Last year’s Cotswold Chase winner Capodanno headlines eight potential runners in the 2025 edition of the race, set to be run this Saturday, 25th January. The nine-year-old has not won since, but was an authoritative winner 12 months ago and carries the colours of JP McManus.
His crown could come under serious threat from a number of angles, not least 2024 Gold Cup fourth L’Homme Presse. The two-time Grade 1 winner was an encouraging third in the King George on his return this season and has won on two of his three visits to Prestbury park, including in the 2022 renewal of the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Capodanno could be joined on the boat across from Ireland by former Cross Country Chase winner Delta Work. Now a 12-year-old, Gordon Elliott’s charge was second in the Grand National last season, though a more prominent threat at this level nowadays could be the grey Gentlemansgame, a former Charlie Hall winner for Mouse Morris who was a gallant third behind Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase in December.
The remaining quartet all represent the home team. Stage Star was a Grade 1 winning novice at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival for Paul Nicholls and may step up in trip, as could Ga Law, a regular in big handicaps over 2m4f at the track. A winner of a staying handicap here on New Year’s Day, Chantry House could be another veteran in the mix for Nicky Henderson, as could the dual-purpose Dashel Drasher, who has mostly kept to fences this season for Jeremy Scott.
Cotswold Chase 2025 Runners
Number | Horse | Trainer |
1 | Capodanno | Willie Mullins |
2 | Chantry House | Nicky Henderson |
3 | Dashel Drasher | Jeremy Scott |
4 | Delta Work | Gordon Elliott |
5 | Ga Law | Jamie Snowden |
6 | Gentlemansgame | Mouse Morris |
7 | L’Homme Presse | Venetia Williams |
8 | Stage Star | Paul Nicholls |