Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Festival Trials Day)

2025 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Preview

Scheduled to take place in January of each year at the Cheltenham Racecourse during Festival Trials Day is this Novices Handicap Chase, a Class Two that is open to runners who are aged five or older and is contested over a distance of two miles, four and a half furlongs.

Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Information:

• Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Past Winners
• Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trainer Statistics
• Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Jockey Statistics

Why not use the trends shortlist below to help you narrow down the field and then head over to the dedicated Cheltenham tips page to see which runners are being supported by the OLBG expert racing tipsters to find yourself a bet? You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information, head down to the Other Principal Races at Cheltenham Racecourse section for links to these.

How competitive is the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2005 when the race had an over-round of 108%. The race in 2012 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 121%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase, the over-round has been 116%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £116 which is bet.

Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trends:

• 2025 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trends
• Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trend Analysis

Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? From the past 20 if you had followed the winner of the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase next time out then you would have backed a total of 6 winners. Backing all 19 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of +12.33. Whilst we wait for the 2025 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase remember you can get daily racing predictions from the expert tipsters on the racing predictions page.

Over the last 20 renewals, it was the Paul Nicholls trained Stage Star ridden by Harry Cobden who set the fastest winning time in the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase, the runner won the race in a time of 5:15.10 was set when winning the race in 2023. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer Venetia Williams and jockey Aidan Coleman with Ping Pong Sivola who set the slowest winning time, the race-winning time was 5:46.34 in the 2009 renewal.

These are the top three quickest-run Timeform Novices Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals:

1. Stage Star (5:15.10) in 2023
2. Imperial Alcazar (5:16.55) in 2022
3. Kildisart (5:17.30) in 2019

Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Past Winners

Here are the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won along with the age & weight of the horse. The trainer of the horse at the time of winning the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase as well as the jockey is also displayed along with the starting price the horse was sent off.

Where have the winning runners come from?

Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase have been based:

• GB: 20 winners with an additional 36 placings from 199 runners
• FR: 0 winners with an additional 2 placings from 5 runners
• IRE: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 4 runners

Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trainer Statistics

There are two leading trainers in the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals with both Venetia Williams and Paul Nicholls who have both won the race three times. Venetia Williams winners have been with Ballyconnell I (2004), Flying Enterprise (2007) and Ping Pong Sivola (2009). Paul Nicholls winners have been with Arturio (2008), Stage Star (2023) and Ginnys Destiny (2024). There is one trainer who has not had the best of times in the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase, Nigel Twiston-Davies has sent a total of 13 runners to the race without recording any wins.

Here are some of the top Timeform Novices Handicap Chase trainer statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Jockey Statistics

There are multiple leading jockeys in the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals with Paddy Brennan, Daryl Jacob and Harry Cobden having all won the race two times. Paddy Brennan's winners have been with Royal Vacation (2017) and Imperial Alcazar (2022). Daryl Jacob winners have been with Generous Ransom (2015) and Kildisart (2019). Harry Cobden winners have been with Stage Star (2023) and Ginnys Destiny (2024).

Here are some of the top Timeform Novices Handicap Chase jockey statistics over the last 20 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):

2025 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trends

Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): F, F, 3, 3, 5, 1, 5, 7, F, 6, PU, 7, 4, (6, BD), (3, PU), 3, 2, (5, PU), 1, 1

The percentage shown is the percentage of the total number of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones as you would expect them to do well.

• 20 / 20 (81%) - Ran over 1m - 2m1f (Debut)
• 20 / 20 (82%) - Not in a G2/LST/Cl2-3 (Debut)
• 20 / 20 (83%) - Not on HY/GF (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (86%) - Had 4 - 13 placings (Career)
• 20 / 20 (87%) - Not in SCO/WAL (Last Win)
• 20 / 20 (88%) - Fewer than 6 placings (Hcps)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Furthest Placed 2m3f - 3m1½f
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Made 2 - 6 starts (Season)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Not in a G2-3/LST/Cl5 (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Beaten no more -23l (Debut)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Ran over 2m1f - 3m1½f (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Beaten no more -22l (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Within the first 10 of the market
• 19 / 20 (75%) - Won within last 4 starts
• 19 / 20 (80%) - No more than +2yrs (Vs Min Age)

Remember to use the trends listed above along with the Cheltenham racing predictions to see if you can find the winner of the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles like How to Find Winners - 101 Tips to Choose A Winning Horse Racing Bet.

Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over £6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, It is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase by adding a tip on the race here.

Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trend Analysis

The trend factor which had produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +51.00 is when runners finished in 2nd on debut. The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 1 career place with the jockey, when backing these the trend shows a record of 0-36.

The course which has produced the most winners of the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase is Kempton, there has been a total number of 7 winners of this race who ran at Kempton last time out. The next best course which has produced the second most winners is Cheltenham, there has been a total number of 4 winners of this race who ran at Cheltenham last time out.

The race is open to both sexes with the Male runners having produced a total of 18 winners from a total of 197 runners whilst the Female runners have produced 2 winners from a total of 11 runners.

Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase, that stallion Kings Theatre has produced 2 winners (2017,2016).

These are the stallions whose offspring have not produced a winner of the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase despite multiple attempts:

• Presenting (0 Wins from 8 runners)
• Milan (0 Wins from 7 runners)
• Flemensfirth (0 Wins from 6 runners)
• Kayf Tara (0 Wins from 5 runners)

Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Vino Griego in 2013, winning for Gary Moore at odds of 25/1 under the guidance of Jamie Moore. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals there have been 3 winning favourites in the race. Before placing your bet on the 2025 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase head over to see which other runners today are being backed by the best racing tipsters today.

Other Principal races at Cheltenham Racecourse

Here are some other notable races at the Cheltenham racecourse throughout the racing season that you may be interested in.

Races in January (Festival Trials Day)

• Cheltenham Trophy Handicap Chase
• Classic Novices Hurdle
• Cleeve Hurdle
• Cotswold Chase
• Finesse Juvenile Novices Hurdle
• International Hurdle

Races in January

• Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase

Races in March (Cheltenham Festival)

• Arkle Challenge Trophy
• Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
• Champion Hurdle
• Close Brothers Mares Hurdle
• National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
• Supreme Novices Hurdle
• Ultima Handicap Chase
• Ballymore Novices Hurdle
• Brown Advisory Novices Chase
• Champion Bumper
• Coral Cup
• Cross Country Chase
• Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
• Queen Mother Champion Chase
• Festival Plate
• Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
• Mares Novices Hurdle
• Pertemps Network Final
• Ryanair Chase
• Stayers Hurdle
• Turners Novices Chase
• Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
• Cheltenham Gold Cup
• County Handicap Hurdle
• Foxhunter Chase Challenge Cup
• Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
• Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase
• Triumph Hurdle

Races in April

• Silver Trophy Chase

Races in October

• Sharp Novices Hurdle

Races in November (November Meeting)

• Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase
• Hyde Novices Hurdle
• Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial Novices Chase
• JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle
• Paddy Power Gold Cup
• Greatwood Hurdle
• Jewson Premier Handicap Chase
• Shloer Chase

Races in December (Christmas Meeting)

• Crystal Cup Cross Country Chase
• Bristol Novices Hurdle
• Dahlbury Handicap Chase
• December Gold Cup