are – I’ve said it and I’m up there to be shot down! But stables do tend to perform in snatches, which is why there has been plenty of support all round for Dan Skelton’s runners just now, so Panic Attack rates a threat while Sam Thomas’s Vincenzo is also on my list. Henry de Bromhead’s Coming Up Easy has also been well touted so cannot be ignored, and is my Irish angle. However, Il Ridoto has been around Prestbury Park so many times, I think I’ll stick with that experience and give him the vote.

From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle 2.55
Supremely West
Well, Dan Skelton started off this Autumn meeting on the front foot, with A Pai De Nom scoring in Fridays opener, and Supremely West can go in for him here. Unfussy over his ground, Fridays onslaught of rain won’t be dampening his enthusiasm, and I’ve got this race between Gavin Cromwell’s Londonofficecallin and Supremely West. Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies’ Gowel Road won the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle here in January, so might be one to have a good paddock look at, but I do really like the appeal of Dan Skelton’s Supremely West, so he gets my wad!

Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle 3.30
French Ship (nb)
I’m in two minds here, cos I like the way Dan Skelton is going about things just now, but Philip Hobbs & Johnson White look to have a good’un with French Ship. So, a girl’s gotta make up her mind, so I’m going to plump for French Ship over Dan’s Royal Infantry, based on my theory that he had plenty left in the tank when scoring here last month. Same place, same result, that’s what I’m hoping! For all that, both sit at the top of the weights, so could always be vulnerable to one better weighted. With that in mind, Martin Keighley’s De Temps En Temps fits that thinking, and at very tempting odds is my each way pick, but I do think that French Ship is the one to follow.

Cheltenham Guardians Safeguarding Team Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race (Listed) 4.00
Edith Pelham
Well, this Mares’ Bumper is as wide open as they come, but Fergal O’Brien’s Edith Pelham showed enough at Aintree last month to get my support. She did have a right ding dong with Tom Ellis’s Ladies Day there, but showed plenty of fight to get the job done, and she did look a very tempting price to me yesterday, so I’ve had a bit of a nibble at around 9/1. Generous enough, I reckon, so that’s where I am for the closer, with the progressive Celestial Tune looking like one to note, and of course not to forget Dan Skelton’s offering, Divine Diva. Edith Pelham ain’t no “Poor Edith” to me when she wins this! Yewlow!!