Racehour's Best Handicap Bets At The Cheltenham Festival

The Racehour Cheltenham preview night was held in front of a large crowd, with a panel of experts gathering to give their thoughts on this year's Festival.

Sponsored by Gambling.com and Betfred, it was the seventh year of the popular preview, and sent racing fans home with plenty of tips in their notebooks.

The host on the night was the Racing Post's David Jennings, and he was joined by jockey Darragh O'Keeffe, ex-jockey Mikey Fogarty, tipsters Stephen Cass and Tony Keenan, as well as Racehour's own Diarmuid Nolan.

They provided their views on the big races of the meeting, as well as picking out some big-priced runners in the various handicap races of the week.

Here we look at some of their handicap tips, as well as all the best prices available from betting sites.

Best Cheltenham Handicap Bets 2025

Diarmuid Nolan: Jeriko Du Reponet - Pertemps Handicap Hurdle

Racehour's Nolan is a shrewd operator, particularly when it comes to finding horses with big prices on betting apps that could surprise.

That is exactly what he has done for most races at the Festival, but his strongest fancy is 6/1 chance Jeriko Du Reponet in the Pertemps:

"I thought the last time was a screaming effort. He is rated 135 now, and for a horse that Nicky Henderson fancied for the Supreme last year, I think he is a 150 horse.

"I do think he is very, very talented, and I'd very keen on him."

Darragh O'Keeffe: Jordans - Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase/Plate Handicap Chase

Jockey O'Keeffe also gave his thoughts on the handicaps, and he can see the Joseph O'Brien-trained Jordans getting involved in whatever race he will line up in.

The six-year-old holds entries in the Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase and the Plate Handicap Chase and is priced at 20/1 with horse racing betting sites for both.

"A horse I like is Jordans. I'm not sure which race he goes for. 

"I'd give him a chance as he travels really well. He was ridden to run well in Limerick last time and he did.

"I think he is one to keep an eye on."

Stephen Cass: Johnnywho - Ultima Handicap Chase

Johnnywho looks tailor-made for the always competitive Ultima, and tipster Cass is confident he can go close in the first handicap race of the week.

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill likes to target horses at this race, and his runner is well-handicapped in the eyes of many, including Cass.

Currently priced at 10/1, he has a more than decent chance according to the tipster:

"Johnnywho I like. I think 140 for this fella, he is a good bit better than that. He won at Carlisle on his seasonal debut, and his Novice Hurdle form is really good.

"He is a very good horse and I think he'll go off half his current price on the day."

Mikey Fogarty: An Peann Dearg - Grand Annual Handicap Chase

A former Cheltenham-winning jockey, Fogarty knows what it takes to win a handicap race at the Festival.

Always good for a chuckle at the preview nights, he picked out Paul Nolan's An Peann Dearg as a decent handicap chance.

He is another horse with more than one entry at the Festival, but it looks like the Grand Annual, for which he is priced at 14/1, is where he may line up.

When asked for a tip for the handicap chases, Fogarty said:

"Paul Nolan's horse An Peann Dearg if he gets into the Grand Annual. He is a big price."

David Jennings: Caldwell Potter - Jack Richards Novices' Handicap Chase

Host Jennings also got in on the act of picking a horse for the handicap races, and he was very bullish on the chances of Caldwell Potter in the Jack Richards.

Having cost a significant amount of money not long ago, the world seemed to be his oyster, but he has failed to flatter this season.

Even so, Jennings is surprised by the 14/1 available for Paul Nicholls' charge.

"To me, Caldwell Potter has been talked up as a Gold Cup horse, and of course, he cost a fortune. When you spend that money you hope they are going to be a Gold Cup horse.

"He's now running in a Novice Handicap Chase off a mark of 146, and this, for the last few months, has definitely been the plan.

"Because he has been disappointing, he is 14/1, and I think he is the bet of the Cheltenham Festival."

Tony Keenan: Blaze The Way - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

Sporting Life tipster Keenan is usually a man to follow for big runner handicap fields, but surprisingly, he has only put forward one horse.

If you take out the favourite Kopeck De Mee, the Martin Pipe seems to be a very open race. That might well lead to a surprise result, and Keenan believes Blaze The Way is worthy of an each-way bet at a price of 33/1:

"This horse started out in Graded races but couldn't jump," he said of the Mags Mullins runner. "Since they have gone up in trip he has sharpened up.

"Because he has had a few handicap runs, he hasn't been hammered by the UK handicapper, and I do like a stayer in the Martin Pipe."