Lightning Novices Chase Betting Odds

There are seven horses set to go to post in the Lightning Novices' Chase and it's hard to draw a line through any of these runners. Be Aware has been runner-up on consecutive occasions but is regarded as the strong favourite to claim a success over two miles. Dan Skelton's seven-year-old can certainly put up a strong performance.

However, the odds imply that another horse from the field is likely to beat the market leader. Perhaps No Questions Asked will be able to pip the favourite, with Ben Pauling's eight-year-old regularly hitting the frame this term. Hansard and Alnilam are other contenders who can't be easily dismissed.

2026 Lightning Novices' Chase Betting Tips

The Lightning Novices' Chase is a difficult puzzle to work out. It might be that Be Aware is just too good for the rest of the field. At the end of October, the horse was able to score at Stratford when the 5/4 favourite was able to win by four lengths. Two weeks later, there was a bright performance at Cheltenham Racecourse in an Arkle Trial Novices' Chase.

There was no disgrace in finishing second last time out either. The horse was always going to find it a tall order to get the better of Lulamba. The outing in the Betfair Henry VIII Novices' Chase saw Be Aware finish within ten lengths of the short-priced favourite and we might expect a really strong showing at Windsor on Friday.

No Questions Asked has finished first, second and third this season. The Ben Pauling-trained charge claimed a victory against two other horses at Ascot at the beginning of November. A few weeks later, the runner ran into second at Newbury in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices' Chase, with the horse disappointing as favourite at Ascot last time out.

Hansard began the campaign with a fourth-placed finish at Kempton although the horse has found improvement since then. There was a December success at Lingfield when fending off a small field and the latest effort came at Kempton. Stepping up to a Grade Two encounter in the form of the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase, the 14/1 shot ran well over two miles.

2025 Fitzdares Lightning Novices' Chase Tips

Caldwell Potter was able to land a notable five length victory at Carlisle at the beginning of December, with the seven-year-old returning after nearly a year’s absence to claim the spoils. However, he was unable to deliver the goods as the short-priced favourite in a recent outing at Cheltenham where he was thirteen lengths off the pace.

L'Eau du Sud is definitely a horse worth following right now. Dan Skelton trains a seven-year-old who claimed a solid victory at Stratford in late October, although the horse has gone on to impress at Cheltenham and Sandown. Both successes were achieved as the 10/11 favourite and there’s no reason for punters to desert him now.

Gidleigh Park could be a viable each-way selection, with the seven-year-old hoping to get back to successful ways after being pulled up last time out. There was some smart form shown at Cheltenham Racecourse a year ago when scoring as the 5/6 favourite before finishing sixth in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Personal Ambition was second at Ascot in a field of four runners last time out, with the horse just over two lengths behind Mark Of Gold in the Howden Noel Novices’ Chase. There was also a commendable fourth placed finish in a two mile handicap race at Newbury Racecourse and we can see the horse hitting the frame here.