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Ben Morgan’s Cheltenham November Meeting 2026 tips – Zurich can strike in Gold Cup

Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan picks out his best bets for the Cheltenham November Meeting, with his selections for the weekend’s action.

by
Ben Morgan
13 November 2026

Racing Ahead’s resident tipster Ben Morgan picks out his best bets for the Cheltenham November Meeting, with his selections for the weekend’s action.

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Saturday

1.45 – French filly could be Folie to dismiss in Arkle trial

This looks like one of the races of the weekend with Kabral Du Mathan and Old Park Star set to do battle which will be an early season teaser for all racegoers.

I am a huge fan of the latter but would not at all be surprised to see something very dominant from either of them.

However, with how this race could shape up tactically I am going to take a chance on the filly receiving weight all round FOLIE GOLITH.

Faye Bramley’s 4 year old is vastly experienced over fences having already raced six times in France, at a good standard, over the larger obstacles.

Her British debut was impressive too, as she jumped and galloped her two rivals into the ground at Uttoxeter.

The second horse won a listed chase at Bangor earlier this week which gave the form a timely boost.

I envisage Sean Bowen going out to make all here and if able to get into a good rhythm I can see her making her more favoured rivals work up the home straight.

At 40/1 she looks an interesting each way play.

2.20 – Zurich looks primed for Gold Cup mission

I’m hoping Sean Bowen will have a good day on Saturday as I am putting him up again here with ZURICH in the feature race of the weekend.

Henry De Bromhead fires a two pronged assault at this valuable handicap chase and although Darragh O’Keefe sticks with July Flower, I think conditions will actually suit Zurich better.

With plenty of course form to his name already, including a victory here last October, he clearly acts very well around this unique course and always tends to run his race.

With that in mind, odds of 14/1 look a little big and I’m keen to take a punt each way on him.

3.30 – Kim Bailey set to spark into action with unexposed youngster

It is unlike Kim Bailey-Mat Nichols to start slowly, with many of his horses seemingly coming on for the run, but I feel an upturn in results is just around the corner.

HILLBERRY HILL looks to have a good each way chance here and although he is yet to run this season, I think he could be ready to roll.

He was declared at the abandoned Aintree meeting and hasn’t been seen since, seemingly waiting for a ‘bigger’ meeting to make his reappearance which suggests to me that he could be very well handicapped off a mark of 122.

Having only ran once for Bailey, a comfortable success at Southwell, it is hard to guess what he might be but the performance was impressive and connections’ handling of him suggests he could be quite progressive.

I have plenty of respect for the favourite here but he has to give 11lb to this horse and that might just prove too much of a burden to carry.

Sunday

3.10 – King hoping to go one place better in Greatwood

A brilliant edition of the Greatwood Hurdle to round off Cheltenham’s November Meeting 2026.

Unexposed novices, seasoned handicappers and lively outsiders, this race has it all.

From a betting perspective I’m hoping HELNWEIN can take this which would see him gain some retribution for finishing second last year.

Only the Champion Hurdle bound Alexei could finish in front of him last season and I would argue my selection would be better suited to quicker ground so that performance can be marked up considerably in my opinion.

He gets much better ground this time around and does seem to go very well fresh.

Alan King will have him ready for this assignment and I think he is value at 10/1.

A couple of outsiders to keep on side at huge prices are the Nick Scholfield pair of Morning Mayhem and Race To Base and also Philip Hobbs’ The Hardest Geezer who could all reward each way punters in the extra places market.