Jaysella’s Cheltenham November Meeting Racecard for Saturday 14th November 2026

Jaysella’s Cheltenham November Meeting Racecard for Saturday 14th November

Citipost Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase 12.35
Herakles Westwood
Warren Greatrex’s Herakles Westwood spent most of last winter running around Cheltenham, so he’s easy enough to back for me in this grade. For all that, he’s gotta go off as top-weight under Gina Andrews, but you ain’t gonna get anyone better to steer her horse round Prestbury Park. Plus, he goes well fresh and was second in this last year on heavy ground, but this better surface should be just the thing. Talked you into it yet? Well, Olly Murphy’s in form, so Little Ledgend is gonna be involved, and this Yeats gelding was third over course and distance in the October meeting, and does have a string of good results over the last year. Chance! Ben Pauling has got his yard back amongst the winners, so Sound And Fury looks a super each-way shot, if that’s your thing, but I’ll have Herakles Westwood for the win.

JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 1.10
Atomic City
I reckon I’ll take a chance on Atomic City for this JCB Trial, and I’ll put him just upsides of James Owen’s Charles Darnay for Grade 2 honours. Not surprisingly, these two dominate the betting, and I’ve gotta admit that Charles Darnay’s win in the Listed Wensleydale Hurdle at Wetherby was a an impressive start over the sticks. But, it was Joseph O’Brien’s Atomic City’s finish in a Maiden at Cork that really impressed me, despite running all over the place at the business end, looking as green as a garden on his first try over hurdles. Yet I do think there’s more scope for Atomic City if coming on for that first run, so I’ll give the vote to this Ghaiyyath grey over Charles Darnay.

Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 1.45
Old Park Star (Jaysella) (nap)
What a race to look forward to on Saturday, this Arkle Trial. We’ve got two of the very best prospects in the Novice Chasing division squaring up to each other here in Kabral Du Mathan and Old Park Star. Now then, Kabral Du Mathan was fourth in the Stayers’ Hurdle back at the Festival in March, maybe not seeing out the three mile trip, while Old Park Star was an impressive winner of the Supreme Novices’ at the Festival, so both already have a very strong CV, so it’s all about who’s gonna take to fences the best in this novice campaign. Well, Kabral Du Mathan didn’t mess about on his first try over fences at Perth, leaving the remaining pair far behind, but this will be tougher. Gut feeling is Old Park Star, who just looked through and through a chaser in the making last year, so I’m gonna stick me neck out and say Nicky Henderson’s got this one with Old Park Star. Caroline?

Kabral Du Mathan (Caroline) (nap)
Oh Jaysella, once again we’re divergent on one of the features, just like yesterday, because I think Kabral Du Mathan is the one to follow. After a fine fourth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival in March, we know he has the stamina to swallow up this two mile chase, and I thought that his fencing at Perth was foot perfect almost all the way round. I do get it that there’s going to be plenty more traffic in this competitive Trial, but I did not think Kabral flattered to deceive in that Perth win, so he gets my vote.

Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2.20
Meetmebythesea (Jaysella) (nb)
Well kids, I gave you Meetmebythesea for the Jack Richards Novice Chase at the Festival in March, and I ain’t jumping ship now! If anything, I think Ben Pauling’s second season chaser could be even better now, possibly being lined up for a tilt at the Ryanair Chase here at the Festival in March, and with Harry Cobden now JP McManus’s retained rider, a top class campaign is on the cards. For all that, this Premier Handicap does mean Meetmebythesea giving weight away to some very good rivals, and Dan Skelton’s pair of Madara & Blueking D’oroux, who especially leaps off the page, along with Paul Nicholls’ Quebecois. I also can see in-form Harry Derham having a say with Norn Iron, who’s one for you each way hedgers, so all in all a really hot handicap. Yeah, minds been made up since March, Meetmebythesea is a very exciting chaser who likes this ground and is proven on this track, so hard to oppose from my viewpoint.

From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle 2.55
Gold For Alec
You’ve always gotta keep an eye on Dan Skelton for these big field Handicaps at Cheltenham, so accordingly there’s been lots of support for Ace Of Spades. But, for me he’s a bit fully out there these days, and Lord help me if I’m wrong, but I reckon he can be opposed just now. So, my ready preference is for Tom Symonds Gold For Alec, who showed me at the October meeting that he’s good on this track, despite having no answer for the impressive Seanicon, but a repeat of that last run should put Gold For Alec right into the mix. Paul Nolan has been firing in a few, so Ifiwerearichman would be my each way pick, but I’ll have Gold For Alec for the win.

Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle 3.30
Moneygarrow
Moneygarrow looks very easy to back given he was last seen in the Albert Bartlett here at the Festival in March. Yeah, from a Grade One to a Class 3 Handicap, that’s a parachute drop with a bit of freefall huh? So why oh why is Moneygarrow lining up at around Evens? That’s the question I’ve asked looking at the markets this week, and he’s not even top-weight with Olly Murphy’s Daylatedollarshort taking that honour. Hmmmm! Well, can’t really figure this one out, either the back room boys know something we don’t, or this is a loss leader gonna be well advertised on all those specials online – you know the one’s I’m talking about. Moneygarrow surely has this at his mercy, with Harry Skelton gonna be playing a waiting game before a strong finish up the hill. Daylatedollarshort the danger!

Karndean Designflooring Mares’ Open NH Flat Race (Listed) 4.00
Elegantemente
Right then for the closer, the Mares’ Open National Hunt Flat Race, I’m going with Henry de Bromhead’s No Risk At All filly, Elegantemente. Always tricky these Open National Hunt flat races, but I think we saw enough of Elegantemente in her Ballinrobe run, her first under rules to imagine she can progress from there, despite the greenness. Too many to mention here in with a chance, but Dan Skelton’s Northern Singer and Harry Derhams Queen Alice make some appeal, with Denis Hogan’s She Was The One at double figure odds looking an each way steal. They’re my four, but I’ll have Elegantemente for the win and She Was The One for you hedgers!