Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends

2025 Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Preview

The New Year's Day Handicap Chase is, as the name would suggest, run on New Year's Day at the Cheltenham racecourse, this Premier Handicap is open to runners who are aged five or older it is contested over a distance of two miles, four and a half furlongs during which a total of seven fences are to be jumped.

Given the time of year, the ground is usually pretty demanding, it's been run on either Heavy or Soft ground more than any other so consider that when making your bets.

Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Information:

• Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Past Winners
• Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Trainer Statistics
• Cheltenham New Years Day 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 Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 20 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2024 when the race had an over-round of 109%. The race in 2023 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 131%, whilst on average over the last 20 renewals of the Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase, the over-round has been 118%, which means the bookie expects to pay out £100 for every £118 which is bet.

Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Trends:

• 2025 Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Trends
• Cheltenham New Years Day 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 Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase next time out then you would have backed a total of 1 winner. Backing all 19 runners who have been out since to win at SP next time out, would have returned an LSP of -6.00. Remember to use the racing predictions along with the information on this page to find a bet on the 2025 Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase.

Over the last 20 renewals, it was the Venetia Williams trained Aso ridden by Charlie Deutsch who set the fastest winning time in the Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase, the runner won the race in a time of 5:10.60 when winning the race in 2019. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer Ferdy Murphy and jockey Davy Russell with Ballinclay King who set the slowest winning time, the race-winning time was 5:50.90 in the 2003 renewal.

These are the top three quickest-run Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals:

1. Aso (5:10.60) in 2019
2. Fondmort (5:13.90) in 2006
3. Calgary Bay (5:16.50) in 2012

Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Past Winners

Here are the Cheltenham New Year's Day 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 Cheltenham New Year's Day 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 Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase have been based:

• GB: 19 winners with an additional 37 placings from 222 runners
• FR: 1 winner with an additional 0 placings from 5 runners
• IRE: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 1 runner

Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Trainer Statistics

The leading trainer in the Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals is Nigel Twiston-Davies who has won the race five times with those five winners coming from Whereareyounow (2004), Double Ross (2014), Splash Of Ginge (2015), Ballyhill (2018) and Vienna Court (2022). Other trainers who have recorded multiple wins in the Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase are Venetia Williams (2 wins) and Dan Skelton (2 wins).

Here are some of the top Cheltenham New Years Day 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):

Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Jockey Statistics

There are multiple leading jockeys in the Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase over the last 20 renewals with Sam Twiston-Davies, Aidan Coleman, Harry Skelton and Jamie Bargary having all won the race two times. Sam Twiston-Davies winners have been with Double Ross (2014) and Vienna Court (2022). Aidan Coleman winners have been with Stan (2009) and Shantou Flyer (2017). Harry Skelton winners have been with Oldgrangewood (2020) and Midnight River (2023). Jamie Bargary's winners have been with Splash Of Ginge (2015) and Ballyhill (2018).

Here are some of the top Cheltenham New Years Day 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 Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Trends

Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 2, 5, 6, 1, 4, 6, (3, F), 7, 2, F, 1, 1, 1, 2, (4, 7), 1, 8, (3, 8), 5, PU

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 (66%) - Achieved an RPR of 139+ (Season)
• 20 / 20 (81%) - Made 11 - 35 starts (Career)
• 20 / 20 (82%) - No bigger than 20/1
• 20 / 20 (83%) - Within the first 10 of the market
• 20 / 20 (85%) - Had 1 - 5 placings (1 Year)
• 20 / 20 (85%) - Break of 10 - 337 days (Last Place)
• 20 / 20 (86%) - Beaten no more -33l (LTO)
• 20 / 20 (86%) - Achieved an RPR of 140+ (Last 5)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Made 2 - 25 starts (Hcps)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Had 3 - 16 placings (Career)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Made 1 - 13 starts (Course)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - In a field of 3 - 14 (Last Win)
• 20 / 20 (89%) - Achieved an RPR of 132+ (Last 3)
• 18 / 20 (80%) - Held an OR of 133+ (Season)
• 18 / 20 (81%) - Achieved a TS of 109+ (Last 3)

Remember to use the trends listed above along with the Cheltenham racing predictions to see if you can find the winner of the Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase. if you are unaware of what trends and statistics are, how they can be used etc then head over to the OLBG Betting School and read this Stats And Trends article which will make everything much clearer.

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 Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase by adding a tip on the race here.

Cheltenham New Years Day Handicap Chase Trend Analysis

The trend factor which had produced 10+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +31.38 is when runners ran over 2m on debut. The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 3 career starts in the class, when backing these the trend shows a record of 0-26.

The course which has produced the most winners of the Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase is Cheltenham, there has been a total number of 9 winners of this race who ran at Cheltenham last time out. The next best course which has produced the second most winners is Newbury, there has been a total number of 4 winners of this race who ran at Newbury 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 220 runners whilst the Female runners have produced 1 winner from a total of 8 runners.

Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have been disappointed with multiple attempts but no wins in the Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase, that stallion is Presenting who has failed to produce a winner from 5 runners.

Looking at the winning odds over the last 20 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Shantou Flyer in 2017, winning for Rebecca Curtis at odds of 20/1 under the guidance of Aidan Coleman. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 20 renewals there have been 5 winning favourites in the race. Remember to use the best racing tipsters along with the information on this page to find you a bet on the 2025 Cheltenham New Year's Day Handicap Chase.

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
• Southam Novices 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