Race times are GMT, with US Eastern time in brackets.
The jumps season is well and truly underway and with Cheltenham’s November meeting hosting a slew of trials for the Festival it almost feels as though March isn’t four cold, dark months away.
Saturday at Cheltenham
We kick off tomorrow with the JCB Triumph Hurdle Trial (13:10 GMT / 8:10 a.m. ET), which it will not surprise you to learn is a trial for the JCB Triumph Hurdle. That race is confined to 4-year-olds, so this field, six weeks out from their collective birthday on January 1st, would all have been potential Derby prospects at the start of 2026. The fact they’re running over hurdles now suggests that those hopes haven’t entirely come to fruition, but there’s still potential for one of these to be a champion in this new discipline. Charles Darney heads the market having won on hurdling debut despite some sketchy jumps, while main market rival Atomic City represents Joseph O’Brien and looked more polished when also scoring at the first time of asking over timber himself. Admiral Will Brown, Magnetude – the best of these on the flat – and Mix Match are all also unbeaten over obstacles, while Don Dandy might also go well at big odds.
The Paddy Power Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial (13:45 GMT / 8:45 a.m. ET) looked set to provide us with a titanic clash between Old Park Star and Kabral Du Mathan, but the latter has come out on account of the ground. Old Park Star is now a very short price to make a winning chasing debut and this year’s Supreme Novices’ winner should take very high rank amongst the 2 mile chasers this year.
The Paddy Power Gold Cup (14:20 GMT / 9:20 a.m. ET) is the main handicap on the card and is dominated by horses who held Novice status last season. Meetmebythesea was a winner at the Festival last year and is clearly well suited to the demands of this track, while Blueking d’Oroux was placed in a Grade 1 when last seen and may be able to make a mockery of an opening mark of 148 switched to the Dan Skelton yard. Irish mare July Flower was also placed at the highest level and this unexposed trio may well have the race between them.
Sunday at Cheltenham
We also have action from Cheltenham on Sunday with the highlight being the Greatwood Hurdle (15:10 GMT / 10:10 a.m. ET). This sees another Grade 1 performer go to post with Idaho Sun – who won the Formby Novices’ Hurdle last year in a fast time from a good yardstick – go to post favourite off a mark of 142 that looks very favourable indeed. The only issue is he hasn’t been seen since last December, but he clearly has the ability to make a big impact off his current rating. Dan Skelton runs Let It Rain and Harry Lowes, both of whom look progressive, while Pioneer Pete comes here looking for a fourth win in a row.
Sunday at Navan
There’s a good card in Ireland at Navan on Sunday with the Troytown Handicap (15:00 GMT / 10:00 a.m. ET) sure to prove an informative formline over the course of the winter.
On the undercard, the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice Hurdle (13:15 GMT / 8:15 a.m. ET) features several promising sorts for top yards, including Reaching High who is owned by the King. He got off the mark over hurdles last time out but will face a sterner test from the likes of With Nolimit and Pat O’s Rock here.
More from ITM: Nick Luck previews the Paddy Power Gold Cup weekend on Nick Luck Daily Ep 1658, and there is more from Britain, Ireland and beyond in our International Racing coverage.
