The newest race at the Cheltenham Festival is the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase, which has replaced the Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Chase on day three. It ensures a novice handicap will be run at Cheltenham for the first time in five seasons.
The contest is one of two in which Jagwar has been entered by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. The six-year-old has been a significant improver over fences this term and looks to have this as his main target although connections also gave him an entry in the Plate later on the same card.
JP McManus owns him as well as No Flies On Him. A fellow six-year-old, he is yet to win in four chase starts, but there could easily be more to come from him as a point-to-point winner who also won on his first maiden hurdle start last season.
Galway Hurdle winner Nurburgring and Gordon Elliott’s Firefox are two other noteworthy entries for Irish trainers. The former is winless in three chase starts, but one of those was at Grade 2 level, while the latter is yet to finish outside of the first four under rules.
Willie Mullins may seek to win his first handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival, with Tullyhill, Blizzard Of Oz and O’Moore Park among those who could bid to make history for him. Meanwhile, Gavin Cromwell enjoyed notable success at the Festival last season and both The Other Mozzie and Thecompanysergeant could be in the reckoning for him.
As for British-based yards, Billytherealbigred was second to Jagwar last time and may look to overturn that form, while Masaccio has fallen just short of Graded company this term and could easily have more to offer in this sort of race. The same could be said of expensive purchase Caldwell Potter, who could aim to silence his doubters here.
Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase Entries 2025
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Alcedo | Venetia Williams |
| 2 | An Peann Dearg | Paul Nolan |
| 3 | Answer To Kayf | Terence O’Brien |
| 4 | Anyway | David Kenneth Budds |
| 5 | Ashdale Bob | Jessica Harrington |
| 6 | Asian Master | Willie Mullins |
| 7 | Asta La Pasta | Dan Skelton |
| 8 | Bhaloo | Nicky Henderson |
| 9 | Billytherealbigred | Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero |
| 10 | Blizzard Of Oz | Willie Mullins |
| 11 | Caldwell Potter | Paul Nicholls |
| 12 | Classic Maestro | Jennie Candlish |
| 13 | Croke Park | Gordon Elliott |
| 14 | Dee Capo | Gordon Elliott |
| 15 | Densworth | Ben Pauling |
| 16 | Donnacha | Nigel Hawke |
| 17 | Es Perfecto | Alan King |
| 18 | Fascile Mode | Thomas Mullins |
| 19 | Firefox | Gordon Elliott |
| 20 | First Street | Nicky Henderson |
| 21 | Galunggung | Donald McCain |
| 22 | Guard Your Dreams | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 23 | Individualiste | Gavin Cromwell |
| 24 | Insurrection | Paul Nicholls |
| 25 | Jagwar | Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero |
| 26 | Jazzy Matty | Cian Collins |
| 27 | Jingko Blue | Nicky Henderson |
| 28 | Johnny Jump Up | Gary & Josh Moore |
| 29 | Jordans | Joseph O’Brien |
| 30 | Leader In The Park | Ben Pauling |
| 31 | Lord Of Thunder | Joe Tizzard |
| 32 | Loughglynn | Willie Mullins |
| 33 | Masaccio | Alan King |
| 34 | Moon D’Orange | John McConnell |
| 35 | No Flies On Him | Edward O’Grady |
| 36 | Nurburgring | Joseph O’Brien |
| 37 | O’Moore Park | Willie Mullins |
| 38 | Path d’Oroux | Gavin Cromwell |
| 39 | Peaky Boy | Jonjo & A J O’Neill |
| 40 | Personal Ambition | Ben Pauling |
| 41 | Pic Roc | Ben Pauling |
| 42 | Release The Beast | Paul Nolan |
| 43 | Riskintheground | Dan Skelton |
| 44 | Ryan’s Rocket | Fergal O’Brien |
| 45 | San Salvador | Joseph O’Brien |
| 46 | Sequestered | Paul John Gilligan |
| 47 | Shanbally Kid | Willie Mullins |
| 48 | Shantreusse | Henry De Bromhead |
| 49 | Springwell Bay | Jonjo & A J O’Neill |
| 50 | Tapley | Suzy Smith |
| 51 | Tedley | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 52 | Theatre Man | Richard Bandey |
| 53 | Thecompanysergeant | Gavin Cromwell |
| 54 | The Famous Five | Venetia Williams |
| 55 | The Other Mozzie | Gavin Cromwell |
| 56 | Tullyhill | Willie Mullins |
| 57 | Waterford Whispers | Henry De Bromhead |
| 58 | Western Diego | Willie Mullins |
| 59 | Western Zephyr | Charlie Longsdon |
| 60 | Westport Cove | Willie Mullins |
| 61 | What’s Up Darling | Gordon Elliott |