Cheltenham’s November Meeting is coming up this month, and it’s the first opportunity to see horses in action as the jump season begins. The famous Prestbury Park hosts three days of thrilling action, with the highlight, the Gold Cup on Saturday 16th.

1960 saw the inauguration of the Gold Cup, a Grade 3 race open to horses aged four years and older. It may not be as prestigious as its Grade 1 namesake, established 36 years earlier, which is the pinnacle of the Cheltenham Festival in March. But it’s the highlight of the whole weekend and carries a handsome purse of £160,000. 

If you’re looking for Horse Racing odds on the main competitions, the field for the Gold Cup is a good place to start. Many of the previous winners have gone on to feature at some of racing’s big events. Ahead of the November Meeting, let’s take a look at some of the early favourites for the Gold Cup.

Slate House

Colin Tizzard is one of the most successful trainers, and his horse Slate House is the outright favourite for the Gold Cup. The seven-year-old gelding made a recent return to form, winning the Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham by 11 lengths, after a 228-day break due to wind surgery. Slate House has had previous success at Cheltenham on the old course, winning both the Maiden Hurdle and Novices’ Hurdle in November 2017.

Kalashnikov

The Irish-bred six-year-old is one of the joint-favourites. Although he won three of his six races last season, Kalashnikov unseated his rider, Jack Quinlan in March’s Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham. Already this season, the gelding lost out by two-and-three-quarter lengths to Forest Bihan at Aintree’s Handicap Chase. 

Following the runner-up place, trainer Amy Murphy announced her intent for Cheltenham to be the next step. She said: “I’m not sure where we’re going to go next, because options are limited if we want to stay left-handed, although I wouldn’t be against going right-handed again at some stage. 

“He’ll certainly get an entry for the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, and we’ll see nearer the time what looks like being confirmed and go from there.”

Spirit Of The Games

Spiritofthegames may have finished third to Siruh Du Lac in the Handicap Chase at Cheltenham back in March, but the seven-year-old gelding has been tipped as an early contender for the Gold Cup. He hasn’t raced since the Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, where Kalashnikov beat him, but there’s been a markable improvement over the last few seasons. The Irish-bred horse will be one to keep an eye on.

If you’re looking for a horse with form, Siruh Du Lac is the one you need to back. The six-year-old won each of his four starts last season, including two wins at Prestbury Park (one of which was the Handicap Chase). A return to Cheltenham is next on the agenda. 

Trainer Nick Williams is confident ahead of the race: “All is fine with Siruh Du Lac. He is ticking over nicely, there have been no issues, and the plan is to go for the Gold Cup.”

He continued: “I would like to think he can pick up from where he left off. That is the idea anyway.”

At the time of writing, you’ll find 2017’s winner, Splash of Ginge with long odds of 50/1; while last year’s third-place entry, Guitar Pete is more favourable at 16/1. One thing for sure is that you won’t want to miss the hig

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