*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply.
The 2025 Cheltenham Festival is only days away. Eek!
We’re always on the hunt for value at the Festival and there can often be gems found in the Handicaps, especially with Paddy being Non Runner Money Back before the start of next Tuesday’s fiesta.
So, we’ve drafted in Timeform to give us four of their main value fancies. Here’s their Cheltenham betting tips.
Timeform’s best handicappers at Cheltenham:
Tuesday 11th March, 16:40: Fred Winter Juvenile H’cap H’dle
Puturhandstogether
Thursday, 13th March, 14:00: Novices’ Handicap Chase
Thecompanysergeant (each-way)
Friday, 14th March, 14:00: County H’cap H’dle
Lark In The Mornin
Friday, 14th March, 17:20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ H’cap H’dle
No Ordinary Joe
Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – Puturhandstogether
Tuesday 11th March, 16:40
Andrew Asquith
Puturhandstogether reached a near-useful level of form on the Flat, winning a handicap from a mark of 79, and he has taken really well to this new discipline. His jumping was much improved from his hurdling debut when opening his account at Cork in December, still looking a little raw but winning cosily.
Puturhandstogether didn’t manage to follow up against his elders at Fairyhouse last time, but shaped well in a that race didn’t get to the bottom of him. A strongly-run race, which he will likely get in the Fred Winter, should bring out the best in him, and he looks attractively weighted from a mark of 130 now making his handicap debut for last year’s winning trainer.
Novices’ Handicap Chase – Thecompanysergeant (each-way)
Thursday, 13th March, 14:00
Phil Turner
The non-runner-money-back concession helps when you have a horse with multiple options, as is the case with Thecompanysergeant who is entered in three races and looks worthy of each-way interest wherever he turns up. Hopefully it will be in one of the chases, and were he mine I’d go for the Plate, but it seems like he’s likely to go for the Novices’ Handicap Chase over the same course and distance.
He’s got a good chance from a handicapping viewpoint on his form for previous connections and, after he was bought for €110,000 earlier this winter, he shaped with a lot of promise back over hurdles on his debut for Gavin Cromwell at Navan. He’s very interesting early in his time for his new connections and is each-way value.
County Handicap Hurdle – Lark In The Mornin
Friday, 14th March, 14:00
Kris Hilliam
Lark In The Mornin won the Boodles at the Festival last year but was then taken off his feet a bit around a really sharp track when sent off a short-price favourite in the Swinton Hurdle. He will appreciate the stiffer test that a race like the County Hurdle provides and should be staying on up the hill. He very much caught the eye on his return at Leopardstown after Christmas and it seems like this has been the plan having been put away since.
Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle – No Ordinary Joe
Friday, 14th March, 17:20
Martin Rigg
It looks like Cheltenham has been the plan all along this season for No Ordinary Joe. He was second to Iroko in the Martin Pipe in 2023 and last year the ground went completely against him and the Nicky Henderson stable was having massive struggles, though he still shaped quite well with that in mind. He’s off a BHA mark of 138 this time, which is 1 lb lower than when runner-up to Iroko, and it looks like he retains all his ability. He’s nine and you couldn’t call him an unexposed horse, but he’s a well-handicapped horse.
Timeform’s best handicappers at Cheltenham:
Tuesday 11th March, 16:40: Fred Winter Juvenile H’cap H’dle
Puturhandstogether
Thursday, 13th March, 14:00: Novices’ Handicap Chase
Thecompanysergeant (each-way)
Friday, 14th March, 14:00: County H’cap H’dle
Lark In The Mornin
Friday, 14th March, 17:20: Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ H’cap H’dle
No Ordinary Joe
*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply.
Read More
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