28 runners remain entered at the latest forfeit stage in the Grade 1 Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, the second race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday, 12th March. The 3m novice contest was won by Gold Cup second favourite Fact To File 12 months ago.
Though he was readily defeated at Kempton, Ballyburn remains the biggest name of note in the race among the early potentials. Willie Mullins’ star lost for the first time since his hurdling debut when beaten by Sir Gino but is given this opportunity as he bids to go up in trip. Mullins has another seven entries in the race including multiple Grade 1 winner Dancing City, who was a novice hurdler alongside Ballyburn last term, winning twice at the top level. Champ Kiely, High Class Hero and Lecky Watson are other Closutton inmates who could easily make an impact.
Despite Mullins having won this race three times in the last decade, British trainers have claimed six of the last ten renewals, making this a surprisingly strong race for the home team. Nicky Henderson is quadruply represented with the likes of Jango Baie and Jingko Blue towards the top of his roll-call. Peaky Boy and Ideal Des Bordes also feature for him, while Springwell Bay was a notably impressive winner at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day for the O’Neills’ yard.
Despite significant Grade 1 success at the Festival overall, Gordon Elliott is without a victory in this contest. Those who could change that this season include 2024 Martin Pipe winner Better Days Ahead, reigning Albert Bartlett hero Stellar Story, and Croke Park, who is already a two-time Grade 1 winner in his novice chasing season, while Search For Glory and Shannon Royale ensures a Cullentra quintet could head this race’s way.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase 2025 Entries
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Asian Master | Willie Mullins |
| 2 | Ballyburn | Willie Mullins |
| 3 | Better Days Ahead | Gordon Elliott |
| 4 | Buddy One | Paul John Gilligan |
| 5 | Butch | Olly Murphy |
| 6 | Champ Kiely | Willie Mullins |
| 7 | Croke Park | Gordon Elliott |
| 8 | Dancing City | Willie Mullins |
| 9 | Gorgeous Tom | Henry De Bromhead |
| 10 | Guard The Moon | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 11 | Haiti Couleurs | Rebecca Curtis |
| 12 | High Class Hero | Willie Mullins |
| 13 | Ideal Des Bordes | Nicky Henderson |
| 14 | Jango Baie | Nicky Henderson |
| 15 | Jingko Blue | Nicky Henderson |
| 16 | Lecky Watson | Willie Mullins |
| 17 | Lowry’s Bar | Philip Hobbs & Johnson White |
| 18 | Masaccio | Alan King |
| 19 | Peaky Boy | Nicky Henderson |
| 20 | Quai De Bourbon | Willie Mullins |
| 21 | Resplendent Grey | Olly Murphy |
| 22 | Search For Glory | Gordon Elliott |
| 23 | Shannon Royale | Gordon Elliott |
| 24 | Springwell Bay | Jonjo & AJ O’Neill |
| 25 | Stellar Story | Gordon Elliott |
| 26 | The Changing Man | Joe Tizzard |
| 27 | Thomas Mor | Philip Hobbs & Johnson White |
| 28 | White Rhino | Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero |