Saturday sees the final Grade 1 contest of the British National Hunt season as the Celebration Chase takes pride of place on bet365 Finale Day at Sandown. Relatively new to the jumps racing program, this 1m7½f event first appeared under the name of the Championship Chase in 2001.
Despite that short lifespan, this £175,000 contest has quickly compiled a mightily impressive roll of honour, featuring the names of Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Twist Magic, and more.
Given the prize money on offer, the 2025 edition of this cracking event is likely to have a significant bearing on the British Trainers’ Championship. For punters, it represents the last chance of the season to back a British Grade 1 winner. With that in mind, we look back at the ten editions of the race between 2014 and 2024 (no race in 2020) and highlight a selection of stats and trends which may help identify the most likely contenders in 2025.
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Fate of the Favourite
The market leader has an excellent recent record in this event, with eight of the ten editions in our sample falling to the favourite. Five of those winning favourites returned an odds-on SP, but a £1 level stakes punt on the jolly still returned a £5.02 profit. All ten winners returned a single-figure SP, with 13/2 chance Greaneteen causing the biggest “shock” in 2021.
Top Trainers
Perennial rivals Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson share the all-time lead in this event with seven wins apiece. Henderson held the edge in our sample with six wins between 2016 and 2024. The master of Seven Barrows sends 2023 and 2024 winner Jonbon into battle this year. Paul Nicholls has Rubaud and Sans Brut amongst the current list of entries, whilst Henry De Bromhead may be represented by Captain Guinness. Gary Moore is without an entry in 2025.
Age of Winner: Seven to Eight Dominates
The Celebration Chase is open to runners aged five and older. However, none so young has ever come home in front. The six-year-olds Well Chief (2005) and Sanctuaire (2012) are the joint youngest winners. At the other end of the scale, the ten-year-olds Cenkos and Sprinter Sacre share the oldest winner record. In recent years, those aged seven or eight have held the edge, with eight of the ten winners in our sample falling into that bracket.
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Proven in the Grade
The names mentioned in our intro suggest this prize often falls to an established 2m Chase star. Recent results back up this suggestion, with nine of the ten winners in our sample already having at least one Grade 1 win to their name.
Recent Run an Advantage
Coming so late in the season, it makes sense that most winners would have a recent racecourse appearance to their name. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that nine of the ten winners in our sample had appeared within the previous 14-46 days.
Course Form
Course form is always worth considering, particularly at a track as distinctive as Sandown. With the rapid-fire Railway Fences, the chase course presents a unique test of jumping ability. With eight of ten winners having a course win to their name, recent results suggest that a proven ability to pass that test counts for plenty.
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Rating of Winner
With Sprinter Sacre (2016) and Altior (2018 & 2019) winning off sky-high ratings of 175, the trendline in our sample almost inevitably shows a downward trend. However, it is worth noting that no winner arrived with a rating of less than 159.
Arriving in Form
In a field containing a selection of the most talented 2m chasers in training, logic would suggest it pays to arrive in form. Recent Celebration Chase results support this theory. Seven of the ten winners in our sample also scored last time out, whilst all ten finished in the first five on their most recent racecourse appearance.
Other Factors
All ten winners had won over the distance
Nicky Henderson’s Number one Nico de Boinville was the leading rider with five wins
Seven of ten winners ran at the Cheltenham Festival last time out
Betting Recommendations: Jonbon Still Number One
As a nine-year-old, Jonbon falls down on the age trend. However, he hits every other key stat, knows what it takes to prevail, having claimed the past two editions of this, and arrives on the back of an impressive success in the Melling Chase at Aintree. He deserves his status as the clear favourite and can join Altior as a three-time Celebration Chase winner.
Expected odds of 8/13 won’t be for everyone. For those looking to take the market leader on, the Willie Mullins duo of Impaire Et Passe and Gaelic Warrior come out next best on the trends. Both would be taking a drop in trip from their recent outings, but the tentative each-way vote goes to Gaelic Warrior, who enjoys going right-handed and is actually 1lb superior to Jonbon, according to the official handicapper.
Recommended Win Bet - Jonbon @ Best morning price
Recommended Each Way Bet - Gaelic Warrior @ Best morning price
