Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Tips & Picks

The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, which used to race under the name Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, is a Grade 1 feature race at Cheltenham which runs on the second day of the March festival

Run over only 10 hurdles despite the race being 4,248m long, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle allows the talented thoroughbreds to stretch their legs and it makes for wide-open racing throughout. 

It’s not one of the biggest races during the festival but with past winners including Galileo, Faugheen and Yorkhill, it’s a great stepping stone to success later on.

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Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Key Facts


DateWednesday March 12, 2020
Time1:00pm
TrackCheltenham
Distance4,248m
StatusGrade 1
Prize Money£125,000
Age4YO+

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Date & Time 2020


The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is the opening race run on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Wednesday March 13, 2019 and the official starting time is 1:30pm. 

The Day 2 card also includes the RSA Chase, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Champion Bumper at Grade 1 level. 

1:30 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 
2:10 – RSA Chase 
2:50 – Coral Cup 
4:10 – Cross Country Chase 
4:50 – Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle 

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2020 Betting Tips



2020 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle field & odds


#
Horse
Odds
1Ask Dillon34.00
2Battleoverdoyen4.60
3Beakstown11.00
4Brewin'upastorm8.00
5Bright Forecast21.00
6Castlebawn West26.00
7Champ3.80
8City Island9.50
9Dunvegan31.00
10Easy Game11.00
11Galvin17.00
12Jarveys Plate21.00
13Notebook51.00
14Sams Profile11.00
15Seddon34.00
16Valdieu41.00


Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winners


The big-name trainers have all had previous winners in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. These names include Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott, Nicky Henderson and Nigel Twiston-Davies. 

Not all winners of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle have gone on to have stellar careers but some have and it makes it a must-see race during the festival. 

Year
Winner
2019City Island
2018Samcro
2017Willoughby Court
2016Yorkhill
2015Windsor Park
2014Faugheen
2013The New One
2012Simonsig
2011First Lieutenant
2010Peddlers Cross
2009Mikael d’Haguenet
2008Fiveforthree
2007Massini's Maguire
2006Nicanor
2005No Refuge
2004Fundamentalist
2003Hardy Eustace
2002Galileo
2001no race
2000Monsignor
1999Barton
1998French Holly

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle history


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.

2018 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle replay


The 2018 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle was taken out by Samcro for trainer Gordon Elliott and jockey Jack Kennedy. 
See below for the 2018 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle replay. 


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