Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Tips

Run at a quick pace, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle has excited crowds since its first running in 1971 and although there are older races during the Cheltenham Festival, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is one of the more exciting. 

Since being taken out by Midsprite in 1971, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle has spawned many champion winners and it’s a good form guide to races like the Champion Hurdle in the following year. Peddlers Cross finished second in the Champion Hurdle the following year and Istabraq was victorious in both in 1997. 

Much like many Cheltenham Festival races, Willie Mullins holds the record for most training wins with four. The Irish trainer scored with Fiveforthree, Mikael d’Haguenet, Faugheen and most recently with Yorkhill in 2016. 

Jockey Ruby Walsh also has four wins and all four wins came on board Mullins-trained thoroughbreds. 

The registered name for the race is the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, which is named after Baring Bingham, who was a developer of Prestbury Park and who helped organise the first Cheltenham Festival in 1902. 

Top flat-racing trainer Aidan O’Brien scored back-to-back wins in 1996/1997 with Urubande and Istabraq, the latter winning a total of 25 races from 40 starts and scoring three Champion Hurdle wins in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Only one British horse has managed to win the race in the last seven years. In 2020, Ireland rejoiced once again, as their banker of the week, Envoi Allen powered to a superb victory for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell.