The long build-up from the start of the jumps season to the Cheltenham Festival is nearly over. Just four weeks separate racing fans from the best four days of the entire year.
Matty Sutcliffe has been anticipating the beginning since October. His latest ante-post tip for Cheltenham is below, with a second selection of the season in the novices’ handicap chase.
Jack Richards Novices Handicap Chase – Sixmilebridge 9/1 (NRNB) 1pt WIN
I’m still happy with our 33/1 position on Slade Steel for the Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase, who’s now into 16/1 for the contest despite being a beaten favourite once again since publishing the selection, but there’s another I’d like to get onside for the handicap and that’s the Scilly Isles winner Sixmilebridge.
I was deliberating whether to play him at bigger prices for an Arkle or a Brown Advisory, hence the NRNB concession as opposed to playing him at 12s here, but off a mark of 150 and the handicap having no ceiling, the proven 2m4f path looks the most likely option for Sixmilebridge.
The Affinisea gelding has always been held in high regard by The Megsons having contested the Champion Bumper on just his second start, and after winning three Novice Hurdles over 2m4f (albeit disqualified for a banned substance in the latter), they took their chance in the Turner’s. He returned this year with a comfortable chase debut success at Ayr, picking up strongly in the closing stages despite to fend off the highly regarded Derryhassen Paddy. He then went to Cheltenham on the new course over the Jack Richards trip and stepped forward massively, again asserting late on under Kielan Woods and pulling away in good style power up the hill with any amount in hand. That race has thrown up many a Cheltenham Festival clue of late, with last year’s winner and third subsequently winning the Arkle and the Jack Richards, the 2024 renewal saw the first and second reverse that form with each other in the Turner’s Novice Chase, and the 2020 renewal saw the first and third finish second and third respectively in what was then the Marsh Chase.
Sixmilebridge then stepped up to Grade One company in the Scilly Isles at Sandown two weekends ago and while the race was somewhat marred by the early unseat of 10/11F Kitzbuhel, he could hardly have been anymore impressive with how he jumped fluently in front throughout, easily pulling clear of the other two credible rivals late on. He was giving 7lbs to Kala Conti there despite the mare rated the same, and she had previously beaten Arkle hope Kargese by sixteen lengths (which was part of the deliberation for playing Sixmilebridge in the Arkle), and he had Miami Magic six lengths behind in third, who had previously beaten Jack Richards favourite Regent’s Stroll by four lengths despite being in receipt of 5lbs, which would suggest Sixmilebridge would have the beaten of Regent’s Stroll in that respect.
It might not have been the deepest of Grade 1s, but he’s improving with each run and a mark of 150 looks far from beyond him. His prominent style of racing could see a similar performance to how Caldwell Potter won the race last season and given his record at this trip is 11111 (including the DSQ) alongside being 2/2 over C&D, the Jack Richards’ Handicap looks strongly suited to this promising chaser.
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 2.30pm on Tuesday 10 February 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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