TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase Betting Preview – Cheltenham Day 3 Tips (2025)

The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase is the sixth race on Day 3 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 Plate Handicap Chase for some time now but decisions have been made and all eyes will be on Prestbury Park on Thursday afternoon.

Here, we look at some of the leading players in the Cheltenham odds for this year’s race, with a TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase selection ahead of the 2025 renewal.

The Plate is often one of the most competitive races of the week and it’s currently 9/2 the field at the time of writing, perhaps suggesting that this is a tricky race to call. I can see the logic behind Jagwar but he wouldn’t be for me at this stage of his career.

JP McManus has decided to roll the dice with him in this race rather than the novice handicap chase earlier on the card – a bold decision and you could argue that it shows a level of confidence in his ability. For me, it’s a case of too much too soon.

Plus, this race suits prominent runners and he is usually a hold up horse and that is a big negative for me in a tactical race like this. You almost want a staying type who can kick from the front and Jagwar doesn’t really fit that mould.

Thecompanysergeant is another who has a nice, unexposed profile but I’m not entirely convinced that he is tailor-made for the Plate. Gavin Cromwell made a late call to enter him here rather than the novice handicap, just like the aforementioned Jagwar.

One of the shrewdest target trainers in the sport, Cromwell labelled this horse as one of his handicap horses to follow at the Festival and Conor Stone-Walsh’s claim will do his chances no harm at all. However, I’m looking elsewhere…

Ginny’s Destiny likes to be up with the pace and that is one of the biggest trends in this particular race. Reports suggest that he’s working well – certainly much better than at any other stage of the campaign and he is an each way prospect.

He is undoubtedly one of Paul Nicholls’ best chances of the week and Harry Cobden is in the saddle. His form behind Grey Dawning in the Grade 1 Turners Novices Chase last season would give him a cracking chance and hopefully he brings his best foot forward.

At a bigger price, I like GEMIRANDE and he brings a wealth of Cheltenham experience to the race. The 2024 December Gold Cup winner will relish the quicker surface and he is a fantastic jumper – he could get into a rhythm out in front if allowed to dictate.

Venetia Williams had two of her three runners pulled up on Tuesday and she’s had just one winner from 25 runners so that is a slight concern. But Gemirande is one of her best chances of the 2025 meeting and he’s a decent each way play for me.

SELECTION: GEMIRANDE (E/W)