Grand Annual Handicap Chase 2025 - Irish raider can claim Cheltenham crown
The 2025 Grand Annual Handicap Chase, now held at the Old Course, emphasizes speed over stamina. The odds show Libberty Hunter as a frontrunner at 8/1, while The King Of Prs, having shown significant improvement, presents a compelling option at 12/1. Key trends reveal that past winners often have prior Cheltenham experience but didn’t win in their last starts. The King Of Prs, among others like JPR One and Kalif Du Berlais, provides exciting betting opportunities. Final bets will be confirmed once the field is set.
- Free guide to the 2025 Grand Annual Handicap Chase
- This handicap will take place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 12th March
- The King Of Prs features in our verdict
The penultimate race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival is the Grand Annual. This two-mile handicap chase used to close the card on Gold Cup day, but was moved to the Old course to put the emphasis more on speed than stamina.
Here's our free guide to the 2025 Grand Annual, 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 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Libberty Hunter | 8/1 |
| Unexpected Party | 10/1 |
| Firefox | 10/1 |
| Jazzy Matty | 12/1 |
| The King Of Prs | 12/1 |
| Bar | 14/1 |
2025 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Trends
- 9 of the last 10 winners had won at least twice over 2m
- 9 of the last 10 winners didn't win last time out
- 8 of the last 10 winners had experience running at the Cheltenham Festival
- 8 of the last 10 winners returned an SP of 10/1 or bigger
- 8 of the last 10 winners had run in at least one Grade One
Between 2015 and '19, all five winners of the Grand Annual had been beaten in the race the previous year. Last year's runner-up, Libberty Hunter will be looking to continue that trend, should connections opt to run here over an outing in the Champion Chase.
Unexpected Party ran out a comfortable winner 12 months ago and will return to Cheltenham rated just six pounds higher in the handicap. Firefox has also been entered, but seems more likely to take in the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase on day three of the meeting.
2025 Grand Annual Handicap Chase Tip 1 - The King Of Prs
THE KING OF PRS (12/1) fell fairly early in this race 12 months ago. Gavin Cromwell's raider was given a rating of 132, despite a couple of poor efforts leading into Cheltenham. Sean Flanagan's mount was a big drifter on the day and didn't take to the first-time cheekpieces, jumping poorly before eventually falling two from home.
Cromwell's seven-year-old has done nothing but progress during his second season over fences. The King Of Prs ran well in defeat behind The Folkes Tiara and An Pean Dearg on his first two starts, before running out a comfortable winner of the Dan & Joan Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse, where Conor Stone-Walsh's claimer reduced his burden to just 9-13.
Despite completely contrasting form to 12 months ago, the British handicapper thinks The King Of Prs has only improved six pounds, after handing him a mark of 138. That would ensure that Cromwell's raider carries less than 10-8, and there's every chance Stone-Walsh could remain in the saddle, reducing The King Of Prs' burden by a further five pounds.
Others who interest me at this stage at JPR One, who will be carrying top-weight, but certainly has enough class an experience to challenge and will relish decent ground conditions at the Cheltenham Festival.
Kalif Du Berlais is a hugely promising five-year-old for Paul Nicholls who boasts course-winning experience from this season. Then there's Nicky Richard's Nells Son, who might be a ten-year-old, but has produced the best form of his career this season and could be well-treated off 148.
Verdict
The King Of Prs is the most interesting contender in the 2025 Grand Annual.
The King Of Prs
2025 Grand Annual
@12/1 - 5 Units
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