Cheltenham 2025 tips: The four best handicapped British chasers ahead of showpiece
Finding a winner at the Cheltenham Festival can be challenging for punters, even more so in the handicaps.
With maximum fields likely for some of the most competitive handicaps, a lot of the fields will have a wide open look about them.
There are many factors to consider when placing a bet, including the going, the form of the trainer and the horse’s recent efforts.
Another important consideration in handicaps is the horse’s ability in relation to their weight and so ahead of the jumps jamboree, the ratings experts Timeform have stepped in to do some of the form study for punters.
The boffins from Halifax have checked the figures and found a quartet of horses who they believe are at least 5lb better than their official BHA racing.
Katate Dori (Timeform rating 144, BHA rating 137)
Entries: Ultima Handicap Chase, National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase, Kim Muir Handicap Chase
Timeform says: “Katate Dori failed to win over hurdles, but he has quickly made up into a much better chaser and he took his record over fences to three wins from four starts when running away with the valuable Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase at Kempton recently.
“Katate Dori has been hit with a 12lb rise in the weights following that 15-length success, but even that might underestimate him given how dominant he proved at Kempton, where he registered the greatest winning margin in the race since Gunther McBride scored by 17 lengths in 2002.
“Katate Dori was initially ridden with patience, but he made rapid headway to go close up before the seventh and galloped on relentlessly after jumping on at the fifth last. It’s possible that he may not be fully over those exertions by the time Cheltenham comes around, given it will be little more than two weeks since he posted such a big effort, but it’s unlikely that his revised mark will be a problem.
Haiti Couleurs (Timeform rating 140, BHA rating 135)
Handicap Entry: National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase
Timeform says: “Haiti Couleurs had to settle for second on his chasing debut in a novice handicap at Chepstow but he clearly learned plenty from that experience as he went on to win two similar events at Aintree and Cheltenham, with the latter contest won in a good timefigure that suggests a 5lb rise in the weights could be lenient.
“There was a lot to like about how Haiti Couleurs went through that race at Cheltenham, going with zest and jumping soundly in the main, and he kept on well when driven out to beat another progressive last-time winner in Transmission by two and three-quarter lengths, with Peaky Boy a head back in third and the trio well clear of the remainder who were led home by subsequent Cheltenham winner Moon d’Orange.
Connections have since kept Haiti Couleurs’ handicap mark under wraps by only running him in a handicap hurdle at Newbury, where he shaped encouragingly in third.
Transmission (Timeform rating 138, BHA rating 133)
Entries: National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase, Kim Muir Handicap Chase
Timeform says: “Transmission could renew rivalry with Haiti Couleurs if taking up his engagement in the National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase and he too looks to be ahead of the handicapper.
“He has edged up only 1lb with the BHA for that performance, where he kept on well having had plenty to do, leaving the impression he would stay longer distances.
“Timeform took a more positive view of that performance and his Timeform rating went up 5lb, while, like Haiti Couleurs, he still has the ‘small p’ to show he’s likely to improve further.
Jagwar (Timeform rating 144, BHA rating 139)
Entries: Novices’ Handicap Chase, Festival Plate
Timeform says: “The Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase, run at Cheltenham on Trials Day, has established itself as a significant Festival pointer and the latest winner, Jagwar, is likely to be a leading player in whichever handicap he contests as he still looks to be on a good mark.
“Jagwar went up 7lb for his stylish success on Trials Day but that victory, which took his record over fences to three wins from four starts, was achieved with plenty in hand and he still has the Timeform small ‘p’ attached to his rating. The way Jagwar tanked through that contest suggests he will appreciate an even stronger gallop which looks likely to materialise at the Festival.
“Three of the last six winners of the Timeform Novices’ Handicap Chase prior to Jagwar went on to win at the Festival, including Mister Whitaker, who landed the Novices’ Handicap Chase, and Simply The Betts, who won the Festival Plate.”
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