When Cheltenham Racecourse opened its doors for the first day of the 2025‑26 National Hunt calendar, the buzz was unmistakable. ITV Racing rolled its cameras into the historic grounds of Prestbury Park, Gloucestershire, on Friday, 24 October 2025, inaugurating what the racing world calls the Cheltenham October Meeting 2025. The live broadcast featured nine races across two days, with the Friday card serving as the traditional curtain‑raiser for Britain’s jumps season.

Background: Cheltenham’s Role in National Hunt Racing

Founded in the early 19th century, Cheltenham Racecourse has long been the kingpin of National Hunt racing. Its steep hills and sweeping bends make it the ideal launch pad for the season, a fact echoed in every racing newspaper since the 1920s. The October Meeting, usually held over the weekend of 24‑25 October, signals the start of the prestige‑laden festival circuit that culminates in March’s Cheltenham Festival.

According to the Racing Post, the meeting’s first race kicked off at 13:30 local time, a £25,000 guaranteed handicap hurdle for three‑year‑olds and up. The event draws trainers, owners, and punters from across the UK, all eager to test their horses on the course that has produced legends like Arkle and Best Mate.

The 2025‑26 October Meeting Schedule and Stakes

The two‑day card is packed with money‑rich contests. Below is a quick snapshot of the headline races:

• Friday – 13:30: £25,000 guaranteed handicap hurdle (0‑140 rating). 33 runners, £13,202.50 to the winner.
• Friday – 16:10: Champions: Full Gallop Streaming On Itvx Novices' Hurdle. Eight declared runners, odds ranging 16/1‑20/1, prize pool £40,000.
• Saturday – 14:45: £40,000 guaranteed chase for four‑year‑olds and up, featuring a 10‑stone‑9‑pound weight for the youngest qualifiers.

Penalties are in place for recent winners – seven pounds for any horse that has taken a hurdle after 11 October 2025, and five to eight pounds for chase victors in Classes 3‑5. These weight adjustments keep the fields competitive and give the underdogs a fighting chance.

Insights from the Only Fools Love Horses Racing Team

Just days before the meeting, the Only Fools Love Horses Racing crew dropped a preview video on YouTube titled “OFLH lads preview Cheltenham October Meeting”. The trio – Ash Symonds (Twitter: @ASymondsJourno), Harry Beard (Twitter: @HarryBeard7) and Lee (Twitter: @racinglee1) – broke down “best bets and horses to avoid”.

The video highlighted a strong consensus around the Friday feature race, flagging a 10/1 outsider in the two‑mile handicap chase as a value pick. Their analysis isn’t just talk; they back it up with past form, trainer comments, and “handicap efficiency” metrics that their followers swear by.

Expert Picks and Statistical Angles

From the official Racing TV racecard, a few names stood out. Percy Shelley entered the Champions' Novices' Hurdle at 9/2, a respectable price given his impressive debut at Uttoxeter last month and a walk‑over at Ludlow. The card’s narrative pitted him against Don Virginia, who had a blistering win in a Worcester handicap just four weeks earlier.

Statistically, Richie McLernon boasts a 46 % strike rate when his hurdling favourites win – a figure that outruns the industry average of roughly 30 %. Meanwhile, James Owen records a 24 % success rate on horses running between 2 m 2 f and 2 m 6 f, a niche that could influence the two‑mile handicap’s outcome.

Across the weekend, veteran analyst Andy Newton handed out free ITV Racing tips for all eleven races, spanning Newbury, Doncaster and Cheltenham. His notes emphasized the value of staying within the “inside rail” on the steep Cleeve Hill climb, a tip that has historically shaved off half‑seconds for seasoned jockeys.

What the Weekend Means for Fans and the Industry

Beyond the prize money, the October Meeting serves as a barometer for the health of British jumps racing. The Irish Field ran a piece titled “Will changes improve Cheltenham?” highlighting ongoing talks about fan‑experience upgrades – better hospitality, quicker entry queues, and a revamped digital betting platform. None of those proposals were final by the 24 October deadline, but the conversation illustrates that the venue is conscious of evolving audience expectations.

For punters, the weekend offers a flood of data points: from handicap penalties to jockey strike rates. For owners and trainers, it’s the first chance to gauge new juveniles against seasoned campaigners before the spring festivals. And for the casual viewer, ITV’s live coverage provides a front‑row seat to the drama that fuels Britain’s love of National Hunt.

All eyes will now turn to Saturday’s Newbury and Doncaster meetings, where the storylines seeded on Friday will either solidify or crumble. If the trends identified by OFLH and the pundits hold true, we could see a surge in long‑shot winners that reshapes betting markets for weeks to come.