National Hunt Chase 2025 - Free guide to the final race on Champions Day
The 2025 National Hunt Chase marks its return as a 0-145 handicap, open to professional jockeys, promising a thrilling race at the Cheltenham Festival. 'Now Is The Hour' is a leading contender, having demonstrated strong performances last season. Haiti Couleurs and Transmission also present significant challenges, both with impressive track records. With various entries from top stables, including Willie Mullins', this race offers intriguing betting opportunities. Transmission, favored by punters, benefits from advantageous weights compared to rivals, making it a strategic bet in this competitive field.
- Free guide to the 2025 National Hunt Chase
- This handicap will take place on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 11th March
- Transmission features in our verdict
The curtain comes down on Champions Day at the Cheltenham Festival with the National Hunt Chase. The oldest race in National Hunt racing has seen many changes in recent years. For 2025, the National Hunt Chase will revert back to a 0-145 handicap and won't be confined only to amateur jockeys.
Here's our free guide to the 2025 National Hunt Chase, featuring the latest odds, expert analysis and our best betting tips.
*Note - Best bets won't be finalised until the field has been confirmed*
2025 National Hunt Chase Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Now Is The Hour | 7/2 |
| Haiti Couleurs | 5/1 |
| Transmission | 7/1 |
| Captain Cody | 8/1 |
| Will Do | 10/1 |
| Bar | 14/1 |
2025 National Hunt Chase Runners
No trends to look through here, as this will technically be the first running of this contest as a handicap. Now Is The Hour bolted up in the Prestige Novices' Hurdle at Haydock last year, and was backed into favouritism for this year's National Hunt Chase following an eye-catching run on his fourth chasing start at Navan in January.
Haiti Couleurs won nicely at Aintree and here at Cheltenham in the winter, and warmed up for the Festival with a fine third back over hurdles at Newbury. Transmission finished second to Haiti Couleurs here in December, having won under Patrick Mullins' at the November Meeting, and was also last seen running over hurdles in the Cleeve Hurdle.
Captain Cody, who was ridden by the late Michael O'Sullivan earlier in the season, has been pointed at the National Hunt Chase by Willie Mullins. Gordon Elliott's leading contender is experienced eight-year-old Will Do, who is yet to win in six starts over fences but has placed in some strong open handicaps.
The Changing Man, Johnnywho and Katate Dori are entered here and in the Ultima earlier on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. Sa Majeste and Midnight Our Fred top the market for the Kim Muir on day three, while Pic Roc and Resplendent Grey look more likely to drop back down in trip for the Jack Richards' Novices' Handicap Chase.
Tanganiyka, Aworkinprogress and Hasthing are qualified to run here, but all three are entered in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter on the Saturday after Cheltenham, and that's worth more than any handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. Herakles Westwood, Rock My Way, and Gericault Roque could also represent British connections.
2025 National Hunt Chase Tip - Transmission
TRANSMISSION (7/1) has run four times this season, with all four of his outings coming around Cheltenham. Having lost out to the classy Hyland in a Novices' Chase on his reappearance, Patrick Mullins guided Transmission to an impressive victory in the Amateur Jockey's Handicap Chase during the November Meeting.
Neil Mulholland's eight-year-old kept on from well off the pace to finish a close second to Haiti Couleurs a month later. In a bid to protect his handicap mark over fences, Transmission dropped back to hurdles on Trials Day, finishing last of the six runners as Gowel Road won the Cleeve.
Mulholland stated earlier in the season that the objective was the National Hunt Chase. Transmission is four pounds better off at the weights than Haiti Couleurs from their clash in December, and good ground on day one should certainly suit the British runners more than Now Is The Hour and Captain Cody, who've shown a clear liking for softer conditions.
I'll probably back something at an each-way price too, and there are several who look interesting at big prices.
Herakles Westwood should have no trouble making it into the final field and looks the type who would relish this step up in trip. Gericault Roque went close in the Ultima and the Coral Gold Cup off 138 back in 2022 and has been dropped to a mark of 131 following his return from a lengthy absence at Windsor. In d'Or won twice on good ground earlier in the season and could give David Maxwell a nice spin. All three are of interest at big prices.
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