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Cheltenham Festival

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Entries 2025 – Ballyburn Heads 32 in Redemption Bid

32 runners have been entered 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 ten entries in the race including multiple Grade 1 winner Impaire Et Passe, as well as Ile Atlantique and Dancing City, who were novice hurdlers alongside Ballyburn last term. 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. That trend could continue with The Jukebox Man having impressed with an emphatic win in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He was second in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.

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

NumberHorseTrainer
1Asian MasterWillie Mullins
2BallyburnWillie Mullins
3Better Days AheadGordon Elliott
4Buddy OnePaul John Gilligan
5ButchOlly Murphy
6Champ KielyWillie Mullins
7Chapeau De SoleilWillie Mullins
8Croke ParkGordon Elliott
9Dancing CityWillie Mullins
10Gorgeous TomHenry De Bromhead
11Guard The MoonNigel Twiston-Davies
12Haiti CouleursRebecca Curtis
13High Class HeroWillie Mullins
14Ideal Des BordesNicky Henderson
15Ile AtlantiqueWillie Mullins
16Impaire Et PasseWillie Mullins
17Jango BaieNicky Henderson
18Jingko BlueNicky Henderson
19Lecky WatsonWillie Mullins
20Lowry’s BarPhilip Hobbs & Johnson White
21MasaccioAlan King
22Peaky BoyNicky Henderson
23Quai De BourbonWillie Mullins
24Resplendent GreyOlly Murphy
25Search For GloryGordon Elliott
26Shannon RoyaleGordon Elliott
27Springwell BayJonjo & AJ O’Neill
28Stellar StoryGordon Elliott
29The Changing ManJoe Tizzard
30The Jukebox ManBen Pauling
31Thomas MorPhilip Hobbs & Johnson White
32White RhinoOliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero