Grand Annual Betting Preview – Cheltenham Day 2 Tips (2025)

The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase is the sixth race on Day 2 of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and 20 runners have been declared for one of the biggest horse racing betting heats of the season.

We’ve known the early entries for the Grand Annual for some time now but decisions have been made and all eyes will be on Prestbury Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Here, we look at some of the leading players in the Cheltenham odds for this year’s race, with a Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase selection ahead of the 2025 renewal.

Unexpected Party won this race 12 months ago and he will have his supporters as he bids to clinch back-to-back Grand Annual victories. When it comes to plotting a horse for a handicap, there aren’t many trainers better than Dan Skelton.

He is off a 6lbs higher mark than last year but that mightn’t be enough to stop him and any forecast rain will help his chances. He’s been carefully campaigned this season but I’m expecting to see the best of him on Wednesday afternoon.

Gavin Cromwell is another shrewd target trainer and My Mate Mozzie is prominent in the betting for this race. The quicker the ground, the better his chance and he’ll relish the opportunity to come off a fast pace – he’ll undoubtedly look the winner all over at some stage but you could argue that he’s a bit of a bridle merchant.

Connections aimed high with him last year, going for the Arkle Novices Chase instead of this race and that was probably the wrong call. Keith Donoghue is booked to ride and I’d expect him to play his hand as late as possible to give his mount the best chance of victory.

Of the other market principles, Jazzy Matty has obvious claims and I like his profile for this sort of race. He has course form, winning the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle in 2023, and he runs here off what looks like a very attractive mark of 135.

Danny Gilligan gets on well with him and he’s booked to ride once again and he’d be a popular winner with racing fans due to his link to Michael O’Sullivan. The late jockey was on board for that Boodles triumph two years ago.

I like Primoz at a huge each way price but I couldn’t be advising him for a race like this given his lack of experience. For me, you need a horse that is used to the hustle and bustle of a big-field handicap and Primoz faced just one rival on his most recent start.

The one I’ve landed on is SO SCOTTISH for Emmet Mullins and JP McManus. He was well fancied for the Plate Handicap Chase a couple of years ago and he’s significantly lower in the weights these days, with the BHA handicapper giving him a mark of 139.

He’s had a wind operation since his last run and this is his first chase start since falling in the 2023 December Gold Cup. The drop back to two miles will be no bother to him and he’s versatile with regards to ground conditions. He can run a big race.

SELECTION: SO SCOTTISH (E/W)