John Francome Novices Chase 2026 Betting Odds

2025 John Francome Novices' Chase Betting Tips

The stage is set for the John Francome Novices' Chase, with Coral sponsoring a race where two horses are trading at a similar price at the top of the market. Regent’s Stroll has been shortening in the betting and there were some bright performances last term. That included an outing at Aintree where the horse was second in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle.

That followed a success at Wincanton that was easily achieved and it all comes down to how the horse adapts to the bigger obstacles. Perhaps Wendigo is a viable alternative, with the Jamie Snowden-trained charge having had a run in a chase already. That came over two miles and four furlongs at Worcester, following a credible run at the Cheltenham Festival.

It was no mean feat to record fifth in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, with the 16/1 shot effectively running into the frame. At a slightly bigger price, we have Kingston Pride who has an impressive strike rate. The last success came at Perth over two miles and four furlongs on soft ground, with that coming after a good season over hurdles.

The 10/11 favourite obliged over two miles and five furlongs in a novices’ hurdle where he was effectively racing against one other quality horse. There was also a straightforward maiden hurdle success at Uttoxeter. No Questions Asked is the other decent shout and the seven-year-old was able to score at Ascot at the beginning of November.

2024 John Francome Novices Chase Tips

Caldwell Potter could go off as favourite to win the John Francome Novices’ Chase, with Paul Nicholls training a runner who has landed successes in his previous two races. There was a success at Leopardstown last time out when landing a victory by six and a half lengths, with that coming after fending off twenty-four other runners at Navan.

The Jukebox Man is trained by Ben Pauling and there was a second-placed finish at Aintree last April, with the favourite unable to oblige in the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle. Previously to this, there was another strong performance in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle when the horse was able to finish second over three miles.

Captain Teague had a run out at Exeter recently and the horse might have benefitted from wind surgery, with the runner having been underwhelming in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle although there had been some previous strong form shown. That included a success at Newbury at the end of December and there could be more to come.

Johnnywho produced a fine performance and the seven-year-old was able to win at Carlisle last time out, with that coming after an Aintree performance in April where the horse was fourth in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle. This came after finishing eighth in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

2023 John Francome Novices' Chase Tips

We’ve got several lively contenders when it comes to the 2023 John Francome Novices' Chase, with Hermes Allen regarded as the one to beat. The six-year-old enjoyed some strong form last season when putting up decent performances at Aintree and Cheltenham, with the Paul Nicholls-trained charge finishing third in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle when it came to the former.

At the Festival, Hermes Allen was sent off as the 9/4 favourite in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle before finishing a slightly disappointing sixth, with Nickle Back potentially better value at roughly twice the price. The seven-year-old is bidding for a consecutive hat-trick of wins after landing the spoils in two outings this season.

A massive twenty-four length win at Warwick was followed by another huge victory at Stratford, with the horse looking like an attractive each-way option. However, there could be another big danger in the form of No Ordinary Joe and the Nicky Henderson-trained runner was last seen finishing seventh in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Aintree.

The same horse was second in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, with Colonel Mustard also worthy of consideration. There was a second-placed finish last time out at Down Royal in a field of nine runners, with the horse finding odds-on favourite Found A Fifty too strong in a Beginners Chase encounter.