Gavin Beech: three ante-post bets for 2025

Race: Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March Odds: 9-2. 

The Champion Chase market is dominated by Jonbon but, for whatever reason, he’s never been able to show his best form at Cheltenham and he looks there to be shot at in a showpiece race like the Queen Mother Champion Chase. 

With doubts about such as Energumene and El Fabiolo, who was sent off 2-9 in last year’s edition, the one who appeals most at the prices is GAELIC WARROR. 

His demolition job in last season’s Arkle Chase was, by some distance, a career-best performance, which should have put to bed any doubts about him being fully effective on left-handed tracks. 

He wasn’t at his best at Leopardstown on his return but he’s never been able to show his best form at that track, so that’s not a run to hang your hat on. 

If Willie Mullins has him primed for March, he’s the one who can take down Jonbon and he surely won’t be anything like 9/2 on the day, especially if we get another small field. 

Race: Grand National at Aintree in April Odds: 25-1. 

JP McManus won last year’s Grand National with I Am Maximus and the leading owner has a fine chance of striking again with the up-and-coming IROKO, who had enough class to finish second in a Grade One as a novice.  

Still lightly raced over fences, Irokoshapes for all the world like a horse that is going to shine over marathon trips and connections have made no secret of the fact that they regard him as a Grand National prospect. 

Anyone who backed him at 11/8 at Haydock on reappearance would have been disappointed they didn’t collect on the day but that was a hugely encouraging effort in defeat (front two pulled a long way clear) behind a horse who ran at least as well in a strong race at Ascot next time. 

Iroko didn’t get the chance to build on that at Ascot but that wasn’t his fault – his jumping is very good in the main - and his season is now going to be all about having him primed for Aintree in April. 

Race: 1,000 Guineas Odds: 3-1. 

LAKE VICTORIA was an outstanding two-year-old and, provided she gets through the winter unscathed, she looks by some distance the most likely winner of the first fillies’ Classic of the 2025 Flat season. 

The key question with Lake Victoria isn’t around her ability, but what sort of trip is going to be her optimum this year. 

She clearly has speed in spades having won a Group One over six furlongs, but she was so strong in the finish when jumping up to a mile at the Breeders’ Cup that there will be some that think she has the potential to go up further in trip this year and potentially be an Oaks filly. 

She is by Sea The Stars, but her dam was a sprinter so the safest way to play her is surely by backing her to win the Guineas, which is nailed-on to be her early season target. 

The great thing about this filly is that not only do we know she is top class, but also that she handles the Rowley Mile, having bolted up in the Cheveley Park. 

Described by Aidan O’Brien as ‘very special’, it’s unlikely that she’ll be anything like 3-1 on the day.