Top 2024 Bobbyjo Chase odds and tips

The Grand National is edging closer onto the horizon and we have a key trial over in Ireland this weekend, in the form of the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse.

The great Hedgehunter won this race on his way to Grand National glory in 2005 and while he remains the only Bobbyjo winner to go on and taste success at Aintree, some seriously smart horses have won this over the years, including the 2022 National runner-up Any Second Now and the multiple Grade 1 winner Kemboy. 

There’s a small but select field of four runners due to take their chance on Saturday, but there ought to be plenty of Grand National clues on offer for punters, with each of the prospective runners having entries for Aintree.

The quartet of runners includes two key Grand National fancies in the form of the Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus and the current 10/1 ante-post favourite for Aintree at the time of writing, last year’s runner-up Vanillier. 

With so much to sort through, we’ve put together the best Bobbyjo Chase odds, tips and free bet offers below for you in this handy guide.

Here are some of our favourite betting sites for horse racing.

We’re all set for a top quality renewal of the Bobbyjo Chase, with an excellent field of four runners set to head to post. 

Each of the four runners have a Grand National entry at Aintree in April, meaning that the Bobbyjo Chase ought to tell us plenty about the Merseyside spectacular. The Bobbyjo Chase looks a tight betting heat at the moment and we’ve listed the latest Bobbyjo Chase odds for you below. 

Please note that all prices listed are from William Hill and are subject to change. 

• I AM MAXIMUS (Willie Mullins) at 6/4
• VANILLIER (Gavin Cromwell) at 7/4
• MINELLA CROONER (Gordon Elliott) at 11/4
• FURY ROAD (Gordon Elliott) at 16/1

The Grade 3 Tote.ie Bobbyjo Chase is seen as one of the key trials for the Grand National at Aintree, meaning that the winner needs to have a mixture of class and stamina if they are to come out on top. The Willie Mullins-trained I Am Maximus heads the market at the time of writing, but we feel it may be worth taking him on with a horse with a proven pedigree on Merseyside. 

There may be just four runners heading to post, but this year’s Bobbyjo Chase is a hugely intriguing affair and it could be worth siding with Vanillier to warm up for the Grand National with victory.

Last year’s Grand National runner-up is the 10/1 ante-post favourite to go one place better this time around and while he’s shown very little meaningful form in three starts so far this season, it’s highly likely that he will prove to be a different proposition now that the National weights have been released. 

In receipt of weight from the field and returned to a more favourable trip, the nine-year-old is fancied to go close here, with the forecast heavy conditions posing no issues. 

Hedgehunter was the last horse to win both the Bobbyjo and the Grand National in the same season and Vanillier is fancied to showcase his Aintree credentials here for the Gavin Cromwell team. 

With each of the four runners having an entry for this year’s Grand National, the Bobbyjo Chase looks highly likely to prove to be a hugely informative affair. 

Hedgehunter is the only horse to win both the Bobbyjo and the Grand National in the same season, but with two key ante-post fancies for Aintree lining up this time around in I Am Maximus and Vanillier, there’s every chance that record could be improved this year. 

With plenty on the line, we’ve looked at the chances at each of the four Bobbyjo Chase runners below. Please note that all odds listed are subject to change.

Last year’s Irish Grand National winner, who is a 25/1 chance for the English version at the time of writing. Showed stamina a plenty when winning the Irish National here last April and continued his progression back here in December, when winning a Grade 1 novice over two and a half miles.

Well held by Galopin Des Champs in two starts since up against the big boys and although this is an easier assignment, it is a tough ask conceding weight to the field.  

Last year’s Grand National runner-up, who is the 10/1 ante-post favourite for the Aintree race this time around. Has yet to show any meaningful form in three starts so far this term, finishing down the field in a handicap at Leopardstown earlier this month, though he will likely prove to be a different proposition now that his weight for the Grand National is locked in.

Finished a solid second behind Kemboy on his way to Aintree last term and considering he’s in receipt of weight from the field, it would be no surprise to see him go very close now returned to staying trips. 

Lightly-raced eight-year-old who has long appealed as one who relishes a stamina test. Things haven’t always gone to plan for him, being pulled-up in last year’s National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, though he returned to form with a stamina-laden victory in a Listed contest at Wexford in November.

Has been hit and miss in two starts since, though he stayed on well when third in a Grade 3 contest at Thurles in January. Would likely need to take a step forward for win purposes, but not one to rule out in heavy ground, particularly if this becomes a war of attrition. 

Very smart campaigner who has won twice from 14 runs over fences, including at Grade 1 level as a novice back in 2021. Enjoyed a fairly productive season last term but has largely struggled since falling in last year’s Grand National, most recently being beaten by 69 lengths over the cross-country fences at Cheltenham in December. Has to carry an 8lbs penalty here by virtue of his Grade 2 win at Down Royal in November 2022 and while it isn’t completely out of the realms of possibility, he would likely have to get right back to his very best to take this.

Placing a bet on horse racing can seem complicated if you’re new to it, but it’s a relatively simple task once you know how. We’ve put together this simple guide to placing a bet on the Bobbyjo Chase.

1. Sign into your betting account. If you don’t already have one, we recommend each of Ladbrokes, Paddy Power or BoyleSports.
2. If you don’t have a betting account, head to the betting site you’ve picked out and click ‘sign up’. Make sure you enter any promotional codes you may need for any free bet offers.
3. Once you have signed up for an account, select a horse in the Bobbyjo Chase. You can view all the runners by navigating to the ‘horse racing’ section. 
4. Look for the racing taking place on Saturday 24 February and find the meeting at Fairyhouse. Select the Bobbyjo Chase, which is the 3.50pm race. 
5. Select the horse you want to bet on and click on the price next to your selection. Once you have done that, you should see your chosen horse appear in the bet slip. 
6. . If you wanted to place a £1 win bet, you would place a ‘1’ into the box. Make sure you select each-way if you want to do that.
7. Your potential returns should then appear in the betslip. 
8. Once you are completely happy with everything, you can place the bet. 
9. Your Bobbyjo Chase bet should be placed. Best of luck!

There may be just four runners for this year’s Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase, but it is shaping up into a high-quality renewal. There are plenty of great sign up offers available from bookmakers as a result and we’ve picked out three that have caught our attention.

You can get a £20 free bet with Ladbrokes when you sign up for an account and stake £5 on the horse racing. To qualify, sign up for an account and place a qualifying bet of at least £5 at odds of 1/2 or greater. Once that bet has settled, your account will be credited with 4 x £5 free bets, which must be used within seven days. 

Paddy Power are offering new customers up to £50 in sports free bets as money back if any of your first five bets lose. To qualify, sign up for an account and place 5 x £10 bets on the horse racing at minimum odds of evens or greater. If any of those bets lose, your account will be credited with a free bet. You can get up to £50 in total if all five bets are unsuccessful.

New customers can get a £25 bet bundle with BoyleSports. To qualify, sign up for an account and place a £10 bet on the horse racing at minimum odds of 1/2 to unlock a £5 free bet once that bet has settled. After that, you will unlock a free bet equivalent to 50% of your average stake on your next three bets, to a total free bet amount of £5. You can repeat this process an additional three times, for a total amount of £25 in free bets. 

The Bobbyjo Chase has quickly become one of the key trials for the Grand National at Aintree since being established in 2003, with some smart winners during that time. 

The most successful trainer in the Bobbyjo Chase, as you may have guessed, is the unstoppable Willie Mullins. The master of Closutton has a staggering 12 winners in the race, which have come courtesy of Hedgehunter (2005), Homer Wells (2007), The Midnight Club (2011), Prince De Beauchene (2012), On His Own (2014), Boston Bob (2016), Pleasant Company (2017), Belshill (2018), Rathvinden (2019), Acapella Bourgeois (2020 and 2021) and Kemboy (2023).

The jockey with the best record in the Bobbyjo Chase is the great Ruby Walsh, with four wins. Walsh’s victories came with Prince De Beauchene (2012), On His Own (2014), Boston Bob (2016) and Pleasant Company (2017).

 Run over a distance of three miles and one a half furlongs, the Grade 3 Bobbyjo Chase is a recognised trial for the Grand National at Aintree. 

The race is around a mile shorter than the National itself but still provides a stern test of stamina and has an ideal placing in the calendar, around 7/8 weeks before Aintree. Hedgehunter is the only horse to win both races in the same season, doing so for Willie Mullins in 2005. 

There have been plenty of smart winners of the race since, including On His Own (2014), Pleasant Company (2017), Acapella Bourgeois (2020 and 2021), Any Second Now (2022) and Kemboy (2023).

The Grade 3 Tote.ie Bobbyjo Chase is held at Fairyhouse Racecourse in Ireland and is recognised as one of the key trials for the Grand National on the other side of the Irish Sea. 

Traditionally held on the final Saturday in February, the race is generally around 5/7 weeks before the Grand National, meaning it has an ideal place in the calendar as a trial race for Aintree. 

• The Tote.ie Bobbyjo Chase will take place at Fairyhouse Racecourse this weekend. The full address is Fairyhouse Racecourse, Fairyhouse Rd, Ballybin, Ratoath, Co. Meath, A85 XK30, Ireland.
• The Bobbyjo Chase headlines one of the biggest cards of the year at Fairyhouse, which is set to take place on Saturday 24 February 2024, with the big race due off at 3.50pm. 
• You can watch the Bobbyjo Chase live on Racing TV. Unfortunately, the race isn’t due to be shown on ITV Racing as it stands, but if you don’t have Racing TV you should be able to stream the race with most bookmakers. Please check that this feature is available with your betting site before placing any bets. 

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