ITV Racing Tips for Cheltenham & Wetherby (15/11/25)

1:45 Cheltenham

The opener on ITV is the Arkle trial for the 2m novice chasers.

An intriguing renewal and I’d say the value lies with STENCIL (8/1). The well-thought-of juvenile hurdle from last season brings a decent level of French form to the table. He went off a well-backed favourite for the Fred Winter last year, suggesting connections think a lot of him. Things didn’t go to plan there but he looks every inch a chaser. He’ll have no problem on the ground, and he’s the type of ride Harry Cobden relishes. I think if he jumps well early, he has to have a live chance.

2:20 Cheltenham

Next up at Cheltenham is the feature race, the competitive Paddy Power Gold Cup, which is run over 2m4f.

I like VINCENZO (6/1) in this for the red-hot Sam Thomas stable. A yard that targets these big handicaps, and they have a fantastic record in them. Twice a winner last year, he also ran fine races in defeat. His best piece of form was his fine second in the competitive Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury in March. He won’t lack for fitness on his first start as the yard gets them ready first time up. I think he can go close off this mark of 137. Jockey Dylan Johnston takes a further 3lb off too.

2:55 Cheltenham

The 2:55 from Cheltenham is a handicap hurdle over the 3m trip.

I think SUPREMELY WEST (13/8) NAP is the banker of the day by a long way. Seen to best effect in the mud last season for the Dr Richard Newland yard, the more rain that falls, the better. This season, he joined the Skelton stable which is an obvious uplift. He ran highly promising in October here, finishing a good third and that should have put him spot on for this. I imagine he’ll sit out the back and come there cantering. I really expect him to win and win well.

3:10 Wetherby

We have two live races from Wetherby. The first of those at 3:10 is an introductory hurdle over 2 miles.

It’s hard to get away from FRESH PERSPECTIVE (13/8) in this. He was an impressive hurdles debut winner at Fontwell last month and having been off the track for a while, he’s likely to come on for it. I think he’ll be fine on the ground, while some of his main rivals appear to want a sound surface. Not a strong fancy on the day but definitely the most likely winner of this race.

3:30 Cheltenham

The final race from Cheltenham is an intermediate handicap hurdle over 2m5f.

It’s JURANCON (7/2) NB for me here, a horse I think has plenty of ability. He was a strong bumper horse, winning three times on the level and his two other starts were runner-up efforts. It was more of the same in his novice hurdle campaign last season, with three wins again and two seconds. The last of those victories was in March on his handicap debut and I think after a summer break, his mark of 132 is still very workable. He may well improve further for this step up in trip and he won’t mind what the ground does.

3:45 Wetherby

We end the ITV coverage with a handicap chase over the extended 2m3f trip from Wetherby.

I think HELTENHAM (9/2) could run a big race off top-weight in here. He’s in and out but on a going day he can certainly go close in a race of this nature off a mark of 138. A previous winner here at the track, he bounced back to form with a fine third last time out at Fontwell. If he can kick on again following that encouraging performance, he should go close against this lot.