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2022 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Tips - Two to back in Ladies' Day opener

jon-vine
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Last updated: 16 Feb 2022
Jon Vine 16 Feb 2022
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  • Ante-post tips and odds for the 2022 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
  • This Grade One takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 16th March 2022
  • Sir Gerhard is our best bet in the race if declared
  • Three Stripe Life also features in our betting tips
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sir gerhard
Sir Gerhard (right) defeats Three Stripe Life (left) at the Dublin Racing Festival. (Getty)

Day two at the Cheltenham Festival begins with the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. Many legends of the sport have claimed their first major prize over obstacles in this two-and-a-half mile contest, with the names of Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Faugheen standing out on the roll of honour.

In the latest installment of our Cheltenham Festival tips series, I’ve taken a look through the current betting for the Ballymore and picked out my best bets.
    Table Of Contents
  • 2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Odds
  • Irish Raiders
  • Home Challenge
  • Dangerous Outsiders
  • 2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Best Bet – Sir Gerhard
  • 2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Value Bet – Three Stripe Life

2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Odds


Name
Odds
Sir Gerhard7/4
Dysart Dynamo9/4
Ginto7/2
Journey With Me9/2
Minella Cocooner6/1
Stage Star8/1
Walking On Air9/1
Bar10/1

*Odds correct on 16/2/22*

Irish Raiders

Seven of the last eight renewals of the Ballymore have been won by Irish trainers, so it’s no surprise to see the betting being dominated by raiders. Topping the market we find Sir Gerhard, who also sits prominently in the betting for the Supreme. Willie Mullins’ star won the Champion Bumper 12 months ago and has registered two impressive wins over hurdles this season, both coming over two miles around Leopardstown.

Dysart Dynamo is also a perfect two-from-two over hurdles and Willie Mullins has a tough choice to make with regards to which race he, and Sir Gerhard, will enter. Minella Cocooner, State Man, El Fabiolo and The Nice Guy could all represent the Cheltenham Festival’s leading trainer in the Ballymore, as could Whatdewant and Henn See.

Henry De Bromhead and Robcour won this with Bob Olinger 12 months ago. They team up again with Journey With Me, who won the same bumper that Bob Olinger announced himself in last season and has registered two solid hurdles victories since.

Envoi Allen and Bob Olinger both won the Lawlor’s Of Naas en-route to Ballymore success. The winner of that Grade One this year was Gordon Elliott’s Ginto, who also has the option of the Albert Bartlett. Elliott has also entered both Mighty Potter or Three Stripe Life in the Ballymore, should he choose to re-route one from the Supreme.

Home Challenge

Leading the home charge we find Stage Star, who ran out an impressive winner of the Challow Hurdle just after Christmas. Paul Nicholls’ watched 2020 Challow Hurdle winner, Bravemansgame get outclassed when only third in the last year’s Ballymore, but Stage Star has done little wrong in his three hurdles runs thus far and has to be greatly respected.

With Nicky Henderson playing his two trump cards in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, Walking On Air will fly the flag for Seven Barrows in the Ballymore. Runner-up to the talented Shallwehaveonemore on his sole bumper start, Walking On Air made a lovely impression when scoring on his only hurdles run of the season at Newbury in January, beating a future winner of Gary Moore’s by 13 lengths. 

The gigantic Hillcrest held off another of Nicky Henderson’s Ballymore entrants, I Am Maximus to win the Listed Hurdle here at Cheltenham on New Years’ Day. Henry Daly’s star was then hampered by a faller and unseated his rider early in the Ballymore Trial on Trial’s Day, but that won’t dissuade Daly from throwing Hillcrest into this Grade One.

Alan King’s North Lodge ran down Balko Coastal to win that Ballymore Trial and extend his unbeaten record into a second race. Archie Watson’s highly-rated flat runner, Stag Horn also made it two-from-two over hurdles with a front-running victory in the Leamington Novices’ Hurdle, earning his spot in the opener on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

Dangerous Outsiders

Cobblers Dream holds an entry in the Ballymore, but a run in either the Martin Pipe or the Coral Cup looks more likely for Ben Case’s Lanzarote Hurdle winner. Richard Hobson’s Wonderwall could also be pointed at a handicap, should he recover in time following that heavy fall in the Sidney Banks.

Grand Jury didn’t see out the trip in the Nathaniel Lacy, so Henry De Bromhead looks likely to send his runner here rather than the Albert Bartlett. Henry De Bromhead’s charge was beaten just four lengths by Ginto in the Lawlor’s Of Naas, having comfortably won his maiden and he could be one to watch out for.

Sam Thomas could aim unbeaten novice Skytastic at the Ballymore and he’s got to be respected. As has I Am Maximus, who wasn’t beaten far by Hillcrest when the two met here at Cheltenham and he could fly the flag for Nicky Henderson.

sir gerhard
Jockey Rachael Blackmore on Sir Gerhard celebrates victory after the Weatherbys Champion Bumper. (Getty)

2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Best Bet – Sir Gerhard

On paper, this doesn’t look like a strong renewal of the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. Journey With Me sits prominently in the betting on reputation alone. His performances on the track certainly don’t warrant such a short price. Ginto is the highest-placed of Gordon Elliott’s possible runners, despite looking every inch a three miler on all of his starts thus far. You need pace to win the Ballymore and I don’t think Ginto possesses the requisite turn-of-foot.

Stage Star looked smart when winning the Challow Hurdle, but he doesn’t seem to have beaten much in any of his starts and Paul Nicholls’ record in hurdles races at Cheltenham is very poor. Walking On Air doesn’t lack talent but inexperience may be his downfall. Hillcrest could run well, he just doesn’t appeal to me in this sort of race.

In short, if SIR GERHARD was to turn up here - and the betting indicates he will - then I think he’s a good thing.

Last year’s Champion Bumper winner has produced two excellent performances over hurdles this season. Sir Gerhard made all to win at Leopardstown over Christmas. Paul Townend’s mount didn’t jump all that well in the Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival, but had more than enough gears to see off Three Stripe Life on the run to the line.

Mullins said right at the start of the season that he saw Sir Gerhard as a middle-distance horse. The surprisingly poor form of Kilcruit is maybe the only thing that has kept Sir Gerhard shackled to the minimum distance. Willie targets the Ballymore with a horse who will see out the trip, but also possesses a potent finishing kick. Sir Gerhard ticks both of those boxes and this longer trip will take the pressure off his sketchy jumping.

2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Value Bet – Three Stripe Life

Several bookmakers are now offering non-runner money-back terms on the Grade One races at the Cheltenham Festival. With that in mind - and the fact that Gordon Elliott confirmed in his Cheltenham stable tour that Mighty Potter will definitely run in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle - I think there’s a very good chance that THREE STRIPE LIFE could renew his rivalry with Sir Gerhard in the Ballymore.

Last year’s Champion Bumper fourth ran out an easy winner on his hurdles debut at Gowran Park. Three Stripe Life has since finished second to Mighty Potter and Sir Gerhard in two Grade Ones around Leopardstown. Elliott’s charge never really looked like passing the winner in either of those races, but his efforts certainly deserve commendation. 

Three Stripe Life’s sire, Leading Light won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot in 2004 and all of his half-siblings did their best work over two-and-a-half or three miles. Elliott’s six-year-old could be perfectly suited to the rigours of the Ballymore and, at 16/1, I think he offers a tremendous amount of value.

Verdict

If both Sir Gerhard and Three Stripe Life were to run in the Ballymore, then I think there’s every chance they could finish first and second once again, as they did at the Dublin Racing Festival. I’m going to back both at 7/4 and 14/1 respectively with bet365, who are offering Non-Runner Money Back.

2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Best Bet: Sir Gerhard Straight Win @7/4 at bet365 - 15 Units
2022 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Value Bet: Three Stripe Life Straight Win @14/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
Sir Gerhard
Straight Win
@7/4 - 15 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365
Three Stripe Life
Straight Win
@14/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS

Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply.

Bet at bet365

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2022 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle