With the Cheltenham Races only a few days away what better time to see who is within a shout of glory. Now everyone can pick the favourite but here’s three horses that we at ParkLifeSport believe could win you the big bucks.
KING TURGEON – 2.40 Tuesday 11th – Ultima Handicap Chase (12/1)
King Turgeon comes into the Tuesday race, which was won by Chianti Classico in 2024, on the back of being pulled up in the Edinburgh National Handicap Chase at Musselburgh in February.
The French horse is trained by David Pipe, ridden by Jack Tudor and, despite the lack of success in Scotland, has a recent record that looks very enticing. King Turgeon was able to win the Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Coming Soon Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in December a race which it started out at 9/4 and beat out the favourite Chianti Classico with Our Power coming second. Before that victory he had won over 2m 5f at Aintree and 3m 2f at Chepstow but was a non-runner in March at Doncaster due to a pricked foot.
Tuesday’s 2.40 race for the festival has no clear leader in the bookies odds with The Changing Man having the shortest odds but still at the price of 6/1 in what looks like a very even field.
MAXXUM – 2.40 Wednesday 12th – Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (16/1)
Despite being entered into two races, the expectation is that Maxxum will run on the Wednesday at Cheltenham in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle. The Irish horse had a poor end to 2024 but picked up a big win in his last race at Navan in the William Hill Boyne Hurdle as it beat out favourite The devilscoachman and was able to lead after the last and stayed on well inside the final furlong.
The horse was entered into the same race last year, but after the going was declared decided to be a non-runner in a race that was ultimately won by Langer Dan. This year Be Aware, who is also trained by Langer Dan’s trainer Dan Skelton, goes into the race as favourite followed by Wodhooh.
Maxxum did manage to show just before new year that Gordon Elliot’s horse is able to stick in a race when the odds are stacked against it. The horse tracked the leaders well and ultimately finished fourth in a field of 20 twenty horses despite being priced at 40/1.
GIBBS ISLAND – 1.20 Friday 14th – JCB Triumph Hurdle (16/1)
The move from flat racing to jumps has done the trick for Gibbs Island whose stock price has grown dramatically in 2025. The British horse had only won one of 14 races on the flat but is now two in its first two jump races after wins at Sedgefield and Haydock.
There was only half a length between Gibbs Island and Surrey Belle, who has won twice since, in January at Sedgefield as they crossed the line, but with the latter being a 4/7fav it showed an excellent performance to come back from its non-fluent last fence.
Haydock was where the dominance came as it led from two out despite being keen early on and eventually beat Give It To Me Oj by six lengths and had 12 to favourite Lavender Hill Mob.
A first ever visit to Cheltenham awaits Gibbs Island on Friday in the Triumph, as the third highest rated British horse, a race which currently has East India Dock and Lulamba as the current leaders in the odds.
Odds as of writing from bet365 (07/03/25)
