The countdown towards the 2026 Cheltenham Festival has entered the final two months, with plenty of the pre-match action now behind us.
Matty Sutcliffe has been building a steady ante-post portfolio and is taking aim this week with a former Cheltenham Festival winner on his side.
His selection this week comes in the ante-post betting for the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase on Thursday 12 March and is backed to regain his best form at Prestbury Park.
Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase – Slade Steel 33/1 1pt EW 4 places
The Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase market is currently headed by both Miami Magic and Regent’s Stroll, who finished in that order in a course and distance novice chase here on New Year’s Day and while that pair have to be respected, there’s another former Cheltenham winner down the market who catches the eye at the odds.
The 2024 Supreme Novices’ winner Slade Steel is winless since his one length success over Mystical Power two seasons ago, but he’s only had just four runs over fences since and crucially still remains a novice. A second season novice chaser doesn’t immediately catch the eye as it would suggest he’s not improved for fences, but neither of his four runs have been devoid of promise.
He was beaten at 1/2F on chase debut last season when looking a tad lacklustre, but the winner was beaten a head in the Grade 1 Drinmore next time out and then won a Grade 2 novice chase at Navan by a neck, beating the former Albert Bartlett winner Stellar Story.
Slade Steel was a beaten favourite again in a beginners’ chase next time out, but once more the form has worked out in his favour as the length winner Lecky Watson franked it in Grade 3 company next time out before taking the Brown Advisory in good style, beating Stellar Story.
Slade Steel wasn’t seen again that season and made his reappearance at Navan last month where he was only beaten a length by the former smart novice hurdler Predators Gold, who ran creditably next time out despite a beaten favourite himself in a race which was run at a crawl. Slade Steel pulled ten lengths clear of Wingmen in third there, who was behind Kaid d’Authie a similar margin next time out who was only beaten a length by the subsequent Kauto Star winner Kitzbuhel on his chasing debut, and on a line through Wingmen’s form, Slade Steel would only have three lengths to find with the impressive Brown Advisory favourite.
He had jumped much better at Punchestown next time out at the end of the year before being unavoidably brought down, and I wouldn’t be surprised should the yard preserve his mark now for March. There is the argument that given they stepped him up to three miles last time out they believe he may need further to flourish over fences, but he’s evidently got enough gears to cope with an intermediate trip given he’s a dual bumper and Supreme winner.
A mark of 147 looks more than workable for a horse with multiple high class graded form-lines, and at 33/1 I’m willing to take a chance that should they send him down this route he could be a knocking bet with a plethora of experience to count on in novice company.
FAQs: Cheltenham Festival ante-post tips
When & where is the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase run?
The Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase will take place on Thursday 12 March 2026 at 2.00pm at the Cheltenham Festival.
When was this Cheltenham ante-post tip published?
This Cheltenham ante-post tip was published at 10.10am on Tuesday 13 January 2026.
Who is Matty Sutcliffe?
Matty Sutcliffe is one of GG’s newest contributors and is now a regular guest on our flagship Weekend Watch podcast. His angle is value bets, making him a perfect fit for our Cheltenham Festival ante-post series.
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