Columnists

Jon Vine’s Cheltenham November Meeting ante-post tips – Paddy Power Gold Cup and Greatwood selections

by
Andy Newton
7 November 2026

Jon Vine of Racing Insider provides his ante-post selections for the two feature races of Cheltenham’s November Meeting, the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed Racing news you need, subscribe to the Racing Ahead website, digital edition, or magazine from as little as 8p a day.

2:20pm Cheltenham – Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Saturday, 16th November 2026)

Having put up Baron Alco, Midnight Shadow and Panic Attack at nice prices in recent seasons, the Paddy Power Gold Cup is a race that I always take a keen interest in. This year’s renewal seems very top-heavy, with six of the first seven in the current ante-post market set to carry in excess of 11-07.

One that seems a little overlooked in the market is VINCENZO (16/1).

Sam Thomas’ star made his reappearance in this race 12 months ago and tanked his way to the front approaching the last.

Sadly, Dylan Johnston’s mount got in tight to the final fence, and that error allowed Panic Attack to pull a couple of lengths clear and she maintained that advantage to the line.

Again, in the December Gold Cup, Vincenzo seemed likely to play a winning hand as the field descended Cleeve Hill.

Thomas’ chaser had to veer a little right to avoid contact with the front-running Glengouly upon landing the second-last, and Vincenzo dived at the final fence, which all but ended his chances of catching the leader.

Course Form Counts For Plenty at Cheltenham

Vincenzo made up for those defeats with a hard-fought victory at Ascot in January, where Johnston’s mount didn’t jump particularly fluently but found more than enough to repel course-specialist Bad.

Vincenzo was then fancied for the Greatwood Gold Cup at Newbury but failed to fire on the day, and was subsequently put away for the season.

Despite this being his third campaign over fences, Vincenzo has only run over the larger obstacles eight times, claiming three victories and finishing outside of the first two just once.

Thomas’ star is only four pounds higher in the handicap than he was last year, and Vincenzo will carry the same weight of 11-0.

Course form should never be underestimated around Cheltenham, and with a little more luck this time around, Vincenzo can make up for last year’s defeat.

WATCH: Panic Attack winning the 2025 Paddy Power Gold Cup

3:10pm Cheltenham – Greatwood Handicap Hurdle (Sunday, 15th November 2026)

In contrast to the Paddy Power Gold Cup record, the Greatwood hasn’t been particularly kind to me down the years.

Iberico Lord did the business for my ante-post tips in 2023, but I’ve had some painful near misses too, particularly with Adagio in 2021.

Current favourite Idaho Sun very much fits the Greatwood profile, being a lightly-raced and talented second-season hurdler.

Helnwein, on the other hand, has the weight of history against him, as only three horses older than seven have ever won the Greatwood, and one of those was that season’s Champion Hurdler, Rooster Booster.

MOSSY FEN ROAD (14/1) is one of my 20 To Follow for the 2026/27 National Hunt season.

Harry Derham was talking about the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle after his star bolted up at Chepstow last Christmas, but those dreams seemed dashed after an under-par performance at Musselburgh in the Scottish version of the Supreme.

Paul O’Brien’s mount was expected to win easily that day, but the 1/3 favourite didn’t find much for pressure and was outjumped at the last by Onlyforfrankie, who strode four lengths clear on the run to the line.

Derham still intended to run him in the Supreme when he spoke to the press the week before the Festival, but there was either a late change of heart or a setback, as Mossy Fen Road missed the rest of the season.

This six-year-old son of Flemensfirth remains a progressive hurdler to follow, and his current mark of 136 doesn’t seem overly harsh.

Mossy Fen Road has won first time out in each of the past two seasons, and I expect him to run well if he does show up in the Greatwood.

Hugo Could Be The Boss

If you can forgive a bizarre reappearance run at Chepstow, then CAPTAIN HUGO (20/1) looks a good bet too.

Sean Houlihan’s mount fell at the second-last when challenging in the Scottish Supreme won by Onlyforfrankie, and returned to Scotland later that month to win the Morebattle Hurdle at odds of 14/1.

Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s star looked on course to claim a Scottish handicap double as he cruised into contention in the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

Sadly, the heavy ground at Ayr took its toll in the closing stages, and a tired jump at the final flight allowed Dedicated Hero to open an unassailable lead.

Captain Hugo made his return in the Welsh Champion Hurdle, where he seemed to be travelling nicely on the rail before bungling the third-last and second-last hurdles, eventually staying on to finish a distant sixth behind Pioneer Pete.

The handicapper has dropped Captain Hugo’s mark by a pound to 134 for that effort, and I fancy the track at Cheltenham will suit this strong-travelling six-year-old.