Cheltenham Festival 2025 Odds: Turners Battle Awaits Final Demand & The New Lion
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle is always a great way to kick off Day Two of the Cheltenham Festival, with the 2025 renewal featuring two talented horses at the head of the market.
Willie Mullins has already added to his Cheltenham Festival winners on Day One of the meeting and the legendary Irish handler has Final Demand running in this two mile, five furlong encounter, with 11 horses provisionally entered for the Grade One encounter.
The six-year-old has impressed in Ireland this season, with the horse sent off as the 11/8 favourite with horse racing betting sites in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, with backers rewarded after a 12-length success over two miles, six furlongs.
This came after a 15-length triumph in a maiden hurdle at Limerick, although this will be a first outing at Cheltenham Racecourse and perhaps Final Demand will find The New Lion too strong considering the latter also boasts an impressive track record.
Dan Skelton is emerging as a leading trainer at the Festival these days and he’s saddled this six-year-old to consecutive wins at Newbury, with the latest of these coming in the Grade One Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle.
It was a victory by nearly five lengths when sent off at odds of 9/4 with betting apps, with this coming after a previous success in a less competitive race at the same track, although it’s clear that Skelton regards his charge as among his best chances of success at Cheltenham.
Skelton told a Jockey Club press event: “He looks in outstanding condition and his coat is one of the most forward of all our horses. I love his attitude and Harry [Skelton] loves riding him, He’s very adaptable and can do it all.
“The season has gone beautifully with him. When we started schooling him on grass in the autumn he did something that other horses can’t do at that point – his brain and ability was there to see. I’m super happy with him.”
Is the Turners a two-horse race this week?
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Perhaps not considering that The Yellow Clay has been clocking up the wins this season and Gordon Elliott will hope that his horse can potentially capitalise from the two market leaders blowing each other out.
The six-year-old has notched a brace of successes at Navan this season and this came before landing the spoils at Naas, with that being an eight-length success in the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.
