Paddy Power Gold Cup Day Race Guide: Cheltenham Live on ITV Racing

Saturday 14 November 2026 · Cheltenham (Old Course) · Ground: quick, good at worst

The November Meeting hits full volume on Saturday, and the Paddy Power Gold Cup at 2.20 is the race everyone has circled. Thirteen go to post after Madara and Norn Iron were taken out, and it is one of those handicaps where you can make a decent case for half the field before you have finished your first coffee. ITV Racing has five races from Prestbury Park (plus two from Windsor), so below you will find every Cheltenham race on the telly, a full runner by runner for the big one, and a proper tipster consensus built from more than 50 published horse racing tips.

The weather has been kind, which for once means the ground is on the fast side. That suits the speedier, prominent racing types and should put a premium on slick jumping.

Cheltenham on ITV Racing: the schedule

ITV also show the 13:25 and 15:10 from Windsor.

14:20 Paddy Power Gold Cup: runner by runner

Non runners: Madara, Norn Iron

Matata

Nigel & Willy Twiston Davies · J J Slevin · 12st 0lb · around 20/1

Won a big handicap over course and distance on New Year's Day and has fallen apart since, finishing last at Windsor, tailing off in the Ryanair and failing to complete twice in April. The handicapper has eased him, and he has a decent record fresh, but top weight and that run of form make him hard to love. Willy Twiston Davies calls him consistent and says this has been the target for a while, pointing out that a repeat of the New Year's Day run would put him right in the mix. Big if.

Meetmebythesea

Ben Pauling · Harry Cobden · 11st 10lb · 5/2 favourite

The one they all have to beat. Three from four over fences, including a Festival win in March where he powered clear of 17 rivals, and that form has worked out nicely. He has won first time out in both previous seasons, he likes decent ground and he is only six, so there is room for more. The 13lb rise since the Festival is the catch. Pauling says the horse has not missed a beat, has been aimed squarely at this race and is as ready as he can get him without a prep run. Cobden, who rides, says he would not want to swap. Short enough, but a massive chance, and JP McManus has somehow never won this race.

Johnnywho

Jonjo & A J O'Neill · Jonjo O'Neill Jr · 11st 9lb · big price

Ultima winner and fourth in the Grand National, so he has plenty of class, but he is a stayer first and foremost and this trip is short of what he wants after seven months off. AJ O'Neill admits he would be entitled to come on for the run and the bigger targets are in the spring. One for later in the season.

Blueking d'Oroux

Dan Skelton · Harry Skelton · 11st 7lb · 4/1 to 5/1

The tipsters' darling (more on that below). Improved once headgear went on last season, chased home a good one at Kempton and finished second in the Manifesto at Aintree. Jumping could be a bit hairy at times, but that was in his novice season, and a prominent racing style should suit this track and trip on quick ground. He is making his debut for Skelton after leaving Ditcheat over the summer, and it is telling that Harry Skelton picked him over two other stable runners. Dan Skelton reckons the form was on the up in the spring and thinks there may be a bit more in the tank, especially as he was rated higher over hurdles than he is over fences.

Riskintheground

Dan Skelton · Harry Atkins (5lb) · 11st 5lb · 25/1 to 50/1

A tough nine year old who wins plenty (nine from 33 over fences) and ran on into third in the Charlie Hall a fortnight ago. Off 146, though, he has nothing in hand, and he is third choice in the yard on jockey bookings. Skelton, mind, is bullish, describing him as about as good a 66/1 shot as he will ever run and massively overpriced, helped by Atkins' 5lb claim. Worth a second glance if you like a rag with a trainer in his corner.

July Flower

Henry de Bromhead · Darragh O'Keeffe · 11st 1lb · 6/1 to 13/2

The mare who won the Arkle Trial at this meeting last year, jumping beautifully, and was a top level performer over hurdles in France before that. She did not build on that win and her stamina gave out at Punchestown over a longer trip, but this 2m4f should be fine and she has only had five chase starts. O'Keeffe chose her over Zurich, and De Bromhead's chasers have a cracking record at Cheltenham. The trainer says she is in great form and this has been the plan since Punchestown. Very much an each way player.

Quebecois

Paul Nicholls · Sam Twiston Davies · 11st 0lb · 6/1 to 7/1

Still a maiden over fences, which sounds worse than it is: he was beaten a nose here on Trials Day and finished third in the Ultima, less than a length behind Johnnywho. Blew a golden chance at Newton Abbot last month (he was trading at 3/100 in running), but the handicapper actually dropped him a pound for it. Expect him to be bowling along in front on the Old Course. Nicholls has trained him specifically for this and told reporters, "I think he's got a lovely chance." Plenty of tipsters agree.

Guard Your Dreams

Nigel & Willy Twiston Davies · Toby McCain Mitchell (3lb) · 10st 11lb · big price

A ten year old veteran who loves this track and goes well fresh, but he was disappointing at Ffos Las last month and looks vulnerable to the younger, less exposed types. His trainers say he badly needed that run and deserves a crack at a big one. Sentimental each way money only.

O'Moore Park

Martin Keighley · Freddie Keighley (5lb) · 10st 11lb · 12/1

The ex Willie Mullins horse finally broke his chase duck over course and distance last month, and his Cheltenham form figures read 3, 2, 6, 1. Up 4lb, but Freddie Keighley's 5lb claim means he effectively races off a pound lower than when he won. Finishing effort has not always been his strong suit, though it looked better last time, and Keighley senior reckons he came out of that race in top form, will love the good ground and has more improvement in him. A proper each way contender at a double figure price.

Zurich

Henry de Bromhead · Sean Bowen · 10st 11lb · 9/1

Another De Bromhead course and distance winner, progressive for most of last season and fifth in the Plate at the Festival. He disappointed at Limerick on his return and the British handicapper has put him on a career high mark. De Bromhead admits he was let down by that run but is happy to put a line through it. Bowen is a significant booking.

Release The Beast

Paul Nolan · Sean Flanagan · 10st 8lb · around 11/1 to 20/1

Irish raider with strong handicap form over shorter, including second in a big Leopardstown handicap and fourth in the Grand Annual. Unseated early at Punchestown last time and has not won since his novice days, but he is low mileage and has been dropped back to an interesting mark. Looks overpriced to some judges, and Tom Segal is on.

Torneo

Jamie Snowden · Gavin Sheehan · 10st 7lb · big price

Going for a hat trick, and Snowden's yard is red hot, with 11 winners from 27 runners in the last fortnight at the time of writing. He needs a career best, but he was second at this meeting last year and won well at Ffos Las over further. Snowden says he gets in off a light weight, is fit and happy, and should be there at the business end. The trainer form angle.

Dunkerque

Jennie Candlish · Sean Quinlan · 10st 5lb · big price

Rattled up four wins over the summer in small fields, but he was beaten at short odds in his last two, and this is a completely different level. The team say he came back lame from Warwick, which may explain that run, and this will show where he stands. Needs a big step up.

The tipster consensus

We counted 53 published selections for the Paddy Power Gold Cup from newspaper, TV and online tipsters. Scoring one point per tip and two for a NAP, here is how it stacks up:

Who's on what?

• Blueking d'Oroux: Garry Owen (NAP), Brian Flanagan (NAP), The Guardian (NAP), Greg Wood (NAP), Joe Napier, Alan Dudman, Mike Norman, Racing TV Form, Alan Firkins, Get Your Tips Out, Sporting Life, Timeform
• Meetmebythesea: Lee Sobot (NAP), The Judge (NAP), Racing App Team, Irish Racing, Marlborough, At The Races, My Racing, Oddschecker, Andy Stephens, Dave Nevison, Punters Lounge
• Quebecois: Robin Goodfellow (NAP), Spotlight (NAP), Sunday Express (NAP), GG, Racing Post, Joel Pattison, Ben Hutton, Spotlight Lucky 15, Alex Scott, Harry Allwood
• July Flower: Rory Delargy (NAP), talkSPORT (NAP), The Duke (NAP), Rob Wright (NAP), racing daily.com (NAP)
• Zurich: Rory Paddock (NAP), Ian Gaughran (NAP), Winners Enclosure, Paul Kealy (e/w), Stephen Welch, Racing TV Value

Every tipster's selection

A few things jump out. Blueking d'Oroux tops the table on both tips and points, and he is a bigger price than the favourite. Meetmebythesea is the likeliest winner on most people's figures, but at 5/2 in a 13 runner handicap the value has largely gone. And July Flower is the quirkiest stat of the lot: only five tipsters picked her, but every single one made her their NAP. That is conviction you cannot ignore at 6/1.

Consensus best bet

Blueking d'Oroux (win, 4/1 to 5/1). Most tips, most NAPs among the market leaders, top pick of the form experts, and the choice of the stable jockey over two other Skelton runners. Quick ground and a sharp 2m4f play to his prominent running style, and there should be more to come in his second season over fences.

Each way partner: July Flower (6/1). The "all NAP" mare, proven at the track, on a workable mark and ridden by the stable's number one.

Biggest danger: Meetmebythesea. If he improves again, he wins. Simple as that.

Outsider for the Placepot: O'Moore Park (12/1). Loves Cheltenham and is effectively a pound lower than when winning here last month.

The rest of Cheltenham's ITV card

13:10 JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2)

A fascinating clash of debut winners. Charles Darnay (around 6/4) is James Owen's latest smart juvenile, and Owen has won two of the last three runnings. He made mistakes on his debut at Wetherby but powered clear late, and Harry Cobden is on for the first time. Atomic City (2/1 to 5/2) jumped more fluently in winning at Cork for Joseph O'Brien and should be a strong stayer. Admiral Will Brown (11/2) won at Down Royal and is the value angle.

Pundit split: Charles Darnay 2, Atomic City 2 (Ruby Walsh, Matt Chapman), Admiral Will Brown 1 (Rory Delargy).

Our pick: Atomic City. The neater jumper, with the better price, against a favourite who still has things to learn.

13:45 Paddy Power Arkle Trial Novices' Chase (Grade 2)

The race of the day for the purists. Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Old Park Star makes his chasing debut for Nicky Henderson against Kabral Du Mathan, who has already won over fences at Perth for Dan Skelton. Old Park Star has always looked like a chaser in the making and has schooled well at home; Kabral Du Mathan is rated higher and has that run under his belt, though there are minor questions about what he finds off the bridle.

Pundit split: Kabral Du Mathan 3 (Rory Delargy, Harry Cobden, Ruby Walsh), Old Park Star 2.

14:55 From The Horse's Mouth Podcast Handicap Hurdle (3m)

A trappy staying handicap. Gold For Alec (9/2 to 5/1) looked the winner here in October before being caught on the run in and is only 3lb higher, with three runs this season to sharpen him up. Rambo T (11/2) is 4lb below his last winning mark and gets Sean Bowen back for an in form Olly Murphy. Ifiwerearichman (11/1) races off a mark well below his chase rating.

Pundit split: Gold For Alec 2 (Rory Delargy, Matt Chapman, both each way), Rambo T 2 (Harry Cobden, Ruby Walsh), Ifiwerearichman 1.

Our pick: Gold For Alec (each way). Course form, fitness on his side and a strong staying profile.

15:30 Paddy Power Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (2m5f)

Moneygarrow (7/4) travelled like a dream in the Albert Bartlett before his stamina ran out over 3m. Dropping to 2m5f and making his handicap debut off 133, he looks well treated. Daylatedollarshort (4/1) was left in front at the last at Chepstow and was staying on strongly anyway. Caspari (16/1) has won his last two for Harry Fry and is the each way outsider.

Pundit split: Moneygarrow 3 (Paddy Power, Rory Delargy, Ruby Walsh), Daylatedollarshort 1 (Matt Chapman), Caspari 1 (Harry Cobden).

Our pick: Moneygarrow. The right trip, a fair mark and the class edge.

Saturday's best bets at a glance

Prices were correct at the time of writing and are likely to move, so check before you bet.

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