2025 Classic Handicap Chase Tips

Mrs Sara V Bradstock trains Mr Vango and the nine-year-old was a winner at Sandown Park last time out. In early December, the runner claimed a one and a half length success over three miles, four and a half furlongs. This came after a solid performance at the Cheltenham Festival when finishing third in the National Hunt Challenge Cup.

Lady Balko has scored three successive victories and can’t be ignored here, especially with a mares allowance. Shortly before Christmas, we saw the horse claim a victory at Hereford when beating a dozen runners, with that coming after consecutive triumphs at Plumpton and David Pipe will hope for more from his charge.

Snipe is an eight-year-old who runs for Dan Skelton, with a bright performance coming at Carlisle in early November. Finishing runner-up in a field of nine came after rolling up second at the northern track, with these performances coming after a lengthy break and perhaps the horse can get right up to speed here.

Apple Away started the season by finishing fourth out of seven runners at Kelso Racecourse, with this being followed by a second placed effort in a field of five at Market Rasen. Back in April, we saw a triumph at Perth, while Bretney made everyone sit up and take notice when scoring at Kelso over four miles.

2024 Classic Handicap Chase Tips

Monbeg Genius could be the pick of the bunch when it comes to the Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase, with the eight-year-old carrying 11-2 and that looks to be a favourable weight allowance. The charge performed well at Newbury Racecourse, with the runner finishing third out of twenty horses when it came to a distance of three miles and two furlongs.

That performance should set the horse up well for a bright performance here, with Beauport having finished second out of seven runners at Sandown Park last time out. Only Truckers Lodge was too good for the charge on this occasion, with the horse previously finishing in fifth place when it came to the Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot.

Guetapan Collonges was third out of thirteen runners on his previous showing, with the runner finishing eleven lengths behind Malina Girl and that came after a victory at Carlisle in October. Interestingly, Malina Girl can be backed at a similar price and it all comes down to whether you can trust a horse that fell at Cheltenham in December.

Fontaine Collonges runs for trainer Venetia Williams and the nine-year-old unseated his rider in the opening race before landing a victory last time out. There was plenty to like about his showing in the William Hill Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase, with Major Dundee another talented nine-year-old who runs for trainer Alan King.

2023 Wigley Group Classic Handicap Chase Tips

Some racing fans might recall that Threeunderthrufive ran in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival. The horse performed reasonably well over three miles at Prestbury Park, with the horse then running in the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby Racecourse and finishing third over three miles.

Having unseated his rider at Newbury Racecourse at the end of November, it could be worth searching for alternatives in the race. Iwilldoit hasn’t been seen at a racecourse for over a year but was previously an impressive performer. Sam Thomas will hope that his horse can reproduce some of the performances that saw back to back wins at Chepstow.

Slipway has been seen winning more recently and Ben Pauling will hope that the eight-year-old really comes on for the run after a victory at Fontwell. Sent off at 13/2, the horse obliged over three miles and three furlongs, with Grumpy Charley winning a Handicap Chase at Newbury Racecourse and Chris Honour’s charge could be a great each-way prospect.

Guetapan Collonges is a seven-year-old with bright prospects and trainer Charlie Longsdon will feel as though his charge is well-handicapped. Having won at Warwick Racecourse, there will be a growing confidence that the horse can perform well although this is a wide open encounter and there are lots of lively contenders.