Horse Racing stats man, Andy has contributed to OLBG for 18 years - An Ipswich fan and F1 fanatic, he also contributes EFL football and Motor Sport opinion.
2026 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.
Elevate your Timeform Novices Handicap Chase betting game using our thorough examination of historical race trends and trainer stats, then capitalize on the Cheltenham betting offers.
Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Information:
- Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Past Winners
- Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trainer Statistics
- Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Jockey Statistics
Our dedicated Cheltenham tips page will not only bring you predictions from the OLBG racing tipsters for the upcoming card that includes the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase but will also have predictions for each meeting at Cheltenham throughout the season so be sure to head over there. You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information, head down to the Schedule for the Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham section for links to these.
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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.
Below you will find the 2026 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trends, see which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal, we also have a section that looks at the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run Timeform Novices Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals:
- Stage Star (5:15.10) in 2023
- Imperial Alcazar (5:16.55) in 2022
- Kildisart (5:17.30) in 2019
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 5 winners. Backing all 19 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of +6.33. Before placing your bet on the 2026 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase see which other runners today are being backed on the racing predictions page.
The runner that holds the record over the past 20 renewals for the slowest time in the race was set in the 2009 renewal when Ping Pong Sivola from Venetia Williams under the guidance of Aidan Coleman, won in a time of 5:46.34, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, Stage Star, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Harry Cobden set the quickest time of 5:15.10 in the 2023 renewal.
What the expert says...
Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com
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 horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 5:27.75 | Jagwar (FR) 6yo 11-3 4/1 | Jonjo O'Neill Jr Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero (GB) |
| 2024 5:20.34 | Ginnys Destiny (IRE) 8yo 12-0 4/1F | Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls (GB) |
| 2023 5:15.10 | Stage Star (IRE) 7yo 12-0 11/4F | Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls (GB) |
| 2022 5:16.55 | Imperial Alcazar (IRE) 8yo 11-12 9/1 | Paddy Brennan Fergal O'Brien (GB) |
| 2020 5:35.20 | Simply The Betts (IRE) 7yo 11-5 11/2 | Gavin Sheehan Harry Whittington (GB) |
| 2019 5:17.30 | Kildisart (IRE) 7yo 11-7 9/2 | Daryl Jacob Ben Pauling (GB) |
| 2018 5:28.60 | Mister Whitaker (IRE) 6yo 10-8 6/1 | A P Heskin Mick Channon (GB) |
| 2017 5:28.30 | Royal Vacation (IRE) 7yo 11-9 12/1 | Paddy Brennan Colin Tizzard (GB) |
| 2016 5:39.10 | Kings Odyssey (IRE) 7yo 10-13 8/1 | Leighton Aspell Evan Williams (GB) |
| 2015 5:24.70 | Generous Ransom (IRE) 7yo 10-11 6/1 | Daryl Jacob Nick Gifford (GB) |
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 197 runners
- FR: 0 winners with an additional 1 placing from 4 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):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venetia Williams | 16-3-9 | -2.50 | +3.08 |
| Paul Nicholls | 14-3-5 | +0.75 | -1.30 |
| Philip Hobbs | 6-1-1 | -1.00 | -2.50 |
| Alan King | 5-1-2 | +2.50 | +1.31 |
| Ben Pauling | 5-1-1 | +0.50 | -1.30 |
| Donald McCain | 4-1-2 | +11.00 | +7.40 |
| Fergal O'Brien | 4-1-1 | +6.00 | +2.40 |
| Gary Moore | 2-1-2 | +24.00 | +15.83 |
| Evan Williams | 2-1-1 | +7.00 | +4.00 |
| Nick Gifford | 2-1-1 | +5.00 | +2.75 |
Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Jockey Statistics
The leading jockey in the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals is Harry Cobden who has won the race two times with those two winners coming from 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):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Cobden | 5-2-3 | +3.75 | +2.65 |
| Gavin Sheehan | 5-1-3 | +1.50 | +2.39 |
| Jonjo O'Neill Jr | 2-1-1 | +3.00 | +1.50 |
| Sam Twiston-Davies | 7-0-0 | -7.00 | -7.00 |
| Richie McLernon | 4-0-0 | -4.00 | -4.00 |
| Nick Scholfield | 4-0-0 | -4.00 | -4.00 |
| Charlie Deutsch | 4-0-0 | -4.00 | -4.00 |
| Harry Skelton | 3-0-2 | -3.00 | -0.60 |
| Jonathan Burke | 3-0-1 | -3.00 | -1.80 |
| Alain Cawley | 2-0-1 | -2.00 | -0.12 |
2026 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): F, 3, 3, 5, 1, 5, 7, F, 6, PU, 7, 4, (6, BD), (3, PU), 3, 2, (5, PU), 1, 1, 2
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%) - No more than +2yrs (Vs Min Age)
- 20 / 20 (83%) - Not on HY/GF (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Had 4 - 13 placings (Career)
- 20 / 20 (87%) - Fewer than 6 placings (Hcps)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Not in a G2-3/LST/Cl5 (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (88%) - Carried 136 - 163lbs (LTO)
- 20 / 20 (89%) - Ran over 1m - 2m2f (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (89%) - Furthest Placed 2m3f - 3m1½f
- 20 / 20 (89%) - Not BB/BL/BR in colour
- 20 / 20 (89%) - Beaten no more -23l (Debut)
- 20 / 20 (89%) - Within the first 10 of the market
- 19 / 20 (76%) - Won within last 4 starts
- 18 / 20 (80%) - Not fallen (Season)
- 18 / 20 (84%) - Placed within last 2 starts
- 18 / 20 (86%) - No more than 1 fall (Career)
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 covering numerous topics.
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.
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Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Trend Analysis
✅ The trend factor which had produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +49.50 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 0-35.
The course which has produced the most winners of the Timeform Novices Handicap Chase is Kempton, there has been a total number of 6 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 19 winners from a total of 196 runners whilst the Female runners have produced 1 winner from a total of 9 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. Ahead of the 2026 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase why not head over to the best racing tipster page to see what the tipsters are backing today?
Schedule for the Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham
Here is the schedule for the Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham, each race will be linked to the race blog and detail last year's winner in the table below.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham Trophy Handicap Chase | Moon DOrange (FR) 7yo - 7/2 | John C McConnell Sean Bowen |
| Classic Novices Hurdle | Sixmilebridge (IRE) 6yo - 9/1 | Fergal O'Brien Kielan Woods |
| Cleeve Hurdle | Gowel Road (IRE) 9yo - 5/2 | Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies |
| Cotswold Chase | LHomme Presse (FR) 10yo - 4/5 | Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch |
| International Hurdle | Constitution Hill (GB) 8yo - 1/12 | Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville |
| JCB Triumph Juvenile Hurdle Trial | East India Dock (GB) 4yo - 1/2 | James Owen Sam Twiston-Davies |
| Timeform Novices Handicap Chase | Jagwar (FR) 6yo - 4/1 | Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Jonjo O'Neill Jr |
Article Contributor Information
We are blessed with an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to creating and maintaining this Timeform Novices Handicap Chase Preview are at hand, Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse racing tips team team looking after the tipsters and managing the tips settlement, whilst also creating and managing all of the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.
Darren Brett
Tipster Competition Manager
Andy Powell
Content Editor
