Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Cheltenham Festival)

History, data, and trends combine in our look at the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, run over 2m4½f at Cheltenham during the Cheltenham Festival. Here, we reveal the winning profiles, connection records, and the statistical patterns that could help guide your selection this year.
Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Preview, Tips, Runners & Trends (Cheltenham Festival)
Andy Powell
Andy Powell Expert Guide

You know how punters get lost in too much data or bet blindly? I break down the stats and trends so you can feel confident you’re betting with more than just gut instinct.

2026 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Preview

In 2025, it was announced that the Golden Miller Novices' Chase would be discontinued and it would be replaced by a Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, with the race losing its Grade 1 status and becoming a Grade 2 run over the same distance of two and a half miles. By making this race a Grade 2 Limited Handicap, the BHA are hoping to encourage the "superstars" to go for the Arkle or the Brown Advisory, while creating a highly competitive, big-field spectacle for those just below that elite level.

Unlock the secrets of the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase with our in-depth analysis of past race trends and trainer stats, then explore the Cheltenham free bets to maximise your betting experience.

Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Information:

To see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are tipping throughout the card that includes this race, head over to the Cheltenham tips on the day of the race. Do they agree with the runners on the trend shortlist, or are they predicting other runners? We cover every race at the Cheltenham Festival, and below you can find links to all of the races for each of Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.

Ahead of the 2026 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase, why not head over to the racing predictions for tips on other races today?

What the expert says...
We have only had the single renewal of the race, with it being introduced in 2025; the winner of that race finished runner-up in the Lightning Novices Chase at Windsor before winning this.

Andy Powell - Horse Racing Betting Expert - OLBG.com

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Jack Richards Novices Limited Handicap Chase NRNB 12 Mar @ 14:00 - AntePost
Regents Stroll 8.00
Mclaurey 9.00
Wendigo 9.00
Jacobs Ladder 11.00
Jordans Cross 11.00

Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Past Winners

Here are the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase past winners for the last 1 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse that won, and the horse's age & weight. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.

YearHorseInfo
2025
5:14.15
Caldwell Potter (FR)
7yo 11-4 7/1
Harry Cobden
Paul Nicholls (GB)

Where have the winning runners come from?

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

  • GB: 1 winner with an additional 0 placings from 7 runners
  • IRE: 0 winners with an additional 3 placings from 12 runners

2025 Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Replay


Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Trainer Statistics

Here are some of the top Novices' Limited Handicap Chase trainer statistics over the last 1 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):

TrainerR-W-PWinEW
Paul Nicholls2-1-1+6.00+3.38
W P Mullins3-0-1-3.00+5.75
Gordon Elliott3-0-0-3.00-3.00
Joseph Patrick O'Brien2-0-1-2.00-0.37
Ben Pauling2-0-0-2.00-2.00
David Kenneth Budds1-0-1-1.00+15.13
Joe Tizzard1-0-0-1.00-1.00
John C McConnell1-0-0-1.00-1.00
Alan King1-0-0-1.00-1.00
Terence O'Brien1-0-0-1.00-1.00

Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Jockey Statistics

Here are some of the top Novices' Limited Handicap Chase jockey statistics over the last 1 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):

JockeyR-W-PWinEW
Harry Cobden1-1-1+7.00+4.38
Darragh O'Keeffe1-0-1-1.00+15.13
Sean O'Keeffe1-0-1-1.00+7.75
J J Slevin1-0-1-1.00+0.63
Jonathan Burke1-0-0-1.00-1.00
Danny Gilligan1-0-0-1.00-1.00
Tiernan Power Roche1-0-0-1.00-1.00
Tom Bellamy1-0-0-1.00-1.00
Mr T Costello1-0-0-1.00-1.00
Ben Jones1-0-0-1.00-1.00

Route to the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

Many trainers target races as preparation for the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:

InfoLast Race
2025 - Caldwell Potter
Windsor - 2nd of 4 (4/6)
Fitzdares Lightning Novices Chase

Schedule for Tuesday at the Cheltenham Festival

Prepare for the ROAR of the Cheltenham Festival on the opening day, when the tape goes up for the Supreme Novices Hurdle. The feature on Tuesday is the Champion Hurdle.

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Supreme Novices Hurdle
Kopek Des Bordes (FR)
5yo - 4/6
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
14:00 Cheltenham
Arkle Challenge Trophy
Jango Baie (FR)
6yo - 5/1
Nicky Henderson
Nico de Boinville
14:40 Cheltenham
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
Puturhandstogether (IRE)
4yo - 17/2
Joseph Patrick O'Brien
Mark Walsh
15:20 Cheltenham
Ultima Handicap Chase
Myretown (IRE)
8yo - 13/2
Lucinda Russell
Patrick Wadge
16:00 Cheltenham
Champion Hurdle
Golden Ace (GB)
7yo - 25/1
Jeremy Scott
Lorcan Williams
16:40 Cheltenham
Festival Plate
Jagwar (FR)
6yo - 3/1
Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero
Jonjo O'Neill Jr
17:20 Cheltenham
National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup
Haiti Couleurs (FR)
8yo - 7/2
Rebecca Curtis
Ben Jones

Schedule for Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival

The dust has settled on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, and now on to day two. The feature on the second day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase. We also have the cross country scheduled on Wednesday, a race like Marmite, some love it, and some don't!

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Turners Novices Hurdle
The New Lion (GB)
6yo - 3/1
Dan Skelton
Harry Skelton
14:00 Cheltenham
Brown Advisory Novices Chase
Lecky Watson (IRE)
7yo - 20/1
W P Mullins
Sean O'Keeffe
14:40 Cheltenham
Coral Cup
Jimmy Du Seuil (FR)
6yo - 16/1
W P Mullins
Danny Mullins
15:20 Cheltenham
Cross Country Chase
Stumptown (IRE)
8yo - 5/2
Gavin Cromwell
Keith Donoghue
16:00 Cheltenham
Queen Mother Champion Chase
Marine Nationale (IRE)
8yo - 5/1
Barry Connell
Sean Flanagan
16:40 Cheltenham
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual
Jazzy Matty (FR)
6yo - 15/2
Cian Collins
Danny Gilligan
17:20 Cheltenham
Champion Bumper
Bambino Fever (IRE)
5yo - 4/1
W P Mullins
Miss J Townend

Schedule for Thursday at the Cheltenham Festival

Halfway through the festival and onto day three, where the Stayers Hurdle is the feature race. A hurdle race to test the stamina and see how can last up the Cheltenham hill.

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Mares Novices Hurdle
Air Of Entitlement (IRE)
6yo - 16/1
Henry De Bromhead
Rachael Blackmore
14:00 Cheltenham
Novices Limited Handicap Chase
Caldwell Potter (FR)
7yo - 7/1
Paul Nicholls
Harry Cobden
14:40 Cheltenham
Close Brothers Mares Hurdle
Lossiemouth (FR)
6yo - 4/6
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
15:20 Cheltenham
Stayers Hurdle
Bob Olinger (IRE)
10yo - 8/1
Henry De Bromhead
Rachael Blackmore
16:00 Cheltenham
Ryanair Chase
Fact To File (FR)
8yo - 6/4
W P Mullins
Mark Walsh
16:40 Cheltenham
Pertemps Network Final
Doddiethegreat (IRE)
9yo - 25/1
Nicky Henderson
Brian Hughes
17:20 Cheltenham
Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup
Daily Present (IRE)
8yo - 12/1
Paul Nolan
Mr B T Stone

Schedule for Friday at the Cheltenham Festival

The final day of the festival and the feature race that we have all been waiting for, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, in which the Irish have been fairly dominant in recent years.

RaceLast WinnerInfo
13:20 Cheltenham
Triumph Hurdle
Poniros (GB)
4yo - 100/1
W P Mullins
Jonjo O'Neill Jr
14:00 Cheltenham
County Handicap Hurdle
Kargese (FR)
5yo - 3/1
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
14:40 Cheltenham
Mrs Paddy Power Mares Chase
Dinoblue (FR)
8yo - 6/4
W P Mullins
Mark Walsh
15:20 Cheltenham
Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle
Jasmin De Vaux (FR)
6yo - 6/1
W P Mullins
Paul Townend
16:00 Cheltenham
Cheltenham Gold Cup
Inothewayurthinkin (IRE)
7yo - 15/2
Gavin Cromwell
Mark Walsh
16:40 Cheltenham
Festival Hunters Chase
Wonderwall (IRE)
9yo - 28/1
S Curling
Mr R James
17:20 Cheltenham
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle
Wodhooh (FR)
5yo - 9/2
Gordon Elliott
Danny Gilligan

Article Contributor Information

We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Preview are Andy and Darren. They both work on the Horse Racing Tips team, overseeing the tipsters and managing the tip settlement, while also creating and managing all the horse racing event previews for National Hunt Racing.

Darren Brett

Darren Brett

Expert Guide

Darren has worked in the horse racing industry for decades bringing to OLBG for the last 20 years a wealth of knowledge, creating much of our content on these sports. Darren also manages our Grand National Guide and is the go-to font of knowledge for the world's greatest steeplechase.
Andy Powell

Andy Powell

Expert Guide

Andy, a seasoned horse racing expert with over 15 years of experience, possesses a comprehensive understanding of the sport, from delving into complex statistical data for jump racing in the UK and Ireland to crafting insightful national hunt racing blogs for OLBG.

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