Gold Cup Day 18th November 2023 – November Meeting Day Two

Race 1 - JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Novices' Hurdle - 12:35

Day Two gets underway with a Grade 2 hurdle race for novices. The biggest race of the weekend when it comes to looking at young horses, it’s open for three-year-olds and up. It takes place over two miles and eighty-seven yards (2m 87y) and is normally open to a reasonably small field.

In 2021 there were only nine runners, so don’t expect the longest odds in the world from the bookies. One to watch if you’re keen to have an idea about horses for the future.

The race was inaugurated in 1987 and given Grade 2 status in 2004.  Being a race for Juveniles, naturally no horse has won it more than once.  It has been won by some big names on several occasions, Tony McCoy, Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty have ridden the winner three times each.  Martin Pipe has trained a record 6 winners in this race, three of which were ridden by McCoy.  Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson aren't far behind with 5 and 4 wins respectively.

Race 2 - Amateur Riders' Handicap Chase - 13:10

The second race on Gold Cup day is a Class 2 handicap race that is run over three miles, one furlong and sixty-seven yards (3m 1f 67y). As with most of the races during this meeting, it’s run on the Old Course and is open for four-year-olds and upwards with amateur jockeys.

Usually there are between ten and fifteen horses that enter the race, which you might want to take into account when you’re placing your bets.

Race 3 - Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices' Chase - 13:45

Arkle is one of the most famous horses ever to run at Cheltenham Racecourse, so it’s no major shock that there are a number of races dedicated to the famous bay gelding’s memory. This is when the Graded races really kick in on Day Two, with four-year-old and older novices getting involved in this Grade 2 chase.

It’s run on the Old Course over a distance of one mile, seven furlongs and one-hundred and ninety-nine yards (1m 7f 199y). There are thirteen fences over the course of the race and the field is normally quite small - only four horses ran this in 2021.

The race was first run in 1987 and was previously known as the Coventry Novices' Chase, it was originally Listed before being upgraded to Grade 2 in 1994.  When the Racing Post took over sponsorship in 2012 they renamed it the Arkle Trophy Trial Novices' Chase.

Being a race for novices', no horse has won the race more than once.  Richard Dunwoody, Ruby Walsh and Richard Johnson have all ridden four winners, Dunwoody managing three back-to-back between 1989 and 1991.  Paul Nicholls is way out in front as the leading trainer with 10 victories in this chase.

Race 4 - Paddy Power Gold Cup - 14:20

Unquestionably the most prestigious race of Day Two, the November Meeting’s Gold Cup has been in existence since 1960. There have been numerous sponsorships of this race over the years, starting with Mackeson Stout and working its way through Murphy’s, Thomas Pink, Paddy Power, then BetVictor in recent years before reverting back to Paddy Power.

The Premier Handicap race (formerly Grade 3) is run over two miles, four furlongs and forty-four yards (2m 4f 44y). Horses and jockeys will have to navigate fifteen fences before they make it to the final straight, competing with a field that normally sits at around the twenty horses mark. They can be four years of age or older, running left-handed around the old course.

Because it’s such a much-loved race, we can actually tell you a little bit about its history. Five different horses have won it twice, the best-known of which was probably Gay Trip. The bay gelding won it in 1969 and then again in 1971, picking up a Grand National in the intervening year. Tony McCoy is the leading jockey thanks to his four wins, with Martin Pipe taking the badge of most successful trainer after winning the race on eight different occasions. The overall pot for the race is normally around the £160,000 mark.

Race 5 - Handicap Hurdle - 14:55

This is one of the most exciting handicap races of the weekend, taking place over just under three miles (2m 7f 208y). It’s a handicap race for horses aged four or older and typically has a field of about ten.

It was previously a listed race but was downgraded to a class 2 hurdle following BHA rule changes in 2022, but it's status remains the same.

It is, as is so often the case, a little bit of after the Lord Mayor’s show given the race that will have finished not long before this one gets underway. Don’t be surprised if the course tends to empty of punters as they head off to pick up their winnings or drown their sorrows after the Gold Cup.

Race 6 - Intermediate Handicap Hurdle - 15:30

Another handicap race, this Class 3 race takes place over two miles, five furlongs and twenty-six yards (2m 5f 26y). It’s for younger horses of three years of age or higher, so it’s a decent one to watch to give you some clues about the future.

There’s often a decent field of around fifteen to twenty horses running in this, so it will give you an indication about which horses can handle the battle of a competitive race.

Race 7 - Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race - 16:05

Unlike the other two days of the November Meeting, Day Two boasts seven races rather than six. The day comes to a close with this Bumper, a Listed National Hunt flat race that lasts for two miles and eighty-seven yards (2m 87y).

As the name suggests, it’s only open to mares and they need to be aged between four and six. That doesn’t limit the field as much as you might think, though, with about ten horses usually expected to race.

This race has only been going since 2013 and has already seen two dead heats, once in 2016 and again in 2020.  No horse has won the race more than once but Fergal O'Brien, Alan King and Harry Fry have all trained more than one winner,

Wayne Hutchinson was the jockey for both of King's wins (2016 & 2018) and both times O'Brien won the horses were ridden by Paddy Brennan (2013 & 2021).  They are the only jockeys to win the race more than once.