The second day of the Cheltenham November Meeting will be covered on ITV, with two races also televised from Windsor. The feature on Saturday is the prestigious Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
We have gone through all the races televised on ITV this Saturday, picking out ITV horse racing tips and an accumulator for ITV racing.
The first big race on Saturday’s card from Cheltenham comes in the form of the Grade Two JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle, run over a distance of two miles.
James Owen holds a strong hand, with Charles Darnay and Magnetude both winning recently on their hurdle debuts. Atomic City looks like an interesting contender for the Joseph O’Brien yard.
The three-year-old was a smooth winner on hurdles debut at Cork, passing every rival after being stuck out the back. Won easier than the half-length margin suggests. Was previously high class on the flat, winning over an extended mile and two on soft ground at Cork, before finishing 15th in the King George V Stakes.
Eye-catching debut on the flat earlier this year when third behind the subsequent third in the Derby, James J Braddock.
The first of two races covered from Windsor on Saturday is a Challenger Stayers' Hurdle Series Qualifier over three miles. Reallyntruthfully is an interesting chance for the Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls team.
The seven-year-old was last seen finishing fourth at Chepstow, but was subsequently disqualified. Has room to work on his handicap mark, as he is rated 7lb higher over fences.
Has won twice from eight starts over the smaller obstacles, and races off 2lb lower than his last start. First-time cheekpieces should sharpen him up.
The most informative race on the Cheltenham card this Saturday could be the Grade Two Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices’ Chase, which could see a showdown between two of Britain’s most exciting novices, Kabral Du Mathan and Old Park Star.
Kabral Du Mathan was an excellent winner on chase debut at Perth, streaking 19 lengths clear of Hold The Serve. The Dan Skelton runner handles Cheltenham, having won the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day before running a credible fourth in the Grade One Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival.
His experience over fences could count for a lot in this company.
The feature of the November Meeting is the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase, run over a distance of two miles and four furlongs. Meetmebythesea is a deserving favourite if building on his dominant success in the Grade Two Jack Richards Novices’ Chase at the Festival.
Course experience is important, with 23 of the last 24 winners having previously run at Cheltenham, while 17 of the winners over the same period have previously won at Jumps HQ.
Meanwhile, 17 of the winners over the same period have carried 11-1 or less, and seven-year-olds have an excellent record, winning eleven of the 24. July Flower looks like a very interesting contender for the in-form Henry De Bromhead yard.
The seven-year-old mare has won twice from five starts over fences, and handles Cheltenham well after winning the Arkle Trial at this meeting 12 months ago.
Unexposed over this distance and open to plenty of improvement after winning in Group One company over hurdles over three miles in France.
A competitive handicap hurdle over three miles is due off at 14:55, with the From The Horses Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle attracting a big field.
Gold For Alec looks to be on a workable mark based on his effort when only beaten a length by the incredibly well-handicapped Seaniecon at Cheltenham in October.
That run at least showed that there were no after-effects from a recent fall at Chepstow. Three-time winner over hurdles, including a success over an extended three miles and one at Hereford in April.
Open to further progress over this staying trip, and gets plenty of weight from the majority of his market rivals.
The second race covered from Windsor on Saturday is the Winter Million £40 For 3 Days Handicap Hurdle, run over two miles.
Course and distance winner Secret Squirrel showed his expertise at the track in January 2025 when he beat Kabral Du Mathan by two lengths. Has endured mixed results since then, including a third in the Grade Two Kingwell Hurdle and finishing 19th in the County Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Returned from a break on the flat at Nottingham earlier this month, and that pipe opener should leave him primed for a strong showing off his last winning mark.
The final race covered from Cheltenham on the ITV coverage this Saturday is an Intermediate Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs.
This looks like it could have been a long-term target for Hillberry Hill, with the five-year-old making just his second start for the Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls yard.
The selection was last seen winning by a wide six-length margin at Southwell on stable debut in March, having previously won on his second attempt over hurdles prior to that at Thurles for Margaret Mullins.
Has very little to find with market rivals based on his RPR of 138, and gets plenty of weight from Moneygarrow and Daylatedollarshort. Unexposed type, who should go very well on these terms with the yard in red-hot form.
