45 horses have been entered for the revamped National Hunt Chase on day one of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. The race will revert to being a limited handicap this season, having been an open Grade 2 contest. Equally, professional jockeys will be permitted to ride for the first time as it is no longer restricted to amateurs only.
Among the entries are ante-post favourites Now Is The Hour and Haiti Couleurs. The former was a Grade 2-winning novice hurdler and enjoyed his best effort over fences to date when chasing home Three Card brag at Navan last time. He could prove attractively handicapped, while Haiti Couleurs is already a Cheltenham winner and could well enjoy this step up in trip for Rebecca Curtis.
Transmission is another potential British runner who has already won at Prestbury Park this season and would represent Neil Mulholland. Gericault Roque, meanwhile, missed two whole seasons of racing, but was third in the Ultima Handicap Chase behind Corach Rambler two years ago.
For Ireland, Willie Mullins has entered the likes of Captain Cody and Sa Majeste, both of whom have looked stayers in the making so far; the latter also carries the colours of JP McManus, who won this a year ago with Corbetts Cross. Meanwhile, the likes of Cleatus Poolaw, Shannon Royale and Will Do would represent Gordon Elliott in a race he has won three times in the last decade, including with Tiger Roll.
Recent Grade 2 winner The Changing Man would still be eligible to take his chance as his rating has remained below the 145 upper threshold. It is possible that a few horses could be disallowed, however, with Search For Glory liable to an increase from the British handicapper given his Irish mark of 143.There may well still be some amateur jockeyship in the race courtesy of Mr David Maxwell, whose In d’Or is among the 45 entries.
National Hunt Chase Entries 2025
| Number | Horse | Trainer |
| 1 | Alcedo | Venetia Williams |
| 2 | Aworkinprogress | Nick Gifford |
| 3 | Caesar Rock | Mouse Morris |
| 4 | Captain Cody | Willie Mullins |
| 5 | Chigorin | Henry De Bromhead |
| 6 | Cleatus Poolaw | Gordon Elliott |
| 7 | Destroytheevidence | Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls |
| 8 | Duffle Coat | Gordon Elliott |
| 9 | Eyed | Hughie Morrison |
| 10 | Gericault Roque | David Pipe |
| 11 | Haiti Couleurs | Rebecca Curtis |
| 12 | Hasthing | Jonjo & A J O’Neill |
| 13 | Herakles Westwood | Warren Greatrex |
| 14 | Ideal Des Bordes | Nicky Henderson |
| 15 | In d’Or | Venetia Williams |
| 16 | Jasmin De Cotte | Paul Nolan |
| 17 | Johnnywho | Jonjo & A J O’Neill |
| 18 | Jupiter Allen | Jane Williams |
| 19 | Karuma Grey | Alison Thorpe |
| 20 | Katate Dori | Sam Thomas |
| 21 | Klarc Kent | Willie Mullins |
| 22 | Kyntara | Mel Rowley |
| 23 | Latenightrumble | Tom Ellis |
| 24 | Midnight Our Fred | J P Flavin |
| 25 | No Time To Wait | John McConnell |
| 26 | Now Is The Hour | Gavin Cromwell |
| 27 | One More Stroke | Donald McCain |
| 28 | Pic Roc | Ben Pauling |
| 29 | Resplendent Grey | Olly Murphy |
| 30 | Rock My Way | Joe Tizzard |
| 31 | Sa Majeste | Willie Mullins |
| 32 | Search For Glory | Gordon Elliott |
| 33 | Shannon Royale | Gordon Elliott |
| 34 | Stuzzikini | Gordon Elliott |
| 35 | Tanganyika | Venetia Williams |
| 36 | The Changing Man | Joe Tizzard |
| 37 | The Kniphand | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 38 | The Short Go | Henry De Bromhead |
| 39 | Transmission | Neil Mulholland |
| 40 | Walking On Air | Gary Brown |
| 41 | Westerninthepark | Olly Murphy |
| 42 | Weveallbeencaught | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 43 | Whistle Stop Tour | Lucinda Russell |
| 44 | Will Do | Gordon Elliott |
| 45 | Zertakt | Venetia Williams |