Cheltenham's November Meeting Signals Real Start of Jump Season
The National Hunt season finds its true beginning this weekend as Cheltenham Racecourse prepares to host its prestigious November meeting. This three-day spectacle starting on Friday has attracted nearly 400 entries, with many hopefuls aiming to return for the festival in March.
Why Cheltenham Remains Jump Racing's Crown Jewel
Despite hosting only nine racing days before its March festival, Cheltenham's scarcity of events enhances its prestige. The racecourse represents National Hunt's most precious resource, where increasing supply would risk devaluing this cherished currency. The limited schedule also builds anticipation for meetings like this November gathering, which continues to demonstrate robust health on both sides of the running rail.
While the festival meeting has experienced declining attendance, the November meeting has shown resilience. After a post-Covid boom in 2021-22, crowds dipped the following season but have steadily recovered over the past two years. This positive trend offers encouragement to Cheltenham's management as they address festival-specific challenges.
Breeding Ground for Future Champions
For owners and trainers, Cheltenham's pre-festival meetings provide invaluable opportunities to test prospects on the uniquely demanding track. The statistics speak volumes: three of last season's festival winners – Wodhooh, Jagwar and Stumptown – had won their previous outing at Cheltenham. Five more had raced there in their penultimate start before festival glory.
The popular Jonbon headlines Friday's action in the Shloer Chase, while trainer James Owen aims for his third consecutive victory in Saturday's opening juvenile hurdle. Owen previously succeeded with Burdett Road, who became last year's Champion Hurdle runner-up, and East India Dock, who went close in the Triumph Hurdle as 5-4 favourite.
The Paddy Power Gold Cup: A Punter's Institution
Saturday's feature race represents one of those events that captures betting imaginations early and never lets go. Previously sponsored for 35 years by Mackeson, the Paddy Power Gold Cup maintains its status as the winter's first major handicap chase. For many racing enthusiasts, this race will dominate their thoughts come Saturday morning, with memories of past winners remaining vivid years later.
While the jumps season technically began in early May, its spiritual commencement occurs when the field sets off for Friday's conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at 1.10pm. Every rare afternoon of racing beneath Cleeve Hill represents an occasion to anticipate and treasure in equal measure.
