National Hunt Chase Predictions, Betting Tips, Trends & Odds (Cheltenham 2025 - DAY 1)
- Written by Simon Bettarini
The last race on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival is the National Hunt Steeple Chase which is a four mile chase for amateur riders. It is open to novice chaser and consists of twenty-four obstacles. Corbetts Cross (15/8) produced a fine staying performance to fend off Embassy Gardens to win the 2024 edition. Don't miss our National Hunt Chase race preview with free predictions, tips, betting trends, best odds, free bets and no deposit bonuses on the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
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NATIONAL HUNT CHASE BETTING PREVIEW
The National Hunt Chase is a huge test for both horses and jockeys and a very tough race to win. It's a Grade 2 National Hunt chase, run over four miles, for novice chasers aged five and older. There are 24 fences to be jumped, so this contest is a true test of stamina and jumping skills.
And now we take a closer look at this year's National Hunt Chase and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
Who will win the National Hunt Chase 2025?
NOW IS THE HOUR is the odds-on favorite following last year's Prestige Novices' Hurdle success at Haydock. Anyway, In a 2m4½f chase at Navan, Ile Atlantique pumped him 48 lengths, and when he was next seen at Punchestown, he was beaten 37 lengths over 3m. He also ended outside the placements last time out, at 20-1 with Keith Donoghue, finishing four lenghts behind Three Card Brag.
HAITI COULEURS has been nicely progressive this season, winning twice over fences, including over a staying three-mile-one-and-a-half-furlong trip at Cheltenham in December. He was last seen when a creditable third in a typically open Newbury Saturday handicap hurdle, in so doing likely preserving his chase handicap mark for the Festival.
CAPTAIN CODY was sixth in the bumper two years ago and then missed the festival last year to go to Fairyhouse where he won. He is yet to run beyond three miles over hurdles or fences but stayed on strongly under O'Sullivan on his most recent outing at Navan, where the seven-year-old finished in front of National Hunt Chase favourite Now Is The Hour.
RESPLENDENT GREY finished runner-up twice over 3m earlier this season, including when just half a length behind Hyland in Listed novice chase company at Cheltenham in November. Then, he chase home Handstands in a Grade 2 at Sandown. The cut back to 2m4f didn’t suit on Trials Day at Cheltenham in January where he only finished fourth in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase.
TRANSMISSION finished runner-up to Haiti Couleurs here in December, having won the Amateur Jockey's Handicap Chase under Patrick Mullins' at the November Meeting, and was also last seen running over hurdles in the Cleeve Hurdle finishing last of the six runners. He will be four pounds better off at the weights than Haiti Couleurs from their clash in December.
HASTHING has taken well to fences and he should appreciate stepping up in distance for the National Hunt Chase. He didn’t shape badly when fourth behind Victtorino, last time out at Ascot where he really looked like an extreme stamina test would suit, staying on strongly in the closing stages of that three mile contest.
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Dark Horses?
GERICAULT ROQUE ran a craker in the Ultima and the Coral Gold Cup off 138 back in 2022 and has been dropped to a mark of 131 following his return from a lengthy absence at Windsor. As a result ,we belive he could be a smart each-way option.
NO TIME TO WAIT showed some bright signs of life for the first time for this yard at Musselburgh last month when sticking on well at the finish in a first-time tongue-tie. He ran at Cheltenham previously when staying on from the rear of the field in the 2023 Champion Bumper, where he wasn't far behind Captain Cody.
WILL DO, a Gordon Elliott's useful eight-year-old, is yet to win in six starts over fences but has placed in some strong open handicaps.
IN D’OR is one of the least exposed runners after just three starts over the larger obstacles. Despite beaten at Sandown on his last outing, where he was chasing a hat-trick of victtories, he still produced a career-best effort.
Other interesting options are HERAKLES WESTWOOD, DUFFLE COAT, STUZZIKINI and KLARC KENT (one of the highest market movers ahead of the race).
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
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NATIONAL HUNT CHASE TRENDS
- Only 4 of the last 15 winners were favorites/joint favorites (1 of the last 11 winners)
- 11 of the last 14 winners returned a single-figure price
- 12 of the last 14 winners had run in a Graded Novice chase
- 8 of the last 14 winners were rated 150+
- 12 of the last 20 winners were aged 7
- 11 of the last 15 winners had run at a previous Cheltenham Festival
- Irish-trained runners have won ten of the last 14 editions
NATIONAL HUNT CHASE PREDICTIONS
Find below our free betting tips on the National Hunt Chase 2025. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival predictions and get the best odds available on the market by clicking the 'Bet' button!
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NATIONAL HUNT CHASE FAQs
What time is the National Hunt Chase?
The National Hunt Chase is the last race run on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Tuesday March 11, 2025 and the official starting time is 5:20pm.
How many obstacles are jumped in the National Hunt Chase?
There are eight hurdles to jump for the National Hunt Chase runners
What is the distance of the National Hunt Chase?
There are 24 obstacles to jump for the National Hunt Chase runners
What is the prize money for the National Hunt Chase?
The total prize money on offer for the National Hunt Chase at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival will be £100,000.
Who won the National Hunt Chase last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Corbetts Cross at SP of 15/8, trained by Emmet Mullins and ridden by Derek O'Connor.
What weights are carried for the National Hunt Chase?
11 st 6 lb (6 yead olds and over). 11 st 4 lb (5 years olds).
Who is the leading jockey in the National Hunt Chase?
Patrick Mullins stands alone as being the only jockey to have scored on four occasions in this race, including two of the last three renewals. Jamie Codd has won three editions while Derek O'Connor has two wins.
Who is the leading trainer in the National Hunt Chase?
Jonjo O’Neill is the race’s winning-most trainer (5) but he’s only landed it once since 2007. Gordon Elliott has trained 4 winners from 13 runners. Willie Mullins has also saddled four winners and three placed horses from 18 runners in the past 12 years.
