Jack Richards Limited H'cap Novices Chase
Four of the last six contested Graded novice chase last time
13 of the past 14 had run three or four times over fences
16 of the 17 had won no more than twice over fences
14 of the 17 won or finished second last time out
Four of the last nine contested the January Timeform Nov Handicap Chase
13 of the 17 were aged six or seven years. Five year olds 2-13 in the past 12.
All 17 ran after the turn of the year
In the 16 races horses with 13+ chase runs were 0-129.
Summary
This is a Grade 2 Open Handicap limited to 20lbs. If top weight is 11-12, bottom weight will be 10-6. Max field size down to 20 in 2026
Above are stats taken from the 2020 race added to those of Caldwell Potter. 2020 was the previous year the Centenary Nov H'cap Ch was run at the Festival. It was then pushed out to make way for the Mares Chase, a decision about which many still disagree. There were 16 runnings at Cheltenham before it was shipped out to Sandown. From 2020 to 2024 it was run on Imperial Cup day the race after that Mares Bumper. Usually £25k plus to the winner and Listed status but attracted small fields. I doubt if those last four renewals will have any relevance to this. The prize fund for this is now £125k. It's now back at the Festival to try and force top graded runners to run in either the Arkle or the Brown Advisory. Didn't happen last year. The 1-2 Aintree G1 and the winner of the Fairyhouse Grade 1 2m 4f novice chase didn't run at the Festival.
The one certainty about novice handicap hurdles or chases is that the best novices rarely run in them. This is an open novice limited handicap with no ceiling for top rated.
Honours Board
||| Form ||| Winner ||| Age ||| Weight ||| OR ||| SP ||| Trainer ||| Jockey ||| Runners ||| Last Race (No of Days)
||| 132 ||| Caldwell Potter ||| 7 ||| 11-4 ||| 146 ||| 7/1 ||| P Nicholls ||| H Cobden ||| 19 ||| 2nd Windsor G2 2m (55)
We're starting afresh.
Evidence
2025 - A fine front-running ride by Harry Cobden on this unfortunate grey. Went on to win the poor enough G1 3m novice at Aintree. Well placed by P Nicholls. Top ratings here were Springwell Bay 154, Firefox 150, Caldwell Potter and Dee Capo both 146. Anyway, 2nd, has since only won a beginners chase. O'Moore Park, 3rd, has been placed in good handicaps. Nurburgring 4th started 6/1fav for the Galway Plate, PU. Answer To Kayf was down the field. Troytown winner. At Aintree Impair Et Passe (rated 157) bt Gidleigh Park 153. At Fairyhouse the mare Spindleberry took it off 142, beating Firefox. In a graded race she would have got 7lbs.
Four from the last six contested a graded chase last time. The other two were placed in the Cheltenham January Novice Handicap Chase. Jagwar won the Plate last year. Two of the last ten ran in the 2m 4f novice handicap chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. Barlovento bt Tapley
Brian Hughes race form figures 25191F. No ride last year. He was there that day, jogged home on DoddieTheGreat next race