2026 The Jack Richards Novices Handicap Chase Betting Odds at Cheltenham racecourse

2026 The Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Betting

Meetmebythesea is the 4/1 favourite for the 2026 Jack Richards Novices' Chase. The horse has been performing well this season and is regarded as the one to beat in the second running of this Cheltenham Festival race, which replaces the old Golden Miller Chase. Connections will be hoping for a bold showing in a race that attracted a quality field for its inaugural renewal won by Caldwell Potter.

Koktail Divin has been backed into a shorter price, with the Henry de Bromhead-trained charge having been in strong form throughout the season. The six-year-old was able to oblige at Leopardstown at the end of December when scoring in a Beginners Chase by twenty-one lengths, with 2/1 favourite Kiss Will comfortably beaten. This came after a runner-up effort where the 7/2 shot missed out by three lengths.

Jordans Cross has won three of four efforts this season and could step up in class to land a Cheltenham Festival success. Anthony Honeyball trains a six-year-old who won at Cheltenham at the end of January when the 7/1 shot won over two miles, four and a half furlongs. Back in December, there was a Doncaster triumph over a similar distance.

Sixmilebridge catches the eye in the form guide considering that there have been a spate of successes this term. Fergal O'Brien's charge looks well weighted to claim a victory and the latest win came at Sandown Park at the end of January. There was also a December success at Cheltenham.

2026 Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Betting Tips

Back in April, the horse was second in a field of nine when competing in the Grade One Mersey Novices' Hurdle, with a rediscovering of this form seeing the horse potentially going close. Pure Steel looks to be the pick of the Irish raiders, with James Joseph Mangan training a runner who was able to claim the spoils in a recent outing at Punchestown.

That came after hitting the frame at Naas when securing third in a field of sixteen when outperforming odds of 33/1. It was a solid effort over two miles on soft ground and the horse is trading at a slightly shorter price than Sixmilebridge and the latter demonstrated his Cheltenham credentials when beating two other runners in December.

That came after a November success at Ayr, with the horse well off the pace in the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the previous Festival, although this race could be more to his liking. The same could be said of Fingle Bridge, with the runner having a straightforward win at Uttoxeter and there could be some good form in the shape of finishing second to Lulamba at Exeter.

Lovely Hurling has run plenty of times for trainer CA Murphy and the latest effort was interesting. After all, Kopek Des Bordes could be a superstar and a second-placed finish behind the horse at Navan could end up looking strong. Although the horse was no match for the winner, it was still a commanding performance. This came after finishing second at Punchestown in the Grade One Champion Novice Hurdle.

2025 Jack Richards Novices' Chase Tips

The 2025 Jack Richards Novices' Chase looks like being a wide open encounter, with a big field set to line up over two miles and furlongs. The Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero-trained charge was successful at Cheltenham at the end of January when claiming a victory in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase, with that being a two and a half length success.

Croke Park has multiple entries and was able to line up in the Dublin Racing Festival, with the seven-year-old finishing just five lengths behind Ballyburn in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase when performing well. Previously to this, there were two successive victories at Fairyhouse and then came a success at Leopardstown.

Another Gordon Elliott-trained charge is Firefox and he was able to put up a decent showing when finishing third out of six horses when trailing Majborough by thirteen lengths in the Irish Arkle Novice Chase. That was over two miles and one furlong, with the horse previously finishing second out of five runners at Naas over two miles.

Henry de Bromhead could also have a lively contender in the form of Slade Steel, with the latest showing from the seven-year-old coming at Naas in the middle of December. However, the horse was odds-on to win that encounter and that came after fluffing his lines in November and there’s a nagging doubt that the horse might fall short here.