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2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle Tips - Odds, trends and two tips for Newbury

jon-vine
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Last updated: 05 Feb 2025
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Jon Vine 05 Feb 2025
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  • Odds and betting predictions for the 2025 Newbury Handicap Hurdle
  • This huge handicap takes place at Newbury on Saturday 8th February
  • Navajo Indy and Josh The Boss feature in our selections
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navajo indy
Gavin Sheehan riding Navajo Indy (green) clear the last to win The Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle at Newbury. (Getty)
    Contents
  • 2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle Odds
  • 2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle Tip 1 - Navajo Indy
  • 2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle Tip 2 - Josh The Boss

One of the biggest handicaps of the season takes place at Newbury in February, as a field of classy hurdlers take part in the newly named William Hill Handicap Hurdle. Plenty of future Grade One winners have scored in this handicap, including Persian War, Make A Stand and My Tent Or Yours.

Here's our free guide to the 2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle, featuring the latest odds, key trends and our best betting tips.

2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle Odds


Name
Odds
Secret Squirrel11/2
Joyeuse7/1
Tellherthename8/1
Navajo Indy9/1
Favour And Fortune10/1
Washington12/1
Bar16/1

2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle Key Trends


  • All of the last 17 winners were trained by British-based trainers
  • 15 of the last 17 winners were aged either five or six
  • 15 of the last 17 winners had run in no more than four handicaps previously
  • 13 of the last 17 winners had run at least three times that season
  • 13 of the last 17 winners won or placed on their last start
  • 12 of the last 17 winners had previously run in a Graded race (12 of last 13)
  • 11 of the last 17 winners were novices
  • 11 of the last 17 winners carried 10-09 or more

You want to try and find an unexposed type in the old Betfair Hurdle. Only two of the last 17 winners had run in more than four handicaps before lining up at Newbury and eight of the last 13 winners were making their handicap debuts.

Secret Squirrel struck on his fourth handicap start at Windsor and remains open to further improvement. Favour And Fortune won the Scottish Champion Hurdle on his handicap debut last season and has only run once in preparation for this contest. While both command serious respect, softer ground would be key to their chances and the forecast looks sunny and clear in the build-up to Saturday's main event.

2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle Tip 1 - Navajo Indy


Ra Nova and Large Action won both this and the Gerry Feilden in the same year, but no horse has ever landed that Newbury handicap double in the same season. NAVAJO INDY (9/1) will, then, attempt to make history on Saturday, having struck in the Gerry Feilden on his handicap debut in November.

Having won novice hurdles on either side of a summer break, Gavin Sheehan's mount ran out a convincing winner of the Gerry Feilden, holding Queen's Gamble on the run to the line to score off 120. Navajo Indy then looked a little awkward around the turning track at Windsor, but kept on well from his wide position to finish just three lengths adrift of Secret Squirrel back in fourth.

Tom Symonds' star won his bumper here at Newbury and was only narrowly beaten on his second hurdles start at this track by the classy Be Aware. Sheehan's mount remains on the same mark of 128, meaning he'll shoulder just 10-12 on Saturday. Given his clear liking for this venue, I'd be disappointed if Navajo Indy didn't go very close.

2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle Tip 2 - Josh The Boss


The form of this season's Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle has worked out extremely well. JOSH THE BOSS (33/1) made practically all under Jamie Neild to claim a four lengths victory. Doyen Quest, Take No Chances, Titan Discovery and Act Of Authority have all won over hurdles since then, with Lowry's Bar, Tightenourbelts and Into The Park each winning twice over fences.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' six-year-old was sent off as the favourite for the 19-furlong handicap on Betfair Hurdle day, but could never claim his preferred position at the head of the field and faded late on as the soft Haydock ground began to take its toll.

Josh The Boss has only run three times in handicaps and the seven-pound rise he received for that win at Chepstow looks lenient - given how well the beaten horses have done since. Neild's mount likes decent ground and his cruising speed should be a big asset over this shorter distance. If declared, 33/1 could look huge.

Verdict

Navajo Indy is our best bet in the 2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle. We've also backed Josh The Boss at a longer price.

Best Bet1: Navajo Indy 2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle @9/1 at BoyleSports - 5 Units
Best Bet2: Josh The Boss E/W 2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle @33/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Navajo Indy
2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle
@9/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £20
In free bets

New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Mobile exclusive. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply. **18+. Online Only. Get paid out as a winner if your team is winning by 2 goals, even if you draw or lose. 90 mins only. Applies to Singles & Multiples. T&Cs apply.

Bet at BoyleSports
Josh The Boss E/W
2025 William Hill Handicap Hurdle
@33/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

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