Cheltenham November Meeting Kicks Off National Hunt Season
The Cheltenham November meeting is officially here, and for National Hunt fans, it marks the true start of the jumps season. Over three days, the track will come alive with nearly 400 entries, all with eyes on the March festival, where dreams of glory are forged. While Cheltenham hosts nine days of racing each season before the big festival, it is this November meeting that holds a special place, giving trainers and owners the perfect opportunity to prepare their best prospects on the uniquely challenging track.
Although the festival remains four months away, the excitement is already palpable. Cheltenham’s pre-festival meetings may not feature Grade One events, but the quality is undeniable. Horses like Jonbon, set to run in Friday’s Shloer Chase, remind fans that past and future champions are often spotted in these early-season contests. Indeed, last season saw several festival winners, such as Wodhooh, Jagwar, and Stumptown, win their last races here, proving just how influential the November meeting can be.
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Attendance trends offer another fascinating insight. While the festival itself has experienced a drop in crowds since the post-Covid surge of 2021-22, the November meeting has shown resilience. The total attendance has been gradually increasing over the past two years, signaling that Cheltenham’s appeal remains strong, even if some fans have temporarily drifted away from the festival atmosphere. For the track’s management, this is a reassuring sign as they work to revitalize the showpiece event.
For trainers and owners, these pre-festival races are more than just warm-ups. They provide critical experience for horses on a course that can make or break champions. With 28 festival winners expected next spring, this November meeting could very well feature the next star in the making. James Owen, whose influence has been growing on both flat and jumps racing in 2025, will be closely watched, especially in the juvenile hurdle on Saturday. Fans will be keen to see if any of his three entries can follow in the footsteps of Burdett Road and East India Dock, both notable performers in previous years.
The highlight of Saturday, of course, is the Paddy Power Gold Cup, the first big handicap chase of the season. Its legacy is ingrained in the memories of punters, with winners often remembered long after the race itself. While the festival gets most of the headlines, it’s these races that set the tone for the winter campaign and keep the excitement of National Hunt racing alive.
As the horses line up for the conditional jockeys’ handicap hurdle at 1:10pm on Friday, it’s clear that the spirit of Cheltenham racing is alive and well. Every rare afternoon of action under Cleeve Hill is to be anticipated and cherished, and this November meeting promises plenty of thrills before the festival spotlight shines in March.
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