In our final part of the Cheltenham Festival 2025 preview, we focus on the most important betting heats of the Festival: the handicaps. This is essentially where the betting coups are really landed as punters pay special attention to the significant statistics of the races down the years.
We check out race stats, best Cheltenham 2025 bets and top odds from all of the handicap races for Cheltenham Festival 2025.
Best Cheltenham Festival 2025 bets from our partner firms Bet365, William Hill, Bet Victor, Betfred and Boylesports.
Non Runner No Bet
Bet365 and William Hill are offering Non-Runner No Bet on all Cheltenham Festival 2025 races.
What is Non-Runner No Bet?
Antepost betting often offers lucrative odds but at an enormous risk as stakes are not returned if the horse does not participate in the race.
Non Runner No Bet means that if a bet is placed on a particular race, stakes will be returned in the event that the horse is declared as a non-runner.
The Ultima Handicap Chase, Tuesday 11th March
The first handicap of the week is a gruelling 3 mile stayers betting bonanza. Known officially as The Festival Trophy Handicap Chase, the market is led by Iroko (6/1 bet365, William Hill NRNB) but as always, this is an incredibly open contest.
Best to avoid an Irish trained runner as their record is not great based on just 2 winners since 1967, the last one being 2006. However, the SP of previous winners is a good guide to adhere to: ten out of the last 11 winners have been settled at 11/1 or less.
Cheltenham form is also key with six of the last eight winners having won at the course beforehand. One of these that fits the above stats target is the Rebecca Curtis entry, Haiti Couleurs who has been lightly raced, is a consistent sort and versatile over most ground.
Haiti Couleurs is12/1 best with William Hill with NRNB.
SELECTION: HAITI COULEURS 12/1 EACH WAY WILLIAM HILL
The Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle, Tuesday 11th March
Last race of the day on the Tuesday. This race is often shortlisted for those horses who do not make the grade for the Grade One Triumph Hurdle held on Day 4.
This is not a great race for favourites considering that only three of the last twenty have obliged. Big priced winners can be the order of the day: seven out of the last thirteen renewals have included SPs of 25/1 or more.
We like the look of the Joseph O’Brien trained Galileo Dame, who shaped up well last weekend at Leopardstown in a Grade 1 juvenile hurdle event, just losing out to Hello Neighbour who is now well fancied to give East India Dock and Lulamba something to think about in the Triumph Hurdle on Day 4.
SELECTION: GALILEO DAME 10/1 EACH WAY WILLIAM HILL
The Coral Cup, Wednesday 12th March
Probably the hardest betting race of the week. The business end of the race is a cavalry charge and the cause of immense frustration as the hill can often undo what looks like a dead cert with literally a few yards to the line.
Having said that, there are some key stats to take into account. Winners often emerge from lightly raced entries who are not overly known to the public. Outsiders do ok as well with some colossal SPs in recent years including Help Us at 33/1 in 2021 and Commander Of Fleet at 50/1 in 2022.
Gordon Elliott has a good record in this race and his entry Wodhooh has been very lightly raced and has won all of his five starts including a course and distance win from last December. 22/1 best odds with Betfred.
SELECTION: WOODHOH 22/1 EACH WAY BETFRED
The Grand Annual, Wednesday 12th March
Another Cheltenham handicap that has been a graveyard for race favourites with only two out of the last twenty renewals obliging with the market leader.
Another interesting statistic to note is how well beaten favourites perform when they return to the race the following season. In three races since 2010, the winner has been the beaten favourite from the previous season.
Also, four of the last eight winners were rated 147+. All this suits another Gordon Elliott entry, Sa Fureur, who finished fourth in last year’s renewal as a beaten 4/1 favourite. In good form this season, his last run in a highly competitive hurdle can be ignored. 20/1 best odds with Betfred.
SELECTION: SA FUREUR 20/1 BETFRED
The Jack Richards Novices Handicap Chase, Thursday 13th March
A new handicap chase for Cheltenham Festival 2025, replacing the old Turners Novices Chase. Springwell Bay trained by Jonjo O’Neill has been consistent all season and holds entries for three listed races, although he may find others too hot to handle in those contests. If he does compete in this event, Springwell Bay has an excellent chance. 10/1 best odds with bet365 NRNB.
SELECTION: SPRINGWELL BAY 10/1 BET365
The Pertemps Network Final, Thursday 13th March
Three things to take into account on this stayer’s handicap hurdle. The Irish trainers have a strong record here: they have saddled seven of the last nine runners.
Secondly, this is statistically not a great race for big outsiders as nine of the last eleven winners were priced at 14/1 or shorter. Lastly, six of the last nine winners participated in the Leopardstown qualifier at Christmas.
That leaves us with a shortlist of two: Win Some Lose Some and Feet Of A Dancer. Feet Of A Dancer may opt for the Mares Hurdle whilst Win Some Lose Some (trained by Gordon Elliott) has no confirmed entries which suggests he will go for this handicap. 8/1 best odds with bet365 and William Hill NRNB.
SELECTION: WIN SOME LOSE SOME 8/1 BET365, WILLIAM HILL
The TrustATrader Plate, Thursday 13th March
Very competitive handicap chase over 2 miles and four furlongs. The past eleven winners were all rated at 142 plus with the last six winners all winning at Cheltenham earlier in the season.
This brings in Jagwar and we will include Madara for the Skeltons who ran a great second behind Gemirande in The December Gold Cup.
We are going to select Madara as the Skeltons Cheltenham strike rate is improving over the years and the horse is rated at 144. Best odds of 12/1 with William Hill NRNB.
SELECTION: MADARA 12/1 WILLIAM HILL NRNB
The County Hurdle, Friday 14th March
Some interesting statistics to note for this competitive 2-mile handicap hurdle. First, it pays to avoid horses trained by Nicky Henderson and Gordon Elliott who have a poor strike rate in this race despite a high number of entries.
However, the race has been dominated by Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins who have filled every winner bar one since 2014. Kitzbuhel fits the bill and despite being entered for The Champion Hurdle, there is a strong chance this race will be on the Mullins radar.
However, the horse must run one more time in order to qualify under new rules, which states that entries must have had at least five runs over hurdles prior to this race. Therefore, Storm Heart looks to be a safer option. Best odds of 10/1 with bet365 NRNB.
SELECTION: STORM HEART 10/1 BET365 NRNB
The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, Friday 14th March
Gruelling stamina test and a race that often favours those at the top end of the handicap. The race has produced some famous winners, not least, Galopin Des Champs.
It is another poor race for favourites with just one obliging in the last sixteen outings and five-six-year-olds do best. Karniquet trained by Willie Mullins holds entries for the Supreme Novices and Turner Novices, but connections may find those options a little too hot: this race looks a more ideal option considering his high rating. Best odds 10/1 bet365 NRNB.
SELECTION: KARNIQUET 10/1 BET365 NRNB
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