ITV Racing Tips: Sensational Saturday has Cheltenham centre stage

Cheltenham's November meeting is a huge landmark in terms of the developing National Hunt season. Big pots are up for grabs in some intriguing trial contests that very much point towards when it really, really counts in March.

ITV cameras are bringing us four live crackers from Prestbury Park, and also a couple from Wetherby. Action on the channel starts at 13:45 - and if you fancy a quick read, here are our ITV Racing tips for Saturday, November 15, with the likes of Sean Bowen, Harry Cobden, Harry Skelton, Nico de Boinville et al gracing that magnificent amphitheatre in the Cotswolds. 

Horse Racing Odds

Fast Racing Results

Full ITV schedule;

Cheltenham

13:45 - 2m Novices' Chase
14:20 - 2m 4f Handicap Chase
14:55 - 3m Handicap Hurdle
15:30 - 2m 5f Handicap Hurdle

Wetherby

15:10 - 2m Hurdle
15:43 - 2m 3 1/2f Chase

Rationale;

13:45 Cheltenham - July Flower @ 5/4

We kick off with an Arkle trial - just typing that gets the juices flowing nicely.

Novice chasers going two miles, and a good-looking Irish entrant from Henry de Bromhead's County Waterford yard - July Flower. The six-year-old mare has had one spin over the larger obstacles; a Limerick beginners' chase for members of the fairer sex 27 days ago, over 2m 3f.

She dotted up at odds-on in a contest where Henry was responsible for the first three home, and his stable do appear to be hitting form - 23% strike-rate in the past fortnight.

July Flower achieved a rating of 143 over hurdles - only chase debutant Burdett Road among today's rivals is rated higher at 149 - and the outstanding Darragh O'Keefe, on board at Limerick, retains the partnership.

Team Skelton field a huge danger in the shape of Be Aware, another who's one-from-one over fences. He's not overlooked lightly and could easily be the answer. This time last year he was running a close second here at HQ in the Greatwood Hurdle, to Burdett Road no less, and though light on numbers this is a quality affair I'm looking forward to immensely.

14:20 Cheltenham - Panic Attack @ 13/2

A sumptuous £90k+ to the winner - and a decidedly open look to proceedings.

My eye is drawn to a nine-year-old daughter of the mighty miler Canford Cliffs no less, out of a Galileo mare, that's been with the Skelton's since late November 2024 - Panic Attack.

She began life with Willie Mullins, winning a Market Rasen mares' bumper under Paul Townend in March 2020, then promptly joined David Pipe's Somerset yard, enjoying further successes, until the move to Alcester.

For Dan Skelton she's run on just four occasions, winning once off 125 (2m 4f chase); and when last seen in a Warwick handicap hurdle back in February she was denied by a head.

An absence then of some 280 days to overcome, but this is Team Skelton we're talking about. She's another fascinating contender on a day choc full of them, and though a mark of 135 looks steep that translates in this particular field to a racing weight of 11st 1lb, which looks decent.

14:55 Cheltenham - Long Draw @ 5/1

Trainer Olly Murphy and jockey Sean Bowen have illuminated the early part of the season with winners galore, and I'm siding with their representative Long Draw in this stayers' handicap hurdle.

The six-year-old gelding has scored three times in 13 career starts, including importantly here at HQ back in April at the trip, off 128. He's had a pipe-opener already, here three weeks ago; a running-on fourth beaten 7.75l in a similar contest to this.

Once again he appears off a mark of 138, and should be highly competitive with that recent spin under his belt. Some great yards oppose and this could be a really warm affair.

15:10 Wetherby - Cueros @ 10/3

Grand National-winning jockey Patrick Mullins is at Wetherby for one ride - Cueros, in this 'introductory' hurdle for inexperienced timber-toppers.

The five-year-old gelding joined trainer Harry Derham's Upper Lambourn yard in mid-October, and 16 days ago debuted for new connections at Newcastle, dotting up by 14l in a little maiden hurdle.

Doesn't look like he beat much but there was no doubting the ease with which he did it. A tougher ask now, especially with Jamie Snowden's Fresh Perspective in the race, and there's a Skelton representative too (Lirone Du Seuil).

Cueros raced in Jersey for previous trainer Mrs Malzard and won several times for her on the flat. This is an interesting development, embarking upon a UK career, and frankly I'm intrigued. Throw in the presence of Patrick on top and I'm more than intrigued!

No heroic stakes, but what a smashing little teaser. The horse is a son of 2015 2000 Guineas runner-up Territories, and is out of a Shamardal mare, so is certainly bred to go a bit.

15:30 Cheltenham - Royal Infantry @ 5/1

We're back worshipping at the Skelton altar in this 2m 5f handicap hurdle.

Topweight of 12st won't be easy to overcome but this six-year-old Soldier Of Fortune gelding Royal Infantry has achieved his rating with a series of consistent displays - of his nine races under rules he's won four, and been placed twice.

One of racing's most exciting sights is that of Harry Skelton plotting his way quietly down the hill at Cheltenham on the steel to deliver a telling challenge on the run-in, pouncing late to conquer. An aeroplane celebration may or may not follow.

I wonder if we could be in for a classic of that nature this afternoon? Royal Infantry has had the benefit of a run, at Chepstow five weeks ago, when in finishing third beaten less than 4l the Racing Post race-reader's comments were as follows; 'towards rear, headway 5th, pressed leaders 3 out, 4 lengths down last, went third run-in, kept on.'

That sounds like a highly satisfactory return, he's up just two pounds in the handicap as a result, and in placing mid-div (eighth of 19) in the Champion Bumper of 2024 has at least stretched his legs over the Prestbury Park acres previously. Bring it on ...

15:43 Wetherby - Issam @ 4/1

Handicap chasers clash in another open-looking heat.

Our selection is Issam, a seven-year-old gelding in the care of Tom Symonds in Herefordshire, and the owner of a highly creditable seven-from-21 career record so far.

Over these larger obstacles it's one from two - an Exeter novice success in January, followed by arguably a better effort in defeat at Sandown the following month (beaten a neck in this grade).

This could be a productive season for Issam and from an admittedly small sample size the yard's in great form too - two winners from just five runners in the last fortnight.

The outstanding 5lb claimer Callum Pritchard, interestingly on board for the first time back in February, maintains the partnership. The French-bred gelding looks to have a mighty chance.

ITV Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.