24 runners have been confirmed for the Greatwood Hurdle, scheduled at Cheltenham for this Sunday, 16th November. The race has a maximum field size of 20, meaning a few of those at the bottom of the handicap are at risk of being balloted out.
2023 winner Iberico Lord is among the entries for Nicky Henderson. The seven-year-old is owned by JP McManus and won in fine style two years ago in a season in which he also won Newbury’s William Hill Hurdle. However, after a losing stretch last term, which included a try over fences, he is reverting to more familiar surroundings on a fair mark here.
Recent winners Celtic Dino, Gibbs Island and Alexei are the most prominent trio in the market. The first two also head the weights having claimed the Welsh Champion Hurdle and a limited four-year-old handicap at Chepstow respectively, while Alexei was behind the first-named in that Chepstow event before winning well at Ascot.
Dan Skelton has won this race twice and his new recruit Mirabad could be an interesting participant having joined from Dr Richard Newland’s yard. Skelton could also rely upon two elder statesmen in Knickerbockerglory and former County Hurdle hero Faivoir as he looks to go one better than when sending out 2024 runner-up Be Aware.
There remain four potential Irish participants too. Bowensonfire could represent Gordon Elliott having been third over 2m4f at Cheltenham’s October meeting, while Punchestown festival winner Putapoundinthejar is an entrant for Tony Martin. Further down the betting, Laafi is an unexposed contender for William Durkan and Fiveonefive, fifth over course and distance last month, is in for Cian Collins.
That last-named race was won by Leloopa, but Fergal O’Brien’s mare is one of four horses not guaranteed a run below the 20-runner threshold.
2025 Greatwood Hurdle Runners
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Celtic Dino | Sam Thomas |
| 2 | Gibbs Island | Tom Lacey |
| 3 | Cracking Rhapsody | Ewan Whillans |
| 4 | Iberico Lord | Nicky Henderson |
| 5 | Knickerbockerglory | Dan Skelton |
| 6 | Laafi | William Durkan |
| 7 | No Ordinary Joe | Faye Bramley |
| 8 | Fiercely Proud | Ben Pauling |
| 9 | Faivoir | Dan Skelton |
| 10 | Alexei | Joe Tizzard |
| 11 | Castle Carrock | Alan King |
| 12 | Bowensonfire | Gordon Elliott |
| 13 | Putapouninthejar | Tony Martin |
| 14 | Fiveonefive | Cian Collins |
| 15 | Dedicated Hero | Sandy Thomson |
| 16 | Helnwein | Alan King |
| 17 | Mirabad | Dan Skelton |
| 18 | Welsh Charger | Alastair Ralph |
| 19 | Moon Chime | David Killahena & Graeme McPherson |
| 20 | Rubber Ball | Neil King |
| 21 | Serious Challenge | Fergal O’Brien |
| 22 | King William Rufus | Chris Gordon |
| 23 | Leloopa | Fergal O’Brien |
| 24 | Cormier | Brian Ellison |
Paddy Power Gold Cup Runners 2025: 15 to take part as Jagwar looks to confirm novice promise
15 will take their place in the 2025 Paddy Power Gold Cup, the biggest handicap chase at Cheltenham in the first half of the jumps season. The 2m4f showpiece will take place on Saturday, 15th November. The headline act could well be Jagwar, the extremely progressive six-year-old for Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero. He represented…
Mon 10 Nov 2025