Towton Novices Chase Tips 2025: Runner-By-Runner Guide

The Grade Two Towton Novices Chase will be run at Ffos Las on Saturday, after the British Horseracing Authority announced the shift due to the continued cold weather.

With officials at Wetherby making an early decision to abandon this weekend’s Towton meeting, the Graded Towton Chase looked in jeopardy, however luckily for the intended participants it has been moved 243 miles to Wales and there is still live betting available.

Could this be the very first time that a horserace named after a battle that took place during the War Of The Roses, has been held on Welsh Racecourse?

The following runners go into battle on Saturday:

Handstands (Ben Pauling)

Handstands was an impressive winner of the Esher Novices’ Chase at Sandown last time and Ben Pauling has an exciting novice on his hands.

A Listed winner over hurdles last season, he struggled to lay up against Ballyburn in the Baring Bingham at the Cheltenham Festival.

Not deterred, Pauling ran him in the Grade Two Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton on his chasing debut, only to come down at the third-last, but with his belief still retained he ran him in another Grade Two which he duly won.

Hillcrest (Henry Daly)

Veteran performer Hillcrest ran an admirable race at Haydock Park after a 961-day absence, but he was rather disappointing in his follow up race at Cheltenham and he bounced that day.

He would be a surprise winner of this contest at the age of ten.

Karuma Grey (Alison Thorpe)

Trainer Alison Thorpe celebrated her first winner in 4,607 days when Karuma Grey defied odds of 100-1 in the horse race betting at this very track 23 days ago.

Regarded as a “Saturday horse”, he won’t be going off anywhere near those odds today.

Lord Of Thunder (Joe Tizzard)

Plumpton was abandoned last Sunday so Joe Tizzard has diverted Lord Of Thunder here instead.

Apparently the seven-year-old is schooling well at home and his Cheltenham effort in October gives the stable some hope.

Range (Sam Thomas)

The Sam Thomas-trained eight-year-old will need to bring some of his previous Chepstow form to the table if he is to expunge his poor Kempton run last time out.

Saint Davy (Jonjo & AJ O’Neill)

Third behind handstands at Sandown, the O’Neill’s come into this 2m3½f chase with a live chance with their eight-year-old.

You would like to think this Balko-gelding can challenge for the podium spots.

Cherie d’Am (Dan Skelton)

Still owned by Darren Yates- for now! Cherie d’Am is an interesting mare…

Third in last season’s Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, she’s taken well to the jumping game and can make her presence felt.

Towton Novices Chase Prediction:

1. Handstands
2. Cherie d’Am