The Cheltenham November meeting closes on Sunday with one of the most competitive handicap hurdles of the season. 20 runners are declared for the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at 3.10pm, run over 2m½f on ground described as good, good to soft in places.

Idaho Sun is the early favourite. Harry Fry’s six-year-old won all three of his starts over hurdles last season, including the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day, but he hasn’t run since and makes his handicap debut here. Dan Skelton is double-handed near the top of the market with Let It Rain and Harry Lowes, and the in-form Pioneer Pete is another likely to be well backed.

Steve Chambers looks at the leading contenders, as well as some notable outsiders, before picking out his 1-2-3 for the race.

Greatwood Hurdle 2026: Leading Runners

Idaho Sun – Harry Fry/Bryan Carver

Five wins from six career starts has seen Idaho Sun catapult up the ratings and Harry Fry’s Grade 1-winning novice hurdler will be one of those looking to venture into the Champion Hurdle. A fine victory in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle back on Boxing Day, he’s not been seen since, but has shaped like he could be a top class performer this campaign.

Let It Rain – Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton

Making her seasonal reappearance here, Let It Rain looks to be the first string for Dan Skelton, with Harry Skelton taking the ride. A winner of a low-key handicap hurdle at Stratford back in March, she’s one that will need to improve significantly to land this prize. Given a 6lbs rise for that win, she lines up off 130 here and has to be considered.

Harry Lowes – Dan Skelton/Harry Cobden

Third in a competitive handicap hurdle at Aintree during the Grand National meeting, Harry Lowes is the second shot fired by the Skelton gun. A winner at Bangor prior to that event, the JP McManus-owned raider is still very lightly-raced and having only been given a 4lbs rise for that run last April then is one that could be another leading contender for the red-hot Skelton team.

Pioneer Pete – Jonjo & AJ O’Neill/Jonjo O’Neill Jr

Chasing a four-timer, Pioneer Pete is the one with fitness on his side and he was last seen bounding to a four-length win at Cheptow. The Jonjo & A J O’Neill-trained six-year-old has been hiked with another 8lbs rise in the handicap, so faces a stern test off 133. Nevertheless, he is on a rapid incline on the track and has to be respected.

Helnwein – Alan King/Jonathan Burke

A fine runner-up behind Alexei in this race 12 months ago, Alan King’s Helnwein is back for another crack at the Greatwood. Only 1lb higher this time around, he’s one that has to be in the shake-up. However, he’s not tasted success in two-and-a-half years, so is one that could just be capable of making the frame.

Greatwood Hurdle 2026: Notable Outsiders

The Kemble Brewery – Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls/Tom Bellamy

The Kemble Brewery made all to win at Chepstow in April and again at Kelso in May, where he went clear before the last and was never challenged. He’s chasing a hat-trick of wins, but has been going up the handicap steadily, so may find he’s in the handicapper’s grip here.

Burdett Road – James Owen/Sam Twiston-Davies

A runner-up in the infamous 2025 Champion Hurdle behind Golden Ace, Burdett Road has often flattered to deceive in recent outings and has been mixing the jumps with the flat. A fine winner of this race back in 2024 for James Owen, he’s 8lbs higher in the 2026 running, but he’s one that has struggled for consistency, so is hard to follow.

Captain Hugo – Philip Hobbs & Johnson White/Sean Houlihan

Captain Hugo won the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso back in February when relatively unfancied and followed up with an excellent second in the Grade 2 Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr. He disappointed behind Pioneer Pete at Chepstow on his return, so has to bounce back.

The Mighty Celt – Dan Skelton/Harry Atkins (5)

The Mighty Celt is the only four-year-old in the field. Another for the Skelton yard, he finished sixth in the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle over this course and distance at the Festival in March, beaten only a length-and-a-quarter. He was eighth in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on his return, but should come on for that.

Greatwood Hurdle Racecard

Here is the latest racecard for the 2026 Greatwood Hurdle…

Greatwood Hurdle Tip

Dan Skelton has a strong hand in the 2026 Greatwood, but it’s Harry Lowes that can strike gold. He is very lightly-raced and showed when third at Aintree back in April that he’s capable of running a big race in bumper fields. He lines up off a nice weight for this contest and he can get the better of former runner-up Helnwein, who will have to settle for minor honours again. Pioneer Pete is in the form of his life and can grab the bronze medal.

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