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Cheltenham November ante-post tips: 20-1 chance on a good mark
By Alex Scott
Last Updated: Mon 2 Nov 2026
Alex Scott looks ahead to the Cheltenham November Meeting and shares early fancies for both the Paddy Power Gold Cup and Greatwood Hurdle.
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The feature race on day two of the November meeting is the Paddy Power Gold Cup and, whilst the stable has suffered a loss of owners over the summer, Paul Nicholls is likely to be strongly represented in the race yet again, as he trains three of the top five in the betting at the time of writing.
There are also plenty of runners towards the head of the market that need the rain to arrive or have other targets that look much more likely, so the one that appeals most at this stage is QUEBECOIS.
Nicholls won this race in 2024 and 2025 with seven-year-olds, most impressively by Il Ridoto who won from out of the handicap two seasons ago. Off the same mark, Quebecois certainly has the ability to hit the frame on good to soft ground and is currently priced up at 12-1.
Though he signed off last season by pulling up in the Scottish Grand National, he was clearly unsuited by the marathon trip and testing conditions, and is better judged on his earlier efforts over shorter at Cheltenham.
His form figures over fences at the track read 323 and, encouragingly, his best effort cam in a big field on the Old Course when he finished third in the Ultima in March.
He is only 2lb higher now and this could be the time to catch him having put up a creditable effort in defeat on his first run of the season at Newton Abbot. He was several lengths clear approaching the last, but a slow jump cost him vital momentum and he ended up being defeated by a length and three quarters.
He is better than that effort and is capable of putting in an improved performance with that run under his belt back at a more favourable track which often suits front-running tactics.
Paul Nicholls is still a force to be reckoned with in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. (Pic: Healy Racing)
The Greatwood is invariably a hugely competitive handicap, but the race last year was blown apart by Alexei, who made a mockery of his mark of 134 to win by six lengths.
There is the potential for a similar performance this season, as Formby winner Idaho Sun heads the market and could easily prove much better than his rating of 142. However, he has not been seen since that Grade One triumph at Aintree on Boxing Day and his readiness for this assignment has to be taken on trust.
Last year’s runner-up Helnwein is just 1lb higher this season and holds strong claims, but the concern with backing him at this stage is that his trainer Alan King has not had a winner over jumps for five weeks.
The lightly-raced four-year-old Manlaga would also be of interest off what looks an attractive mark if taking her chance for Nicky Henderson, but it looks highly unlikely that she will get her required soft ground.
One yard that has been in strong form this autumn is Jonjo and A J O’Neill, who, at the time of writing, are operating at a 23 per cent strike rate over the last two weeks, plus have saddled nine placed horses in that time.
They have a very interesting contender in PIONEER PETE, who is two from two this season and looks a natural two-miler who should get ideal ground conditions.
Winless in his first six starts, he did not get off the mark until his fifth run over hurdles but has since progress rapidly with four victories. His four-length win at Chepstow last month in the Welsh Champion Hurdle was career best effort and his jumping was a real asset having gained over 12 lengths in the air and RaceiQ giving him a Jump Index of 8.8.
The handicapper raised him 8lb for that win but he could still prove much better than a rating of 133 and this has been confirmed as a likely target. With further improvement still possible, he looks overpriced at a best-priced 16-1.
Another who catches the eye and has attracted some market support in recent days is THE MIGHTY CELT for Dan Skelton.
The French import has failed to live up to his early promise so far, with his best piece of form probably his sixth in the Fred Winter at the Festival, but he has been the subject of positive reports by his top trainer after a pipe opener at Chepstow last month over a trip too far, and he is sure to strip much fitter for that comeback run.
The grey’s previous form in France is strong, having finished behind subsequent Grade One winner Leopard Du Berlais last autumn, and he looks to be on an attractive mark if he can put it all together. A strongly-run two miles should suit.
Ante-post selections
Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (In Memory Of Edward O'Grady)
QUEBECOIS at 12-1 (bet365, Betfair, Paddy Power, Sky Bet)
Greatwood Handicap Hurdle
PIONEER PETE at 16-1 (Ladbrokes, Coral, William Hill)
THE MIGHTY CELT at 20-1 (BetVictor)
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