Championship Day | Tuesday 10th March 2026 | 4:40pm | 2m5f Premier Handicap Chase
Last updated: January 2026 | Data source: HorseRaceBase
The Plate Handicap Chase 2026 trends reveal this is one of the most competitive handicaps at the Festival. Formerly known as the Brown Advisory Plate, this 2m5f chase typically attracts quality second-season chasers and improvers. Interestingly, the market leader has an excellent record here, so favourites deserve serious respect when analysing the Plate Handicap Chase 2026 betting.
💰 Key Finding
Favourites win 50% of the time (4/8 last 8 years). Cheltenham trial winners dominate.
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Plate Handicap Chase 2026 Ante-Post Market
Defending champion Jagwar heads the market after his impressive 2025 victory. The field is typically large with 20+ runners.
| Horse | Trainer | Odds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jagwar | Greenall/Guerriero | 8/1 | 2025 winner, 3rd Dec Gold Cup |
| Vincenzo | - | 10/1 | Market mover |
| Gold Dancer | - | 10/1 | - |
| Kim Roque | - | 12/1 | - |
| Kaid dAuthie | - | 14/1 | - |
| Ginnys Destiny | Paul Nicholls | 14/1 | 7th 2025 Plate, weakened Late Jan trial |
| Regents Stroll | - | 14/1 | - |
| Booster Bob | - | 16/1 | - |
| Thecompanysergeant | Gavin Cromwell | 16/1 | 2nd 2025 Plate |
| Panic Attack | - | 16/1 | Won Coral Gold Cup Nov 2025 |
| Matata | N Twiston-Davies | 20/1 | 🔥 Won NYD G3 2026 - key trial winner! |
| Il Ridoto | Paul Nicholls | 25/1 | 2nd NYD G3 2026 |
| Grandeur d'Ame | Alan King | 50/1 | 2nd Late Jan 2025, 3rd NYD 2026 |
| Moon d'Orange | John McConnell | 50/1 | Won Late Jan 2025, 5th NYD 2026 |
Plate Handicap Chase 2026 Trial Paths
When examining the Plate Handicap Chase 2026 trends, it's clear that Cheltenham trials dominate the winning paths. Moreover, the January handicaps at Cheltenham are particularly productive, although some big-priced winners have also emerged from smaller routes.
| Previous Race | Winners | P/L | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham G3 2m4.5f Hcp (Late Jan) | 2 | +21.5 | Key trial - Cheltenham form essential |
| Cheltenham NYD G3 2m4.5f Hcp | 2 | +39 | New Year's Day trial |
| Cheltenham Novices Hcp Chase (Jan) | 2 | +3.33 | Jagwar's 2025 route |
| Newbury Gold Cup Handicap | 1 | +65 | Big price route |
| Wincanton 2m4f Hcp Chase (Class 3) | 1 | +50 | Under the radar |
| December Gold Cup (Cheltenham) | 1 | +1.5 | Cheltenham form |
| Sandown 1m7.5f Hcp (Scilly Isles day) | 1 | +24 | Speed test route |
| Leopardstown Jan Hcp Chase | 1 | +15 | Irish route |
| Leopardstown Late Dec Hcp Chase | 1 | +20 | Irish Christmas route |
| Ten Up Novice Chase | 1 | +14 | Novice chase route |
| Classic Chase (Warwick) | 1 | +16 | Stamina test route |
💡 Key Insight: Cheltenham form is absolutely crucial for this race - specifically, the January G3 handicaps and December Gold Cup have produced 5 winners combined. Therefore, always prioritise horses who've already shown they handle the track.
Plate Handicap Chase 2026 Profiler Sweet Spots
| Factor | Sweet Spot | Wins/Runs | Win% | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Position | Favourite | 4/12 | 33% | +5.58 |
| Market Position | 8th favourite | 2/11 | 18% | +29 |
| Market Position | 10th favourite | 1/11 | 9% | +10 |
| Market Position | 16th favourite | 1/17 | 6% | +17 |
| Previous Finish | Won LTO (1st) | 7/43 | 16% | +21.08 |
| Previous Finish | 7th LTO | 3/15 | 20% | +48 |
| Age | 6yo | 3/22 | 14% | +2.5 |
| Age | 10yo | 2/43 | 5% | -13 |
| Age | 11yo | 1/12 | 8% | +11 |
| OR Range | OR 143 | 2/13 | 15% | +17 |
| OR Range | OR 145 | 2/26 | 8% | +12 |
| Days Since Run | 61-90 days | 3/47 | 6% | +17 |
| Runs (365 days) | 7 runs | 3/26 | 12% | +15.25 |
| Wins at Distance | 1 win at 2m5f | 7/55 | 13% | +0.08 |
| Last Track | Cheltenham LTO | 6/58 | 10% | +21.83 |
Plate Handicap Chase 2026 Trainer Records
Interestingly, no trainer dominates this race consistently. However, a few have shown they can target it successfully. In contrast, the bigger yards (Elliott, Mullins, Nicholls, Henderson) have surprisingly poor records here.
| Trainer | Wins | Runs | Win% | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greenall/Guerriero | 1 | 1 | 100% | +3 |
| John McConnell | 1 | 4 | 25% | +17 |
| Ben Pauling | 1 | 5 | 20% | +4 |
| Emmet Mullins | 1 | 2 | 50% | +1.25 |
| Evan Williams | 1 | 7 | 14% | +16 |
| Gordon Elliott | 1 | 17 | 6% | -11 |
| Willie Mullins | 0 | 8 | 0% | -8 |
| Paul Nicholls | 0 | 14 | 0% | -14 |
| Nicky Henderson | 0 | 11 | 0% | -11 |
| Jockey | Wins | Runs | Win% | P/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryan Cooper | 2 | 4 | 50% | +28 |
| Jonjo O'Neill Jr | 1 | 2 | 50% | +2 |
| Adam Wedge | 1 | 6 | 17% | +17 |
| Ben Jones | 1 | 2 | 50% | +7 |
| Gavin Sheehan | 1 | 4 | 25% | +0.33 |
Plate Handicap Chase 2025 Result
🏆 Plate Handicap Chase 2025
1st: Jagwar (3/1F) - Greenall/Guerriero, J O'Neill Jr - OR 139, 6yo - won by 2.75L
2nd: Thecompanysergeant (4/1) - Cromwell, C Stone-Walsh - rallied after last, no extra final 50yds
3rd: Masaccio (11/1) - King, T Cannon - kept on from last
4th: Mars Harper (100/1) - Elliott - stayed on well from last (huge improver)
Jagwar came from the Cheltenham Novices Handicap Chase (Jan) where he won at 4/1. Classic Cheltenham form route.
Plate Handicap Chase 2026 Key Trial Form
Cheltenham NYD G3 2m4.5f Hcp Chase (1 Jan 2026) ✅ RUN
1st: Matata (6/1) - Twiston-Davies - OR 154, 8yo - led 3 out, forged away, won by 9.5L
2nd: Il Ridoto (6/1) - Nicholls - OR 139 - chased winner, held
3rd: Grandeur d'Ame (14/1) - King - OR 134 - ran on late
5th: Moon d'Orange (7/1) - McConnell - never involved
UR: Twinjets (4/1F) - bad mistake 7th
🎯 MATATA is now a key Plate contender - won the trial that's produced 2 Plate winners (+39 P/L). OR 154 puts him top weight but Twiston-Davies has 0/9 record in Plate historically.
Cheltenham Late Jan G3 2m4.5f Hcp Chase (25 Jan 2025)
1st: Moon d'Orange (7/2JF) - McConnell - OR 129, 7yo - waited with, led at last, all out
2nd: Grandeur d'Ame (20/1) - King - OR 136 - led before 2 out, rallied gamely, just failed SH
3rd: Imperial Saint (9/2) - Hobbs
10th: Ginnys Destiny (7/2JF) - Nicholls - led, weakened rapidly before last
Moon d'Orange won this path last year but disappointed in NYD 2026 (5th). Grandeur d'Ame keeps placing.
Cheltenham Jan Novices Hcp Chase (25 Jan 2025)
1st: Jagwar (4/1) - Greenall - OR 132, 6yo - patiently ridden, led run-in, stayed on well
2nd: Billytherealbigred (7/4F) - Greenall - stablemate
3rd: Masaccio (11/1) - King - went on to finish 3rd in Plate
This was Jagwar's route to Plate victory. Watch for this year's winner.
December Gold Cup (Cheltenham, 13 Dec 2025)
Key for Plate: Jagwar 3rd (11/4F) - towards rear, not clear run before 2 out, switched left and went 3rd, kept on but always held. OR now 148.
Jagwar's rating has risen from 139 (2025 Plate) to 148 - significant 9lb rise. Still handles the track.
Trials Still To Run
- Cheltenham G3 2m4.5f Hcp Chase (Late Jan 2026) - THE key trial: 2 winners, +21.5 P/L 🔥
- Cheltenham Novices Hcp Chase (Late Jan 2026) - Jagwar's 2025 route: 2 winners
- Sandown Hcp Chase (Scilly Isles day, Feb) - 1 winner, +22 P/L
- Kempton G3 3m Hcp Chase (Late Feb) - 0 winners but 8 runners
Plate Handicap Chase 2026 Betting Strategy
✅ BACK
- The favourite (50% win rate last 8 years)
- Cheltenham January trial winners
- Horses who won LTO (+21 P/L)
- 6yo horses (14% win rate)
- OR 140-145 range
- Cheltenham track form essential
- Smaller trainers over big yards
❌ AVOID
- Willie Mullins (0/8)
- Paul Nicholls (0/14)
- Nicky Henderson (0/11)
- 50/1+ outsiders (0/45)
- Horses 2nd LTO (0/34)
- Horses 3rd LTO (0/39)
- 12yo horses (0/6)
Plate Handicap Chase 2026 Contenders
| Horse | Odds | Fits Trends? |
|---|---|---|
| Jagwar | 8/1 | ✅ 2025 winner, Cheltenham form, Greenall 100%, BUT OR risen 139→148 |
| Matata | 20/1 | ✅ NYD 2026 winner - winning path match (+39 P/L)! BUT OR 154 (top weight), Twiston-Davies 0/9 |
| Il Ridoto | 25/1 | ⚠️ 2nd NYD 2026, Nicholls 0/14 but Cheltenham form |
| Grandeur d'Ame | 50/1 | ⚠️ 2nd Late Jan 2025, 3rd NYD 2026 - keeps placing but not winning |
| Moon d'Orange | 50/1 | ⚠️ Won Late Jan 2025 trial BUT 5th NYD 2026 - form dipped |
| Thecompanysergeant | 16/1 | ⚠️ 2nd 2025 Plate, Cromwell, BUT 2nd LTO = 0/34 winners |
| Ginnys Destiny | 14/1 | ❌ Nicholls 0/14, weakened rapidly Late Jan 2025 |
| Panic Attack | 16/1 | ⚠️ Coral Gold Cup winner - stamina test, not pure Plate trial |
💡 Bottom Line: Matata at 20/1 looks the value play for the Plate Handicap Chase 2026 - he won the NYD trial that's produced 2 winners (+39 P/L). Although OR 154 is high and Twiston-Davies has poor Plate form, the trial path match is compelling. Meanwhile, Jagwar (8/1F) has proven Cheltenham form but his 9lb rise is concerning. Additionally, watch for improvers from the Late January Cheltenham G3 - that's THE key trial still to run. Finally, remember that the big yards (Mullins, Nicholls, Henderson) have terrible records here.
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Data source: HorseRaceBase Big Race Trends | Last updated: January 2026 | See also: Racing Post Cheltenham Guide
Related: Ultima Handicap Trends | Grand Annual Trends | Festival Hub