The Mandarin’s Cheltenham Autumn Festival Racecard for Friday 14th November 2025
The Mandarin’s Cheltenham Autumn Festival Racecard for Friday November 14th
Lycetts Insurance Brokers Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 1.10
Walkadina
All in all it’s a pretty wide open contest for this Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle to get the Autumn Festival under way. I think I’ll take the gamble that David Pipe’s Walkadina can come out on top, as we know this Doctor Dino mare goes well fresh, and Rian Corcoran’s 10lb claim surely puts her onto a good mark. Let’s hope our Conditional jockey has done his homework and knows to race as wide as he dares, given the rain-softened ground, but I’m sure David Pipe and a few in the weighing room have given Rian the right brief. Dan Skelton’s A Pai De Nom has edged the ante post market this week, and although the yard is going great guns, this ground my be a bit deep for the jolly, so Philip Hobbs & Johnson White’s Kap Vert looks a big threat, with Ben Pauling’s As Legends Have It making some each-way appeal. Walkadina to go close in a tricky little curtain raiser.
Unibet Middle Distance Veterans’ Chase Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase 1.45
Fugitif
Richard Hobson’s Fugitif knows his way round here better than all of this field, and that could count for plenty given the ground conditions. This is his time of year, and Charlie Maggs’ 5lb claim helps to offset the big weight that Fugitif has worked his way up to. By contrast, top weight Gunsight Ridge may struggle in ground this deep over this two and a half mile trip, which may also be true of Anthony Honeyball’s Lord Baddesley, so Evan Williams’ Can You Call and Heather Main’s Numitor generally appeal more. Fugitif to make the most of the return to his regular hunting ground, and win this from that 12 stone load.
Sun’s “Save Our Bets” Novices’ Chase (Listed) 2.20
Double Powerful
I’ll chance my arm on Neil Mulholland’s Double Powerful for this Novices’ Chase. If Conor O’Farrell can get Double Powerful to switch off in the field for the first two miles or so of this three mile one trip, I think he’s every chance of playing him late and coming good up Cheltenham’s stiff finish. Anthony Honeyball’s Leave Of Absence won over this trip here last month, but might find this going a bit on the slow side, so Olly Murphy’s Wade Out might prove to be the biggest danger if seeing out this trip. These are my three, in a competitive little number, but Double Powerful gets the nudge.
Shloer Chase (Grade 2) 2.55
L’eau Du Sud (nap)
As Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon goes for a third consecutive win in the Shloer Chase, I’ll take the punt that he can be opposed with L’eau Du Sud. Dan Skelton’s unexposed chaser was withdrawn from a Premier Handicap Chase at Ascot on account of quicker ground at the start November, so should be primed still to make the most of the 3lb pull on Jonbon, with Evan Williams’ Libberty Hunter adding more spice to this Grade 2, at a track he obviously likes. Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies’ Matata is likely to set the early pace in a two mile chase where there will be no hiding places, while Alan King’s Edwardstone will relish this ground and looks a super each-way angle. A terrific renewal in store, but the progressive and unexposed L’eau Du Sud is taken to serve it up to Jonbon, with Libberty Hunter and Edwardstone keeping them both honest!
Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 3.30
Heads Up
A one and a half length runner up to Bambino in the Champion Bumper at the Festival in March shows that John McConnell’s Heads Up can act on this track. With no concerns over the rain that’s set to hit Prestbury Park, Heads Up looks a solid enough bet for Ireland to take some Pattern form home, and he got this campaign off to a winning start when scoring with plenty in hand at Listowel in September. Dan Skelton is knocking out the winners for fun just now, so Great Fleet and Moneygarrow must make the shortlist, while Henry de Bromhead’s King’s Bucks will like this deep ground and looks the value each-way angle. Heads Up to score in the Albert Bartlett, with Moneygarrow the most likely to make him work for the money.
Valda Energy Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 4.00
Fortune De Mer (nb)
It’s hard to get away from the form of Dan and Harry Skelton in the early stages of the 2025/26 season, and they can round things up here with a winner in Fortune De Mer. A course and distance winner here last month, in a Grade 2 contest suggests that this Doyen sired gelding won’t be spending too much more time in handicaps, but despite carrying top weight here, this mark may well underestimate him. Given the conditions, Evan Williams’ Shade Of Winter looks worth a second look with Harry Cobden booked for company, and Fergal O’Brien’s pair of Frontier Prince and Jack Hyde aren’t out of the picture in a wide open closer. Fortune De Mer to keep the Skelton team’s good run going, with the fifth from that Grade 2 here last time, Jack Hyde, to press the buttons hard up the hill.
The Mandarin
