Pulse Racing
Jack Richards Novices'

Detailed race analysis for The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival
* note all data is from 2016 unless otherwise stated.

RACE SUMMARY

First run in 2011, the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase is registered as the Golden Miller Novices’ Chase and became a Grade 2 limited handicap in 2025.

It is open to novice chasers aged five and older, with horses required to have had at least three previous chase starts in Britain, Ireland or France.

Run on the New Course over 2 miles 4 furlongs 127 yards it features 17 fences.

Weights are restricted to a limited range, making it a competitive test of jumping and stamina.

WINNING PROFILE

AVERAGE AGE

6.9

152

AVERAGE OFFICIAL RATING

AVERAGE CHASE RUNS PRIOR

3.2

PATH TO CHELTENHAM

The following races have produced the most Jack Richards Novice' Chase winners since 2016:

(3) Cheltenham December Novices’ Chase (Jockey Club / Racing Club / SSS Super Alloys titles) (Cheltenham, December)
(2) Hampton Novices’ Chase (Warwick, January)

Number of horses that ran in these races and went on to win at Cheltenham that season in brackets.

TRAINER WINS

TRAINER S/R

WINS BY AGE

PULSE STOPPER

Horses priced 10/1+ are 0/63 | 0% (54.8% of the field)

Paul Townend is 0/7 | 0% (all rides were for Mullins)

LTO defeat and winning this race is 4/65 | 6.2% (note since the change to a handicap this is 2/25 | 8.0%)

PULSE INSIGHT

The trainers record is even with Irish-trained 5/47 | 10.6%, British-trained 6/68 | 8.8%

Those fancied in the market have a good record, Fav 2/8 | 25%, 2nd-fav 3/8 | 37.5%, joint/co-fav 2/7 | 28.6%

8/1 or shorter has nine winners from 42 runners 9/42 | 21.4%

Both recent winners (since the change to handicap) ran in defeat in a Grade 2 race the same season

Last-time-out winners: 7/11 from 49 runners, 7/49 | 14.3%

Trainers with strong strike rates include Nicholls 2/10 | 20% and Elliott 2/9 | 22.2%

Former stable jockey to Nicholls, Harry Cobden is 2/6 | 33.3%.

Looking specifically at the last two years runners priced 10/1+ are 0/24 | 0% (64.9% of the field). Runners with any form of aid are 0/20 | 0% (54% of the field)

PULSE EDGE

PULSE SUMMARY

Note the change in race Conditions

Nine years as a Grade 1; two years as a limited handicap. Even though it has switched to a handicap for the last two years both winners ran in a graded race that season and the total is 10/11 (10/77 | 13.0%)

Given the small sample size of two years as a handicap trends will form and caution should be given to past results. For example, LTO win went from a plus (14%) to a blank (0/12) and the same-season graded win went from 5/35 | 14.3% to 0/3 | 0%

PULSE VERDICT

Pulse Rate

Since the change to a limited handicap, both winners were British-trained, beaten last time in a Grade 2 and had already won a novice chase

Pulse Stopper

Paul Townend riding Mullins is 0/7 | 0%

Pulse Insight

Graded form is still relevant since a handicap with both winners running in a Grade 2 as prep 2/17 | 11.8%

Pulse Edge

'25 & '26, 10/1+ 0/24 | 0% (64.9% of the field).

'25 & '26, any form of aid 0/20 | 0% (54% of the field)

< Mares' Novices'

Mares' Hurdle >

ALL DATA FROM 2016 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

LAST UPDATED SEPT 2026

Pulse Racing Jack Richards Novices'

Detailed race analysis for The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival * note all data is from 2016 unless otherwise stated.