Gidleigh Park is set to make his much-anticipated chase debut.
He faces race-fit rivals here and will need to be ready to rock to get off to a winning start.
Here, I will take you through all five runners and give you the positives and negatives of the chances of taking home the Copybet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.
You can also get the best horse racing odds for the Copybet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase with the leading online horse racing bookmakers here.
Copybet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase runner by runner betting guide
Now it’s time to take a in-dept looking into runners of the Copybet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase and the best horse racing bookmakers to help you make a winning bet.
1 Gidleigh Park
- Age: 6
- Weight: 11st 10lb
- Form: /1116
- Rating: 138
- Jockey: Bryan Carver
- Trainer: Harry Fry
- Odds: 11/10
Gidleigh Park was sent into the 2024 Cheltenham Festival as one of the UK’s main hopes of a win.
He came into the Festival with three back-to-back wins over hurdles and a horse who looked on the up, but not all went to plan at Cheltenham.
Having taken a keen hold in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, he never really got into the race and was a well-beaten sixth in the end. But, the age-old saying “whatever he does over hurdles is a bonus” comes to mind when you think of Gidleigh Park.
This big, strong son of Walk In The Park looks like the type that will thrive over a fence, and we should be about to see him take another big step forward this season.
Given his exploits over hurdles last season and with a perfect two from two first-time-out, Gidleigh Park should be hard to beat today, even given he must give weight all around.
Talented hurdler Unbeaten first time out Looks every bit a chaser
Not race fit
Star rating: 
Bet on Gidleigh Park with talkSPORT BET
4 Bad
- Age: 5
- Weight: 10st 12lb
- Form: 3200-2
- Rating: 126
- Jockey: Ben Jones
- Trainer: Ben Pauling
- Odds: 7/2
Bad has to be one of the most frustrating horses in training.
There have been many times when he traded at short odds in running, only to somehow find a way not to get his head in front.
The same thing happened again on his chase debut over course and distance when Bhaloo ran him out of it.
For me, that was his chance to finally get off the mark in the UK. With this much better opposition than he faced last time, it had to make a case for him to turn over Rare Edition, let alone Gidleigh Park.
His best form has come at Ascot Will be race fit Gets weight from all bar one of his rivals
Has yet to win in the UK
Star rating:
2 Rare Edition
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 9lb
- Form: 310-01
- Rating: 137
- Jockey: David Bass
- Trainer: Charlie Longsdon
- Odds: 7/2
Having made himself into quite a useful novice hurdler in 2023, Rare Edition found life tough in the open company last season.
Rare Edition managed to win at his Kempton, where he was a perfect two from two, but when he stepped up into graded company, he struggled.
This season, he made a perfect start to his chasing career at Uttoxeter, holding off the rallying Rambo T, who has since gone on to win.
He should have learned a lot from that run and should prove the most significant danger to Gidleigh Park.
Won on chase debut Have race fitness on his side
Need to improve once again to get to Gidleigh Park’s level
Star rating:
Bet on Rare Edition with Spreadex
3 Riskintheground
- Age: 7
- Weight: 11st 5lb
- Form: 151335
- Rating: 133
- Jockey: Harry Skelton
- Trainer: Dan Skelton
- Odds: 13/2
Riskingtheground has been on the go since May, so you will have no fitness worries with him.
He has proven a good money spinner for the Skeletons by winning four of his last eight runs but was well beaten in the Badger Beer Handicap Chase on his previous start.
Although a faller hampered him, it had little bearing on his finishing position.
He will be dropped out of the back, and if the race were to fall apart, he is more than capable of picking the pieces here.
He’s not one to entirely rule out, but he would be a shock winner.
Has had plenty of chase experience Have race fitness on his side
Has been on the go since May Needs a career best to beat the favourite
Star rating:
Bet on Riskintheground with VBET
5 Bucksy Des Epeires
- Age: 5
- Weight: 10st 7lb
- Form: 24F92-
- Rating: 121
- Jockey: Charlie Deutsch
- Trainer: Venetia Williams
- Odds: 10/1
Bucksy Des Epeires is the type that Venetia Williams does so well with, and he is one that you need to keep on the right side of going forward, but this may be too much for his first start over fences.
He didn’t disgrace himself over hurdles with a win and two seconds six runs for Venetia.
Chasing was always going to be his game, and even though this is a big ask first time out, it wouldn’t be a shock if he outran his odds here, given his weight concession.
He’s a work in progress for the season ahead.
Venetia Williams does well with horses like him In receipt of a lot of weight
This may come too soon First run of the season
Star rating:
Bet on Bucksy Des Epeires with Betfred
Copybet Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase verdict
If he is to scale the heights that we think he is capable of, then GIDLEIGH PARK should have too much in the locker for his rivals today.
This son of Walk In The Park has always looked like he would excel as a chaser, and today should be the start of a successful chasing career.
Rare Edition should chase him home but don’t rule out Bucky Des Epeires running a big race.
About the author
Andrew Halligan
My name is Andrew Halligan, horse racing pundit and founder of YouTube’s The Finishing Line Podcast. Horse racing is a thrilling spectacle that captivates audiences around the world with its blend of drama and excitement. Whether you’re a jumps or flat fan, I will use my experience of working within the horse racing industry to bring the best of what this sport has to offer.
You can follow Andrew on X (@Halligan88).
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Most read in Betting