Wow, a day for the books, what an earth happened in the Champion Hurdle, Golden Ace the winner of the Mares last year a 25/1 winner, after Constitution Hill and State Man fell in dramatic fashion. Lossiemouth will be ruing not taking her chances… A great opening day of racing.
As ever, skip through the results and the analysis if you just want the selections for today and do not want to read the analysis.
Results:
Multiples
Kopek, Maj, Lossiemouth, Constitution Hill 4-fold 8/1 2pt win ❌
Kopek, Maj double 5/2 1.5pt wi ❌
Kopek, Maj, Lossiemouth treble 5/1 1pt win ❌
Good luck.
SELECTIONS SUMMARY
13:20 – Kopek 1/1 4pt win ✅ WIN & Tripoli Flyer 25/1 1pt ew NON RUNNER
14:00 – no singles, just multiples (see above) ❌
14:40 – Katae Dori 15/2 1pt ew ❌
Victtorino 22/1 0.5pt ew ❌
Myretown 12/1 0.75pt ew ✅ WIN
15:20 – Take No Chances 25/1 0.5pt ew (see multiples above) – ✅ PLACE
16:00 – State Man 11/1 1pt ew (see multiples above) ❌
16:40 – Stencil 9/2 1.5pt win ❌
Liam Swagger 11/1 0.75pt ew ✅ PLACE
Teriferma 22/1 0.5pt ew ❌
17:00 – Haiti Colouers 4/1 2pt win ✅ WIN
Transmission 9/2 2pt win ❌
Resplendent Grey 17/2 1pt ew ✅ PLACE
13:20 Turners Novice Hurdle
It is snowing, Final Demand is the selection, Dan Skelton hopes to thwart the 6 Mullins runners.
Key Stats and Trends
Age Trends
Age has proven to be a crucial trend in the Turners. Horses aged six or seven have dominated, accounting for all but one of the race’s winners in the past decade . The sole exception was Samcro, who was an eight-year-old when he won in 2020 . This trend suggests that the race tends to favor second-season chasers or those making rapid progress at a relatively young age. Novices in the 6–7 age bracket are often at the peak of their developmental curve, combining both the necessary maturity and scope over fences with enough youthful improvement to excel at the Festival. In 2025’s line-up, all entries fall within this ideal age range, in line with historical patterns.
Trainer and Nationality
Irish stables have an impressive record in this race, though recent renewals show a more balanced picture. Irish-trained runners won 8 of the first 11 runnings of this contest , with Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott in particular accounting for six of those wins . Mullins is the leading trainer in the race’s short history, having saddled four winners (including a remarkable hat-trick from 2015–2017). However, British-trained horses have enjoyed something of a resurgence lately – the last two editions (2023 and 2024) were won by UK stables, with Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton breaking the Irish stronghold. This east–west rivalry sets the stage for 2025: Ireland brings a typically powerful team (Mullins and Elliott are again well-represented), while British yards will be keen to extend their recent success on home soil. Bettors should note that regardless of origin, the winners invariably hail from top-tier trainers; no small operation has won this race in the past decade.
Betting and Form Insights
The Turners Novices’ Chase tends to be won by a well-fancied horse, though not always the absolute favorite. 4 of the last 10 winners started as the outright or joint favourite, and in total 8 of the last 10 winners were sent off at 4/1 or shorter . Huge outsiders are uncommon – in fact, only one winner since the race’s inception returned at double-figure odds (20/1 Benefficient back in 2013) . This suggests that the market is a fairly good guide, and class often prevails in this contest. That said, punters should be wary of putting too much faith in a short-price favorite without substance: we have seen odds-on bankers like Envoi Allen (4/9) come unstuck (he fell in 2021), and in 2023 a 4/6 favorite (Mighty Potter) was defeated by Stage Star at 15/2. So while the leading contenders in the betting usually dominate, surprises can occur if the favorite underperforms or fails to complete.
Another important factor is coming into the race with strong recent form. A large majority of Turners winners arrived on the back of a victory last time out . In fact, 8 of the last 11 winners had won their previous start before Cheltenham . This trend underscores the value of momentum and confidence in a novice chaser – horses that have recently tasted victory (especially in a graded chase or major trial) often carry that winning habit into the Festival. For example, recent winners Defi Du Seuil (2019) and Shattered Love (2018) each came off Grade 1 wins en route to Cheltenham. By contrast, notable exceptions like Black Hercules (fell on his prior start before winning in 2016) and Samcro (winless in his immediate prep in 2020) are rare . Bettors should therefore favor runners with a last-out win or a very positive placing in a key trial (such as the Scilly Isles at Sandown or the Dublin Racing Festival novice chase) when trying to identify the likely winner.
Other Notable Trends
• Experience: Most winners had 3+ runs over fences before triumphing in the Turners. Novices with enough chasing experience to be fluent jumpers, yet still on the upgrade, strike the right balance. First-season chasers who took to fences quickly (often winning early-season novice chases) typically perform well. In 2025, several contenders (e.g. Ile Atlantique and Hermes Allen) match this profile with multiple chase starts and progressive form.
• Cheltenham Form: Prior Cheltenham Festival form, while not mandatory, has often been a plus. A number of Turners heroes had placed or won at the Festival in previous years. For instance, Yorkhill and Samcro were former Festival winners (in novice hurdles) before adding this Chase to their CV. Horses proven on the unique Cheltenham course and atmosphere tend to have an edge. In this year’s field, Marine Nationale stands out in this regard as a previous Festival winner.
• Distance Preference: As an intermediate 2½-mile event, the Turners suits horses with a blend of speed and stamina. Successful horses often possess the pace to contend in top 2m hurdles or chases and the stamina to stay 2½ miles strongly. Many winners later either drop to 2m for races like the Champion Chase or step up to ~3m for races like the Ryanair or even Gold Cup. Watch for novices who have shown versatility in trip or run style — a strong cruising speed coupled with the ability to finish up the Cheltenham hill is ideal.
Significance and Future Stars
Winning (or even running well in) the Turners Novices’ Chase is widely seen as a harbinger of big things to come. This race often identifies future stars in the staying chase division, with its graduates frequently going on to Grade 1 glory in subsequent seasons. The race’s registered name honors Golden Miller, the five-time Gold Cup winner, underlining the expectation that Turners winners could be future Gold Cup horses. Indeed, several Turners champions have later made their mark in races like the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Ryanair Chase. For example, 2012 winner Sir Des Champs went on to finish second in the following year’s Gold Cup, reaffirming his elite staying ability. More recently, 2015 winner Vautour produced an unforgettable performance to win the Ryanair Chase by a wide margin a year after his novice triumph, showcasing the class that the Turners can reveal.
Even horses who don’t win the Turners have emerged as stars. A dramatic case was Galopin Des Champs in 2022 – he was 12 lengths clear and set to win easily before an unlucky fall at the final fence . Galopin Des Champs has since proven his exceptional talent by becoming a two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner (2023 and 2024) , underlining how the Turners can spotlight future champions. Similarly, Envoi Allen, who fell as the odds-on favorite in 2021, recovered to claim Grade 1 honors and eventually a Ryanair Chase victory in later years, confirming the depth of quality this novice race can contain.
FINAL DEMAND 6/4 4PT WIN
14:00 – Brown Novices Advisory
Ballyburn should be far too much for these, the price of 8/13 means it is not a single bet (suggest doubling with opening selection). We will back at a bigger price Better Days Ahead as the horse has gone on a variety of surfaces and ran a ridiculous time in defeat at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, a repeat of that, would give the Fav something to think about.
Better Days Ahead 9/1 1pt ew
14:40 – Coral Cup
Impose Toi 6/1 2pt win
Sa Fureur 25/1 1pt ew
15:20 – Cross Country
Busselton 13/2 1pt win
Iwilldoit 20/1 1pt ew
16:00 – Queen Mother’s Champion Chase
Another very warm favourite, in Jonbon, one for the multiples, at the price,however, a no bet race.
2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview
Introduction
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is one of the most prestigious races at the Cheltenham Festival, serving as the championship contest for two-mile chasers. This Grade 1 race is the feature event on Day Two of the Festival, known for its thrilling, high-speed jumping and rich history . Run over about 2 miles on Cheltenham’s Old Course (with 13 fences to jump), it consistently produces high drama as the best steeplechasers battle for top honors. Past editions have been won by legendary horses such as Sprinter Sacre and Altior, underlining the race’s status as a showcase of chasing excellence. Named in honor of the late Queen Mother (a great National Hunt racing supporter), the Champion Chase is a coveted prize that every top trainer and jockey aspires to win.
Confirmed Runners and Jockeys (2025)
Eight runners have been confirmed for the 2025 Queen Mother Champion Chase . Below is the full list of the declared horses and their jockeys:
• Captain Guinness – Rachael Blackmore
• Energumene – Paul Townend
• Found A Fifty – Jack Kennedy
• Jonbon – Nico de Boinville
• Libberty Hunter – Adam Wedge
• Marine Nationale – Sean Flanagan
• Quilixios – Darragh O’Keeffe
• Solness – J.J. Slevin
Reigning champion Captain Guinness returns to defend his title, this time as a 10-year-old, with Rachael Blackmore again in the saddle. Dual winner Energumene (the 2022 and 2023 victor) also lines up; the 11-year-old will be ridden by Paul Townend as he bids for a record-equaling third win. The hot favorite, however, is Jonbon, Nicky Henderson’s 9-year-old star who comes in off a dominant season and will be ridden by Nico de Boinville. Marine Nationale, the 2023 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero making his Champion Chase debut, adds an intriguing angle under jockey Sean Flanagan. Joining them are Gordon Elliott’s Arkle runner-up Found A Fifty (Jack Kennedy up) and Henry de Bromhead’s former Triumph Hurdle winner Quilixios (Darragh O’Keeffe). Rounding out the field, Welsh raider Libberty Hunter (Adam Wedge) and Ireland’s improving front-runner Solness (J.J. Slevin) will be looking to spring an upset. It’s a top-class line-up befitting this Grade 1 contest, and each runner brings solid credentials into what promises to be a fiercely run race.
Recent Winners of the Champion Chase (Last 10 Years)
For context, here are the last ten winners of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, along with their starting prices (SP) at the off :
| Year | Winner | Starting Price (SP) |
| 2024 | Captain Guinness | 17/2 |
| 2023 | Energumene | 6/5 F |
| 2022 | Energumene | 5/2 |
| 2021 | Put The Kettle On | 17/2 |
| 2020 | Politologue | 6/1 |
| 2019 | Altior | 4/11 F |
| 2018 | Altior | Evs F |
| 2017 | Special Tiara | 11/1 |
| 2016 | Sprinter Sacre | 5/1 |
| 2015 | Dodging Bullets | 9/2 |
SP = Starting Price; F = Favourite.
Notable trends from these past runnings include the presence of repeat champions and a mix of expected and surprise results. Two superstar chasers – Altior and Energumene – each won back-to-back editions during this period , highlighting that an elite horse can dominate in consecutive years. However, being the favorite is no guarantee of victory: only 3 of the last 10 winners started as the SP favourite. We’ve seen odds-on favorites like Altior deliver at short odds (e.g. 4/11 in 2019) and also upsets such as Special Tiara’s 11/1 shock in 2017. In fact, while mid-priced winners are fairly common, no winner has returned a starting price bigger than 11/1 in the past four decades, underscoring that huge longshots very rarely win this championship race.
Key Statistics and Trends
Looking at the profile of Champion Chase winners and historical patterns, several key statistics and trends emerge:
• Age Trends: Winners of the Champion Chase tend to be in their prime years. All of the last ten winners were aged 7 to 10 . Horses older than 10 have generally struggled – apart from two exceptional 10-year-olds (Sprinter Sacre in 2016 and Special Tiara in 2017), no horse above age 9 has won this race in over 25 years . This suggests the optimal age range for a Champion Chase contender is roughly seven to nine years old, with 8 and 9-year-olds doing particularly well in recent times.
• Trainer Success: A handful of top trainers dominate this race, and recent renewals reflect a battle between British and Irish stables. British trainers Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have each been very successful historically (Henderson has a record 6 wins in the Champion Chase ), and they’ve produced five of the last ten winners between them (Henderson 3, Nicholls 2) . On the Irish side, Willie Mullins and Henry de Bromhead have accounted for the other five wins in the past decade . De Bromhead’s horses, in particular, have thrived recently – he trained the 2017, 2021, and 2024 winners. In summary, backing a horse from one of these powerhouse yards often makes sense, as they have a proven Champion Chase pedigree.
• Betting Insights: The betting market can be a good guide, but it’s not infallible in the Champion Chase. Only three favorites have won in the last ten runnings, so a top fancied horse isn’t a sure thing in this race. That said, outright shocks at massive odds are rare. Most winners come from towards the front of the market, and no winner since at least the 1980s has started above 16/1. Special Tiara’s 11/1 victory in 2017 stands out as one of the bigger upsets of recent years, whereas many other winners have been relatively shorter prices (often 5/1 or below). In short, moderate outsiders can and do win, but the real rank outsiders almost never lift this trophy.
• Novice Form (Arkle Trophy Connection): A strong performance in the previous year’s Arkle Challenge Trophy (the Festival’s premier novice chase over two miles) is a key indicator of future Champion Chase success. Top two-mile novices often graduate to this race with glory. For example, Altior won the Arkle in 2017 and followed up by winning the Champion Chase in 2018 (and again in 2019) . Similarly, Put The Kettle On captured the 2020 Arkle and returned to Cheltenham to win the 2021 Champion Chase . It’s common to see last year’s Arkle winner or placed horses feature prominently in the Champion Chase betting – their proven Cheltenham class and chasing ability at speed make them prime contenders. In 2025’s field, Found A Fifty fits this trend as last year’s Arkle runner-up, and his connections will hope he can emulate that pattern of success.
• Recent Form and Ratings: The Champion Chase tends to be won by horses arriving in peak form. An overwhelming majority of winners had a victory under their belt earlier in the season before winning at Cheltenham. In fact, 37 of the last 40 Champion Chase winners had won at least once that same season prior to the Festival . Most also ran well in their immediate prep run – many winners were coming off a win or a runner-up finish last time out . This emphasizes the importance of proven current form: a horse that has shown high-class performance in the lead-up months (such as winning a key trial like the Tingle Creek or Clarence House Chase) is a strong candidate. Additionally, Champion Chase winners usually boast a top official rating among the field, reflecting their established quality. In 2025, for instance, Jonbon arrives on a notable winning streak and top ratings, which aligns with these historical trends. Punters should be wary of horses coming off poor runs or long absences – while not impossible, it’s uncommon for a horse to rebound in the Champion Chase without positive recent form.
16:40 – Grand Annual
Jpr One 8/1 1pt ew
Taprain Law 12/1 1pt ew
17:20 – Champion Bumper
Gameofinches 9/2 1pt win
Idaho Sun 22/1 0.5pt ew
2025 Champion Bumper Preview
Introduction
The Champion Bumper is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race – the only Cheltenham Festival race run without jumps . It traditionally closes out Day 2 of the Festival and is a prestigious target for top young horses yet to begin their hurdling careers . Run over about 2 miles (2m½f) on Cheltenham’s Old Course, this “bumper” often reveals future jump racing stars, with past winners including champions like Florida Pearl and Cue Card . The race has grown into one of the most anticipated events of the week, drawing significant betting interest each year . Irish yards, in particular, treat the Champion Bumper as a showcase – Willie Mullins has dominated this race historically with a record 13 victories and will be bidding for a 14th win in 2025 .
Confirmed Runners and Jockeys (2025)
A total of 18 horses have been confirmed for the 2025 Champion Bumper . Below is the full list of runners and their scheduled jockeys:
• Copacabana – Patrick Mullins
• Dalston Lad – Tristan Durrell
• El Cairos – David Maxwell
• Fortune De Mer – Harry Skelton
• Gameofinches – Paul Townend
• Heads Up – Sean Bowen
• He Can’t Dance – Harry (H.C.) Swan
• Idaho Sun – Bryan Carver
• I Started A Joke – Philip Byrnes
• Kalypso’chance – Jack Kennedy
• No Drama This End – Harry Cobden
• Shuttle Diplomacy – Sam Ewing
• Sortudo – Danny Mullins
• Aqua Force – Mark Walsh
• Bambino Fever – Miss Jody Townend
• Highland Haven – Jonathan Burke
• Caballero Cliff – Ben Jones
• Lancelot Allen – David Noonan
This line-up features a typically strong Irish contingent. Notably, champion trainer Willie Mullins saddles several of the leading contenders (Patrick Mullins rides Copacabana, while Paul Townend is on Gameofinches, and Jody Townend partners the mare Bambino Fever), underlining his yard’s strength in depth. Top British trainers are also represented – for example, Harry Skelton rides Fortune De Mer for the Dan Skelton yard, and Paul Nicholls’ hope No Drama This End will be ridden by Harry Cobden. It’s a competitive field of unexposed talent, all aiming to stake their claim as the next rising star in this prestigious bumper.
Last 10 Champion Bumper Winners
The table below lists the winners of the Champion Bumper from the last ten Festivals (2015–2024) along with their starting prices (SP). This gives a sense of the range of outcomes, from well-fancied favorites to the occasional long-shot upset :
| Year | Winner | SP |
| 2024 | Jasmin De Vaux | 9/2 |
| 2023 | A Dream To Share | 7/2 |
| 2022 | Facile Vega | 15/8 |
| 2021 | Sir Gerhard | 85/40 |
| 2020 | Ferny Hollow | 11/1 |
| 2019 | Envoi Allen | 2/1 |
| 2018 | Relegate (Mare) | 25/1 |
| 2017 | Fayonagh (Mare) | 7/1 |
| 2016 | Ballyandy | 5/1 |
| 2015 | Moon Racer | 9/2 |
Table: Champion Bumper winners (2015–2024) and their SP at starting time.
Over the past decade, this race has mostly been won by horses towards the forefront of the betting, though a few shock results have occurred. We can see that the majority of winners started at single-figure odds, with Facile Vega (2022) the shortest priced of the lot at 15/8, while Relegate (2018) sprang the biggest surprise at 25/1. The presence of two mares (Relegate and Fayonagh) among these winners also stands out, showing that female runners can capitalize on the 7 lb weight allowance in this race.
Key Stats and Trends
Analyzing the recent renewals of the Champion Bumper reveals several telling statistics and trends that can help pinpoint strong contenders:
• Recent Form: Almost all recent winners arrived at Cheltenham in top form – 10 of the last 10 winners had won their previous race before the Festival . In other words, a last-time-out victory has been a near-essential credential for Champion Bumper success.
• Age: Every winner in the past decade was aged either 5 or 6 . In fact, seven of the last ten winners were 5-year-olds, with the remaining three being 6-year-olds. No 4-year-old has won this race in modern times, so the very youngest horses face a stiff task despite receiving a weight allowance.
• Class & Experience: Proven quality in bumpers is a common theme. 9 out of the last 10 winners had already won a bumper race worth at least £4,000 to the winner , indicating they had shown ability in a decent class race beforehand. Similarly, 9 of the last 10 had won a bumper with a field of 12 or more runners , so handling a large field and the hustle of a crowded race was not new to them. Most winners were also relatively fresh: 8/10 had been off the track for at least a month coming into Cheltenham , suggesting that a short break (often 5–12 weeks) before the Festival can be beneficial. Many connections deliberately skip a prep run to arrive with a fresh horse.
• Ratings: A high Racing Post Rating (RPR) in previous runs is another indicator. 8 of the last 10 winners had achieved an adjusted RPR of 138 or higher in a prior race . This means they had already posted a performance figure suggesting top-class potential in a bumper. A strong bumper RPR (in the mid-130s or above) often marks out a horse capable of winning the Champion Bumper.
• Trainer Dominance – Ireland vs Britain: Irish-trained horses have dominated this race. 8 of the last 10 winners were trained in Ireland , including the last eight renewals consecutively. In fact, Ireland has won 25 of the 32 runnings of the Champion Bumper since its inception . The last British-trained winner was Ballyandy in 2016, and since then Irish stables have been in control. This trend was especially evident in 2024 when Irish-trained runners swept the first seven places, and the best any British horse could manage was eighth . Bettors should give strong respect to the Irish challengers.
• Top Trainers: No discussion of the Champion Bumper is complete without Willie Mullins. The Closutton maestro has trained 5 of the last 10 winners and a record 13 winners overall in this race – by far the most of any trainer. Mullins often fields multiple runners (and has been known to win this race with a less-fancied “second string” horse), so all of his entries merit consideration. (Notably, in nine of Mullins’ 13 wins, the victorious horse was not his shortest-priced runner in the betting, underlining the depth of his squad .) Another Irish trainer, Gordon Elliott, has saddled two Champion Bumper winners in the last eight years (Fayonagh in 2017 and Envoi Allen in 2019) , and he consistently targets this race with strong prospects. Among British trainers, success has been scarce lately – the likes of Nigel Twiston-Davies (trainer of Ballyandy in 2016) and David Pipe (Moon Racer in 2015) are the most recent to buck the Irish trend.
• Betting Insights: Historically, the betting market has been a good guide – 8 of the last 10 winners started at odds under 10/1, typically among the leading fancies (the two exceptions being a 11/1 shot and a 25/1 outsider) . The favorite doesn’t win every year, but horses towards the head of the market have a strong strike-rate in this race. Big long-shots are comparatively rare, though as 2018 showed with Relegate, they’re not impossible. Mares have a noteworthy record as well, having won two recent renewals (Relegate and Fayonagh in back-to-back years) – their 7 lb weight allowance can make them competitive if they have the talent.
• 2025 Market Outlook: This year’s betting is again dominated by Willie Mullins’ team. As of now, Copacabana is the current favourite at around 5/2 after an impressive debut win in Ireland. His stablemate Gameofinches is generally second in the market at roughly 9/2 , having won easily on his only start. In fact, Mullins trains four of the top five in the betting for 2025 , reflecting the strength of his hand. British hope Idaho Sun (trained by Harry Fry) and Gordon Elliott’s Kalypso’chance are others attracting support at single-figure odds. Given the trends, any horse prominent in the betting – especially from a powerful Irish yard – warrants serious respect. Nonetheless, punters will recall that surprises can occur, so assessing form (particularly unbeaten records and point-to-point backgrounds), stamina on likely soft ground, and performance in big-field bumpers will be key in weighing up this open contest.
Summary of Selections
13:20 Final Demand 6/4 4pt win
14:00 Ballyburn double with Final Demand 2pt win & Better Days Ahead 9/1 1pt ew
14:40 – Sa Fureur 25/1 0.5pt ew & Impose Toi 6/1 1pt win
15:20 – Iwilldoit 20/1 1pt ew & Busselton 13/2 1pt win
16:00 – no bet
16:40 – Trapain Law 12/1 1pt ew & JPR one 8/1 1pt ew
17:20 – Gameofinches 9/2 1pt wins & Idaho Sun 22/1 0.5pt ew
Horse Racing Selections 