The November meeting takes place at Cheltenham this weekend and here are some of the big Irish contenders who will make the trip. . .

Race: 1.10 Cheltenham, Friday (2m5f conditional jockey handicap hurdle)

The five-year-old has had a productive year on the Flat, securing notable staying handicaps at Chester and Newcastle in Britain after winning the 1m4f Dundalk handicap in March.

There was a high-profile disqualification last time out on Cesarewitch, when he was sent off after finishing first on the pole and using his rider’s whip four times the permissible level.

Alphonse Le Grande: Disqualified from CesarewitchCredit: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)

The son of Sea The Stars returns to the hurdles on Friday and given he has a score of 87 on the Flat, a score of 93 in this area looks quite doable.

Race: 1.45 Cheltenham, Friday (3 min novice chase)

Paul Gilligan’s seven-year-old won the 3m handicap hurdle at this meeting last year and then finished fourth in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the festival and finished second to Strong Leader in the Liverpool Hurdle.

Buddy One: Winner of the handicap hurdle at last year’s meeting in NovemberCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

He justified the prohibitive odds in a three-run contest on his debut in Galway last month but failed to beat his opponent, who had moved up to Listed level in Wexford after a disorganized skip last time out.

But it would be appropriate to return to the fledgling company, and Buddy One will have leading claims if it reaches its official score of 154.

Race: 2.55 Cheltenham, Friday (3m 5½f cross country handicap chase)

Galvin, owned by Ronnie Bartlett, finished eighth last year when the 100-30 favorite for this race was sent off, but fared better at the December meeting to finish fifth by nine and a half lengths over the same course and distance.

He finished a respectable fourth in the Grand National at Aintree in April and was last seen finishing second in the American Grand National at Far Hills in 2m5f.

While good ground also looks to be in his favour, stepping back will benefit Galvin, but in a 155-point handicap company he could be vulnerable for winning aims. It’s also been more than two years since his last win.

Race: 1.45 Cheltenham, Saturday (2m novice chase)

This five-year-old showed useful form for Daniela Mele in France and made a promising start for Joseph O’Brien with a second-place finish for San Salvador in the novice chase at Listowel in September.

The son of Coastal Path stepped into that form by justifying 11-4 favoritism in the Grade 3 novice chase at Punchestown last time out, recovering well against pressure to score by half a length after struggling in the race.

Jordans has a 5lb penalty to carry for this feat but remains open to improvement for O’Brien, who won this race with Banbridge in 2022.

Race: 2.20 Cheltenham, Saturday (2m4f Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase)

There hasn’t been an Irish-trained winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup since Eddie O’Grady’s Calm Sea shot in 2009, but Lets Go Champ looks a lively rival for Henry de Bromhead in Saturday’s race.

The Roger Brookhouse-owned gelding made his late regulation debut as an eight-year-old in January 2023 and has two wins in nine starts; He was last assertive in the Grade 3 handicap chase at the Punchestown festival in May.

Lets Go Champ: Winner of the Punchestown festivalCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

In July he ran to credit for sixth place in the 2m6½f Galway Plate, besting only the first round. On this evidence it would be appropriate for Lets Go Champ to withdraw to two and a half miles and his stable is currently going through a purple patch.

Race: 4.00 Cheltenham, Saturday (2m½f buffer)

Willie Mullins acquired this mare’s bumper with Baby Kate last year and was able to be represented on Saturday by unbeaten Korinthia, who was particularly impressive when she won in Limerick last month.

Korinthia: Easy winner last time under Patrick MullinsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Jukebox Jury’s four-year-old daughter thought the market was thin (drifting from 11-10 to 9-4) when she scored on her Wexford debut in August before securing an easy win with a penalty at Limerick.

Good ground looks important for Korinthia so conditions on Saturday will be favourable, and her recent win has marked her as a potentially smart filly.

Race: 3.30 Cheltenham, Sunday (2 min Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle)

This son of the 60s Icon failed to win in five hurdle starts for Paul Hennessy but faced some tough challenges and finished 300-1 eighth in the 2023 Triumph Hurdle before finishing 200-1 sixth in the Four Year Old Hurdle at the Punchestown festival each month . Later.

On his stable debut in July he was the target of a 2m½f handicap punt on the Flat at Galway and the dual-purpose handyman came close to justifying the brace by running a three-quarter length second behind Busselton.

Jacovec Cave (right): I chased Busselton home to Galway in JulyCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Jacovec Cavern was then sent off the 5-1 joint favorite by Cesarewitch at Newmarket to finish ninth and return to hurdles in Sunday’s Greatwood Handicap, a race his trainer Emmet Mullins won with The Shunter in 2020.

Then read these:

Paddy Power Gold Cup and Greatwood Hurdle: Who are the trends in the big handicaps at Cheltenham this weekend?

November meeting at Cheltenham – everything you need to know for the first big fixture of the jumping season

Who can emulate these three heroes of Cheltenham’s past?

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