Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Odds: Ballyburn attracts at Evens

The second race on day two of the Cheltenham Festival is the Brown Advisory (14:00), which has a familiar name at the head of the betting. 

Here are the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Odds 2025...

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase Odds

Ballyburn @ 1/1

Last year's Gallagher Novices' Hurdle winner steps up in distance to just over three miles, after winning a Grade 1 win over fences at Leopardstown last time out. The seven-year-old had previously been beaten by Sir Gino at Kempton, after a couple of bad jumping mistakes that broke a string of five straight wins.

Willie Mullins' horse fits all the usual trends to succeed in this race and has Paul Townend on board, but the extra distance might be of concern at this short of a price.

Dancing City @ 9/2

Another from the Closutton stable, this French-bred eight-year-old is in a fine vein of form, winning his last four races and showed no problems in moving from hurdles to the fences.

A beginners' chase was a walk in the park at Punchestown but then was followed by a Grade 1 win in the Naas Novice Chase in January, where he made all throughout.

Could this be a Mullins 1-2?

Better Days Ahead @ 6/1

If there is going to be a horse to break that Mullins monopoly, then maybe it will come in the form of the Gordon Elliott-trained Better Days Ahead.

Having won here in 2024 in the Martin Pipe, he went chasing in November and won on debut at Navan. He followed that up by losing by a head to stablemate Croke Park, before overturning fellow Cullentra House companions in Stellar Story and Three Card Brag, in a Grade 2 chase again in Co. Meath.

Gorgeous Tom @ 10/1

Henry De Bromhead also has a shout in this one with the seven-year-old Gorgeous Tom.

After an impressive run of form over hurdles, he has picked up two chase victories including a Grade 3 win at Cork in November, which will have been encouraging after suffering a fall in the previous race at Tipperary, when travelling well.

The son of Champs Elysees finished fourth behind Croke Park last time out but was finishing strongly and was only beaten by a length.

Cheltenham Betting Odds

Stellar Story @ 12/1

The aforementioned Stellar Story picked up the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Festival last year but has since been beaten twice by Better Days Ahead over fences and may not have the jumping prowess to challenge for the lead here.

Lecky Watson @ 14/1

The last two in the field form the rest of the four Mullins runners and in Lecky Watson we have a gelding with a 100% strike rate over fences.

A beginners' chase win at Naas was followed by a Grade 3 win at Punchestown in January. The distance and higher class of other contenders could be a problem, however.

Quai De Bourbon @ 20/1

Last but not least is Quai De Bourbon, who won last time out at Gowran Park over 2m 4f. That win will have provided some encouragement but this six-year-old could be out of his depth here.

Offers:

Betfred are paying 3 places instead of the usual 2 on the Brown Advisory...

Selected race(s). Applies to Each Way, Single & Multiple bets only. Antepost bets don’t apply. Min. runner rules apply. T&Cs Apply.

*Selected UK & Irish races. Free Bets, Antepost, Tote, Lucky 15/31/63 bets don’t apply. Eligible from 08:00 on day of race. Excludes Super Extra Place Races. T&Cs Apply.

You can read all our latest Cheltenham Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights content hub.