Wales at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival: A Horse-by-Horse Guide

The Racing Post's James Stevens has assessed the chances of all of Wales' runners in a horse-by-horse guide to Wales at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

 

Tuesday

Ultima Handicap Chase (2.40)

 

8. Henry’s Friend
Jockey: Ben Jones

One of the best chances of the week for Jones, who enjoyed a first Cheltenham Festival winner last season. The eight-year-old is a course winner and has been saved for this race since December. A solid contender.

15. King Turgeon
J: Jack Tudor

Rising star Tudor was aboard for his win over the Aintree fences in November and his win here in December. His last two runs, though, have been disappointing and Tudor has stronger claims elsewhere.

18. Karate Dori
Trainer: Sam Thomas

Cardiff-based Sam Thomas is enjoying a brilliant season in the big handicaps and this contender comes here having won a £100,000 contest by 15 lengths. He is among the favourites and one of Wales’s best chances of the week.

24. Straw Fan Jack
T: Shelia Lewis
The flagbearer for Lewis’s Brecon stable having won at Cheltenham last season. Has been disappointing this season and hard to fancy.

Champion Hurdle (4.00)

 

7. Golden Ace
J: Lorcan Williams

A breakthrough Cheltenham Festival winner for Lorcan Williams and Somerset stable Jeremy Scott last season and propelled into the big one. She has loads to find with Constitution Hill but could run into a place.

Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.40)

 

10. Teriferma
J: Sean Bowen

A first ride for the jockey looking to become Wales’s first champion jockey in over 50 years. Bowen was aboard when he dead-heated with Quantock Hills at Cheltenham earlier this season and would have an each-way chance.

19. Moutarde
J: Callum Pritchard
A first Cheltenham Festival ride for another emerging name in the Welsh jockey ranks. His form is ok and he’s an unlikely winner.

National Hunt Chase (5.20)

 

2. Resplendent Grey
J: Sean Bowen

Had some useful form at the start of the season including when placing at Grade 2 level. Now stepped up in distance but should handle it. Definite each-way contender.

6. Haiti Couleurs
J: Ben Jones T: Rebecca Curtis

One of the main contenders of the week for an all-Welsh team. Has been brought along brilliantly by Pembrokeshire-based Curtis, who has a great record at this meeting.

13. Gericault Roque
J: Jack Tudor

Second in the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and had his issues since but promising third at Windsor and could be in the mix.

Wednesday

 

Coral Cup (2.40)

 

16. Might I
J: Sean Bowen

Good fourth in a Cheltenham Festival handicap in 2023 but has been inconsistent since and well beaten in this race last season.

22. Minella Missile
T: Evan Williams

Looked destined for big things when a 22-1 winner here in November 2023. Failed to fire since but clearly has the ability if he can bounce back.

Cross Country Chase (3.20)

 

4. Iwilldoit
T: Sam Thomas

Legend for Sam Thomas having won the Welsh Grand National in 2021. Third in that race this season and a good second last time so respected but the Irish horses look to have the edge.

 

Champion Chase (4.00)

5. Libberty Hunter
T: Evan Williams

Second at the Cheltenham Festival last season and stepped up in grade to take on Jonbon. He could be improving but will need to be against a top-class line-up. Could run into a place at a price.

 

Grand Annual (4.40)

 

8. General Medrano
J: Ben Jones

Runner named after a James Bond villain and should give his jockey a licence to thrill in a competitive handicap. Fine second last time but will need a career best to land this.

 

14. Western Zephyr
J: Sean Bowen
Started the season with two excellent runs but stuffed when last seen at Ascot in December. Will need to bounce back but could be a dark horse in the race if he does.

R21. Dr T J Excleburg
T: Evan Williams

Might not get to run but would be interesting at the bottom of the weights. Won nicely at Chepstow in the warm-up and would definitely have an each-way chance.

Champion Bumper (5.20)

6. Heads Up
J: Sean Bowen

Has some solid form in Irish bumpers for John McConnell and second behind the fancied Kalypso's chance last time out. Could outrun big odds but an unlikely winner.

 

17. Caballero Cliff
J: Ben Jones T: Robert Stephens 

Fourth at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and thrown in the deep end by Penhow-based Robert Stephens. Huge outsider.

Thursday (final fields to be confirmed on Tuesday)

 

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (1.20)

 

Bluey
J: Ben Jones

Outsider to watch. Won a nice race at Market Rasen last time and not too far behind Jubilee Alpha, one of the form horses in the race, at Windsor in January. Don’t rule her out.

 

Tour Ovalie
T: Evan Williams

Enjoying a brilliant season, having notched up a fourth win of the season at Taunton in February. This is a much more demanding test and hard to think she would be up to it.

Jack Richards’ Novice Handicap Chase (2.00)

Pic Roc
J: Ben Jones

One to watch. Ben Jones mentioned this could be one of his better chances of the week and there has been support in the betting in the last few weeks. Has a string of seconds next to his name but has ability and could run a huge race.

 

Moon D’Orange
J: Sean Bowen

Bowen gets the best out of this Irish-trained runner who arrives having won well over the course and distance on Trials day in January. Repeat of that effort would give him a leading chance.

 

Pertemps Final (2.40)

 

Long Draw
J: Sean Bowen

A course and distance winner in December with Bowen aboard and was not disgraced when fourth last time. Bowen always gets the best out of him and he could run well in a competitive race.

 

Stayers’ Hurdle (4.00)

 

Nemean Lion

J: Richard Patrick

Kerry Lee and Richard Patrick always do well at Cheltenham and this runner definitely could have a leading chance. Won his last three and looks as good as ever although the longer trip is an unknown.

 

Plate (4.40)

 

Fugitif
J: Sean Bowen

Cheltenham specialist but is getting a bit older and a question mark over whether he is quite as good as last season. Bowen was third on him at Cheltenham in December but he’d need to find a bit more.

 

Shakem Up’Arry
J: Ben Jones

Winner of this race for Jones last season and, despite an underwhelming season, the yard report him to be in excellent form once again. Could make a bold bid for a repeat success.

 

Kim Muir (5.20)

 

Pats Fancy
T: Rebecca Curtis

A useful horse on his day, having gone close to beating Bravemansgame as a novice in 2022. Has struggled since but his comeback was not devoid of promise.

Friday (final fields to be confirmed on Wednesday)

Triumph Hurdle (1.20)

 

Opec
J: Sean Bowen

The James Owen stable have well fancied East India Dock in this and the second string looks a very unlikely winner.

 

Albert Bartlett (3.20)

 

Intense Approach
J: Sean Bowen

Another ride for the County Meath-based trainer but he has yet to ride this horse. He was second in Chepstow’s Persian War before winning at Cheltenham in October. Won again in February and could be a bit overpriced.

 

Jig’s Forge
J: Ben Jones

Could be an interesting outsider. Tried to make the pace before tiring in the River Don at Doncaster last time but the fast-run three miles might help him here. Not one to rule out.

 

Newton Tornado
T: Rebecca Curtis

Frustrating for connections having placed four times without winning on a racecourse. Yard have a great record with staying hurdlers but he was surprisingly beaten at Uttoxeter last time and needs to step up.

 

Hunter Chase (4.40)

Angels Breath
T: Tim Vaughan J: Edward Vaughan

Was once sent off 6-1 for the Supreme for Nicky Henderson but enjoying his senior years in Glamorgan. Beaten by Shearer at Ffos Las and more needed but has the old class to run well.

 

Best Welsh Tip:
Haiti Couleurs (5.20 Cheltenham, Tuesday)

 

Best Welsh Outsider:
Newton Tornado (3.20 Cheltenham, Friday)