As Cheltenham looms increasingly large on the horizon, we are safely beyond the stage where bets can be made satisfied in the knowledge that the Non-runner No Bet concession is a safeguard.
Put another way, we can back horses for the Cheltenham Festival knowing we will either get a run on the day or money back.
With that in mind, here’s a possible Lucky15 selection for Cheltenham 2025, with the Non-runner No Bet proviso. Check which betting sites Ireland are offering NRNB on this year’s Cheltenham Festival.
Brighterdaysahead – Champion Hurdle
Current odds: 5/2
Gordon Elliott has suggested the decision on whether Brighterdaysahead will run in the Champion Hurdle or the Mares’ Hurdle will be left until the last minute, but the Cullentra handler has been keen to admit he may never have had a better contender for the two-mile Championship race.
The shadow of Constitution Hill is of course cast over the race but this Gigginstown House Stud-owned mare could well be the most serious rival he has faced.
Her Leopardstown win at Christmas was astonishingly good and with pacemaker King Of Kingsfield in the race, she won’t be undone by a muddling pace as she was at Cheltenham last year.
She can cause the major shock on day one of the meeting by taking the measure of Nicky Henderson’s superstar.
Caldwell Potter – Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase
Current odds: 16/1
Caldwell Potter became the most expensive National Hunt horse ever sold at public auction after fetching €740,000 at the Andy and Gemma Brown dispersal last spring.
A syndicate including former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson bought him and he went to join trainer Paul Nicholls having left Gordon Elliott.
We didn’t see him until December, where he made a winning start to his chasing career at Carlisle (2m, soft).
He has since been beaten at Cheltenham in December and Windsor in January but it’s too soon to write him off. Grade 1 aspirations are on hold for now but he could be an interesting contender in the new novices’ handicap, particularly if the ground is soft come day three of the meeting.
Derryhassen Paddy – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
Current Odds: 25/1
This Lucinda Russell-trained inmate has all the size and scope to believe his long-term future will be bright as a staying chaser, but that’s not to dismiss his hopes for now over hurdles.
Derryhassen Paddy has won a bumper and two contests over timber so far, scoring over 2m4f at Uttoxeter on jumping bow in November and then following up at Windsor (3m, soft) during their Berkshire Winter Million meeting in January.
The tight track at Windsor was far from ideal and he had to dig in to fend off the attentions of Honky Tonk Highway after they had pulled clear, but he did so in a really pleasing style.
This three-mile Grade 1 novice has been in the thoughts of connections for a while and he looks overpriced for what can be an attritional contest.
Shearer – St. James’s Place Festival Hunters’ Chase
Current Odds: 20/1
Paul Nicholls has won the Hunters’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival a joint-record four times and he could have a potential contender to grab another salute with Shearer.
He has won hunters’ chases at Ffos Las and Taunton in the month of February, with the 14-times champion trainer suggesting ahead of that second win: “I’m trying to qualify him for Olive [Nicholls, daughter] to ride [at Cheltenham]. He has to be first or second in another hunter chase before the end of the month after winning well at Ffos Las.”
He duly scored at Taunton and could now make his way to the Cotswolds for a race British-trained runners have won in six of the last eight years, defying the Irish domination elsewhere.
Take a look at betting sites Ireland for more information on which bookies are offering NRNB on the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
