A Guide to The 2023 National Hunt

The National Hunt season will begin in earnest when Cheltenham hosts the iconic November Meeting next week. The three-day meeting gets underway on Friday 17th November, and punters can look forward to a range of exciting races.

However, two particular events stand out: the Gold Cup on Saturday and the Greatwood Hurdle on Sunday. Read on to learn more about both races, including the key contenders and the horse racing spread betting options at your disposal.

November Meeting Gold Cup

Saturday 18th November at 3 pm

This illustrious handicap takes place over 2 miles, 4 furlongs and 44 yards on the Old Course at Cheltenham in mid-November each year. There are 16 fences to be jumped during its running. The race was inaugurated in 1960, and famous former winners include Imperial Commander and Fortria, who both went on to star at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Gold Cup now carries a £160,000 purse. It is open to all horses aged four or older. Last year, Ga Law – a six-year-old trained by Jamie Snowden – overhauled rival French Dynamite to win by less than a length.

Key Contenders

Stage Star

Paul Nicholls’ seven-year-old gelding is the favourite for Gold Cup glory after enjoying a strong run of results last season. He secured four wins and a runner-up finish from five races, before finishing fifth at Aintree in April. Stage Star was second in The Berkshire, a Grade 2 novices’ chase, a year ago, and he also handed Nicholls his first Cheltenham Festival winner since 2020 in March when he landed the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase.

Unexpected Party

This highly-rated eight-year-old grey made a winning return to action when he clinched the Listed Happy Birthday Sue Novices’ Chase over 2m 3f 98y at Chepstow last month. It was his first win since January 2022, but the Dan Skelton-trained gelding placed in a few big races last season.

Fugitif

Fugitif won a handicap chase at Chepstow in December last year, and he went on to place in a couple more races before finishing fifth in the Marsh Chase at Aintree in April. Richard Hobson’s eight-year-old gelding has not been seen since, but he will aim to make a successful return to action at Cheltenham.

The Real Whacker

Patrick Neville’s seven-year-old chaser was last seen winning the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase in dramatic fashion at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He engaged in a furious battle with favourite Gerri Colombe down the home straight, but The Real Whacker ultimately won it by a shoulder. It was his third consecutive victory, and he will aim to extend that impressive winning streak in the Gold Cup.

Il Ridoto

Il Ridoto won a handicap chase over 2m 4f 127yds at Cheltenham back in January. He then finished sixth in the Magners Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but he was pulled up in his subsequent appearance at Aintree. He has now had plenty of time to rest and recover, and he will hope to enjoy a strong return to Cheltenham.

Notlongtillmay

Notlongtillmay was second to Stage Star in the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham back in March. He finished almost four lengths behind his rival that day, so he will be out for revenge next weekend. Notlongtillmay has already had a run out this season, finishing fourth in a handicap chase at Cheltenham on 28th October.

Gold Cup Betting Options

You can place a wide range of spread bets and fixed-odds bets on this race. A popular spread betting market is 50-25-10, which awards 50 points to the winner, 25 to the runner-up and 10 to the third-place horse. We offer a quote on each runner, and you can buy if you expect that horse to flourish or sell if you think the horse will struggle.

Another option is the straightforward 100 Win Index, which awards 100 points to the winner and zero to all other runners. Once again, you can buy or sell on any horse according to how you think he or she will perform.

Greatwood Hurdle

Sunday 19th November at 3.30 pm

This is a Grade 3 hurdle open to horses aged four and older. It takes place over 2 miles and 87 yards, with eight hurdles to be jumped during its running. The Greatwood Hurdle is not quite as old as the Gold Cup, but it has been held every year since 1987, and renowned former winners include Rooster Booster, Detroit City and Sizing Europe.

I Like To Move It, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies, got the better of 4/1 favourite Gin Coco to secure victory last year.

Key Contenders

Nemean Lion

Kerry Lee’s Nemean Lion finished last season with a flourish, securing an impressive win in the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso. He made a winning return to action in the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las, so he is the antepost favourite for the Greatwood Hurdle. This represents a significant step up in class, so it will be interesting to see how Nemean Lion handles it.

Knickerbockerglory

This seven-year-old gelding was second in the Imperial Cup at Sandown in the spring. He made his seasonal return at Ascot earlier this month, and he destroyed the field to win by more than four lengths. That showed he can flourish on soft ground, which could be beneficial, as the rain has been brutal in recent weeks, and Cheltenham could be sloppy next weekend.

Under Control

This promising four-year-old recently beat stablemate Iberico Lord in a competitive race at Sandown. Trainer Nicky Henderson will have a strong hand in this race, as Under Control and Iberico Lord will be joined by talented mare Luccia, who finished third in the Grade 1 Top Novices Hurdle at Aintree.

Anyharminasking

Jonjo O’Neill’s six-year-old finished a length-and-a-half behind Nemean Lion on his seasonal return at Ffos Las a few weeks ago. His last win came in January 2022, but he has placed in six of his last eight races.

Blueking D’Oroux

Blueking D’Oroux is another runner from the Paul Nicholls stable, who comes into this race on the back of a strong run of results. He won a juvenile handicap hurdle at Ascot in April, finished second at Aintree 12 days later and then won at Cheltenham last month following a 197-day break. Blueking D’Oroux has performed well on soft ground before.

Gin Coco

Gin Coco was the runner-up in this race last year. He went off as the 4/1 favourite but he was comprehensively beaten by I Like To Move It in the end. Gin Coco has struggled since then, and he finished 12 lengths behind Nemean Lion in the Welsh Champion Hurdle a few weeks ago. However, a return to Cheltenham to compete in the Greatwood Hurdle could be just the tonic he needs.

Greatwood Hurdle Betting Options

All the same spread betting options and fixed-odds markets are available on the Greatwood Hurdle. Nemean Lion is the 7/1 antepost favourite, ahead of Knickerbockerglory, Under Control, Anyharminasking and Blueking d’Oroux, who are all priced at 10/1. We pay a fifth of the odds on the first five runners if you go each-way on this race.