Horse Racing Tips
Cheltenham Day Two – Non Runner Money Back tips
We are just a month out from the biggest horse racing betting event of the year, the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
Our blog looks at Non Runner Money Back angles for Wednesday’s headline races.
Check out the latest ante-post odds on horse racing with William Hill here
Turners Novices’ Hurdle
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle kicks off Wednesday’s action at the Cheltenham Festival, a key race for novice hurdlers over 2m5f. A proven launchpad for future stars, past winners include legends like Istabraq. Willie Mullins dominated last year’s edition, finishing 1-2-3-4-5, and it’s shaping up to be more of the same in 2025.
Kopek Des Bordes remains in the Turners market at 5/2 after a dominant Dublin Racing Festival performance, but he looks more likely for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, where he’s now 4/5, if the money is anything to go by.
Meanwhile, stablemate Final Demand is the 7/4 favourite but also holds an entry in the Albert Bartlett. With William Hill’s Non Runner Money Back concession, punters have security in uncertain times—if one stays and the other goes, these prices could prove generous.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase
This year’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase has been, rather inadvertently, shaken up by Sir Gino’s injury, ruling him out of the Arkle. With his absence, Mullins’ Majborough is now the odds-on favourite for that race, giving a clearer picture of where Mullins’ top novices may go. His stablemate Ballyburn, who was also entered in the Arkle, has become the 13/8 favourite for the Brown Advisory, suggesting connections are leaning toward this race instead.
As always, Willie Mullins holds a strong hand, also with Dancing City priced at 10/3, but there’s a Gordon Elliott runner at a tempting price that could upset the apple cart. Better Days Ahead, who burst onto the scene with a win in last year’s Martin Pipe, continues to impress as a novice chaser. His recent victory in the Grade 2 William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novice Chase at Navan showcased his ability, even though the small field didn’t quite play to his strengths. Despite only edging out Stablemate Stellar Story by a neck, the expected larger field at Cheltenham should be much more to his liking.
A big, relentless galloper, Better Days Ahead has already shown he handles Cheltenham’s demanding finish. At 10/1, he looks a solid each-way play, especially with Elliott’s stable in red-hot form. The Martin Pipe to Brown Advisory route isn’t unheard of—Don Poli pulled off the double in 2014 and 2015 for Mullins—so there’s a strong precedent for this type of progression.
With Mullins’ duo taking much of the market attention, there’s value in siding with Better Days Ahead—a horse that could well live up to his name.
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is one of the four prestigious championship races at the Cheltenham Festival and takes centre stage on Day Two of the meeting. As the premier event for two-mile chasers, it attracts the fastest and most talented horses in the jumps season, making it one of the most exciting spectacles of the festival.
Looking back at last year’s race, William Hill’s Non Runner Money Back concession would have been a lifesaver for many punters. This offer provides insurance on your bet—if your horse doesn’t make it to the starting line, you get your stake refunded. This would have been particularly valuable for those backing Jonbon, who was one of the leading contenders before being withdrawn due to concerns over Nicky Henderson’s stable form.
Since missing last year’s festival, Jonbon has been nothing short of sensational. He has won all five of his races, cementing himself as one of the top chasers in the division, which has led to him being the 4/5 favourite here.
Recent trends highlight that eight of the last 10 Champion Chase winners had won a Graded chase within their last two starts, a stat that works firmly in Jonbon’s favor. His victories in the Clarence House, Tingle Creek, Shloer Chase, Celebration Chase, and Melling Chase showcase his class and consistency. With an unbeaten record since his absence last year, Jonbon is the standout contender in the field and looks primed to make amends at Cheltenham this time around.
