The Turners Novices’ Chase is a Grade 1 race run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs at the Cheltenham Festival, typically taking place on the third day of the meeting (Thursday).
It’s restricted to novice chasers aged five and older, making it a key stepping stone for horses expected to become top-level chasers. Notable past winners include Bob Olinger, Envoi Allen and Stage Star.
With a smaller field than some of Cheltenham’s other feature races, Turners Novices’ Chase odds tend to focus on a tight group of contenders.
However, the novice nature of the race means betting value can still be found, especially with early selections in the ante-post and futures markets.
Top horse racing betting sites offer Turners odds well ahead of the festival, giving punters time to shop for value. Here’s the most common ways to bet on the Turners:
You can find Turners Novices’ Chase odds months ahead of the Cheltenham Festival through ante-post markets, or futures as they're known as in the US. Backing early can secure better odds before runners shorten closer to race day.
Due to the uncertain nature of novice chasers, it’s worth checking if your chosen bookmaker offers a Non-Runner No Bet (NRNB) promotion. This promo refunds your stake if your horse doesn’t run. NRNB is often available from January onwards.
A win bet on the Turners is straightforward — you pick a horse to finish first. If it wins, your return is calculated based on the odds. If not, your stake is lost.
Given the race's Grade 1 status and novice field, Turners Novices’ Chase odds for favourites are often quite short. However, strong second or third favourites may offer better value.
A place bet pays out if your selection finishes in the top few positions. In smaller fields like the Turners (typically 6–12 runners), payouts are often for the top two or three places.
Some online bookmakers may offer enhanced place terms or pay out four places depending on the final field size.
Each-way betting splits your stake between a win and a place bet. You’ll get a full payout if your horse wins and a partial return— usually 1/4 or 1/5 of the odds — if it places. This strategy is especially useful when backing horses at double-digit odds in competitive novice races like this one.
Horse racing odds appear in three formats: fractional, decimal and American. Most horse racing betting sites allow you to switch between them. Here's a concise explanation of how to read and understand them:
Fractional odds, for example 5/1, are popular in the UK and Ireland. A £10 bet at 5/1 returns £50 profit + £10 stake.
Since being introduced in 2011 (formerly known as the Marsh Novices’ Chase and JLT), the race has produced several future champions.
Winning form over intermediate distances (2m4f–2m6f) and strong jumping ability are key trends to watch.
Irish trainers such as Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have dominated this race in recent years. Look for runners who have shown steady progression throughout the season, particularly in Grade 1 or Grade 2 novice chases.
With so many betting market moves likely to occur before Cheltenham, keeping up with price changes is essential for punters interested in ante-post betting.
Gambling.com monitors and updates odds across leading bookmakers in real time, helping you find the best value whether you're betting to win or placing an each-way wager.
Check this page regularly to compare Turners Novices’ Chase odds via the best betting sites.