We are just under 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 Thursday’s headline races.
Check out our Cheltenham 2025 Festival Non-Runner Money Back ante-post markets with William Hill
Mares’ Novices Hurdle
The Grade 2 Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle kicks off proceedings on Day Three of the Festival at 13:20, a race which was dominated by the Irish until 2022 when Love Envoi scored for Harry Fry. Last year’s victor, Golden Ace, managed to put the race to bed after the last for trainer Jeremy Scott at a starting price of 10/1.
This year’s renewal seems to be a battle between the top two in the market, Sixandahalf, and Maughreen. Sixandahalf is priced at 5/2, with Maughreen a shade longer at 3/1.
After a decent layoff, William Hill ambassador Gavin Cromwell’s charge romped home in a Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse in early January by 12 lengths which tightened her price in the market as a worthy favourite. That said, Willie Mullins has a knack for producing winners in this race and Maughreen could just be the ticket for the Closutton handler.
The six-year-old appeared first back in January of last year with an impressive 11-length win in a bumper and returned to the track after a year-long layoff this January, picking up her first victory over obstacles in convincing fashion. It’s set to be an exciting contest, with both mares offering plenty of value in our Non-Runner Money Back market, but our vote narrowly sides with Cromwell as his mare looks to be able to be very versatile ground-wise and is capable of improving for her last run.
Read what Gavin Cromwell had to say on Sixandahalf’s chances here
Bet on the Mares’ Novices Hurdle with William Hill’s Non Runner Money Back here
Ryanair Chase
The feature race of the day is the Ryanair Chase at 15:20, which is guaranteed to be a thrilling race with some exceptional talents from the UK, Ireland and France lining up. Naturally, eyes will be drawn to both Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior for Willie Mullins, but the one we’re interested in is the French gelding Il Est Francais for Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm.
Of course, strong cases can be made for both Fact To File (5/4) and Gaelic Warrior (7/2) as they have obvious claims, both winning Grade 1 races at the Festival last year, but as mentioned, Il Est Francais has been an interesting type in the lead up to this year’s clash.
With a current price of 9/2, he offers some value here, and we think his price would be a fair bit shorter if his campaign this season had gone to plan. There’s no denying that this horse has a real engine and the potential to win a race like this. You need to just watch his seasonal reappearance at Auteuil in September where he jumped brilliantly and won with ease in a Grade 3 to see what kind of horse he is on his day.
A decent run at Kempton in the King George late last year saw him jump well but he was worn down by Banbridge to come second, who enters this contest here at 4/1. If the ground is quick, we could see James Reveley leading him from the front and should he find that extra gear he didn’t have at Kempton, he’ll be hard to catch up the Cheltenham hill.
Bet on the Ryanair Chase with William Hill’s Non Runner Money Back here
Stayers’ Hurdle
The following race is the Stayers’ Hurdle at 16:00 which looks as good as won already as Teahupoo lines up for consecutive wins in the race. Priced as the 4/5 favourite, the next in the market is Home By The Lee out at 6/1.
Teahupoo has been a model of consistency over this longer trip, and was last seen out for a leg stretch against Lossiemouth at Fairyhouse in December over a shorter distance. We know he likes the tough, staying races and Gordon Elliott clearly ran him there to keep his fitness up ahead of this long, challenging contest which one can only imagine will see him get his head in front yet again.
It’s hard to see this race going any other way, but the aforementioned Home By The Lee could pose the biggest threat having put in two exceptional performances of late and a third in this race last year, beaten six lengths by the market leader Teahupoo.
Bet on the Stayers’ Hurdle with William Hill’s Non Runner Money Back here
