Cheltenham Festival
Cheltenham Day One – Non Runner Money Back tips
We are just a month out from the first day of the biggest horse racing betting event of the year, the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Our blog looks at Non Runner Money Back angles for Tuesday’s headline races.
Check out the latest ante-post odds on horse racing with William Hill here
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle
The opening race of the Cheltenham Festival is the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. The shortest of the three novice hurdling events, the trip of two miles attracts the speedier types and what a race it’s shaping up to be.
Kopek Des Bordes heads the Non Runner Money Back market at 10/11. He could hardly have been more impressive when routing a strong field at the Dublin Racing Festival – he deserves his place at the head of the market.
He’ll be a tough nut to crack but it may be worth looking one at a bigger price that can be backed each-way. Romeo Coolio looks good value at 6/1, he was impressive when winning the Grade One Future Champions Novice Hurdle over Christmas. While he doesn’t have the ‘wow’ factor of the favourite, he looks a solid proposition at the price.
Arkle Trophy
The betting for the Arkle has seen a big shake-up, following the news of Sir Gino’s injury which sees him ruled out for the remainder of the season. Those who backed him in our Non Runner Money Back market will be happier than those who played the straight ante-post!
This leaves Majborough as the 8/13 favourite for the race and it’s a shame that we won’t get to see one of the most anticipated match races of the week.As a result, it’s difficult to see a real contender to Majborough in a race that looks set to cut up.
Ultima Handicap Chase
The first handicap of the week comes in the form of the Ultima Handicap Chase. The race always attracts a deep field of runners and can often be a race worth following the form of.
William Hill’s Non Runner Money Back concession is likely to be very useful here, providing your bet with the insurance of a void if the horse isn’t to line up in the race.
Hyland can give Nicky Henderson a first winner of the week, the eight-year-old has been a model of consistency this year, winning twice at Cheltenham before finishing behind the highly regarded The Jukebox Man when stepping up in grade. He looks well treated on his mark of 147 off the back of that form, 12/1 looks a fair price taking the Non Runner No Bet factor into consideration..
Mares’ Hurdle
The Mares’ Hurdle could be one of the races of the week if the market principles go for the race. Market leaders Brighterdaysahead (2/5) and Lossiemouth (5/4) are both potential Champion Hurdle contenders, but they do have the option of this race as well.
Both look worth a go as Non Runner Money Back selections, as the likelihood of both going for this race is low, but if one does, they’ll be in with every chance.
Brighterdaysahead’s beating of State Man was arguably the best hurdling performance we’ve seen this season, she’d be a serious contender in the Champion Hurdle but there’s a possibility that connections will defect to the Mares’ Hurdle, she will be extremely hard to beat if so.
Champion Hurdle
Another race where several of the market leaders’ participation is in doubt is the Champion Hurdle.
Constitution Hill looks back to his almighty best and he’s the current 1/2 favourite in the NRMB betting, followed by Brighterdaysahead at 2/1. It might be a good bet to use the NRMB concession to your advantage and back Brighterdaysahead here with the insurance of your stake back if she does go for the Mares’ Hurdle.
Looking down the market, Burdett Road is a viable option for each way backers at 16/1. After winning the Greatwood Hurdle earlier in the season, he stepped forward again in the Christmas Hurdle when chasing home Constitution Hill, if it wasn’t for a jarring error at the last, he could’ve given the champion something to think about.
It may well be that Constitution Hill wasn’t fully fit that day but Burdett Road is an improving horse and he may be worth an each way flier in a race that could cut up.
