2025 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Betting Odds at Cheltenham racecourse

Saturday, 25 January 2025

There’s a quality Cheltenham race card on Saturday, with several runners trading at single figure horse racing betting odds. Blow Your Wad hasn’t finished outside the first two in his past three races and the Tom Lacey-trained runner could be capable of landing a victory, although the latest prices suggest that a wide open encounter is on the cards.

Ginny’s Destiny has landed a win in the past two outings and the eight-year-old might be able to cope with the biggest amount of weight being carried by any runner in the race. Es Perfecto may be able to deliver for trainer Alan King, while Persian Time is a Nicky Henderson runner who could benefit on the handicap.

2024 Timeform Novices' Handicap Chase Tips

Blow Your Wad should be able to run a big race at Cheltenham on Saturday, with the six-year-old able to claim a victory at Kempton Park on Boxing day. The win in this handicap chase was achieved by one and a half lengths, with the horse previously finishing second out of four runners at Sandown following the same runner-up appearance at Chepstow.

Ginny’s Destiny has been seen at Cheltenham on three successive occasions, with the horse claiming a ten-length win in a handicap chase over two miles and four furlongs in November. There was previously a novices’ chase success when narrowly obliging at betting odds of 5/2, with Paul Nicholls hoping for a bold run from his charge.

Es Perfecto is a nine-year-old who finished third to Blow Your Wad after finishing second to Ginny’s Destiny in a previous showing. It’s been a long while since the horse was last able to notch a victory, with Persian Time more recently in the winners’ enclosure. This was a victory by over three lengths when beating three rivals in a handicap chase at Ascot.

Henry’s Friend and Ballycoose come next in the betting, with the former a seven-year-old who landed the spoils at Newbury at the end of the year. This was achieved by a slender margin and the Ben Pauling-trained runner is one for the shortlist, while the latter won at Ayr at the beginning of the year and there could be more to come.