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13:30Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle
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14:50Ultima Handicap Chase
15:30Champion Hurdle
16:10Mares Hurdle
16:50Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17:30National Hunt Chase
13:30Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
14:10Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
14:50Coral Cup Hurdle
15:30Champion Chase
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16:50Grand Annual Chase
17:30Champion Bumper
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
13:30 Cheltenham Festival
2023-03-15
Winner: £75,964.5
Runners: 10
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 10
Distance: 2m5f0y
The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, which takes place on day two of the Cheltenham Festival, is the premier race during the jumps season for novice hurdlers over the trip of 2m5f. It is a launchpad for top-class hurdlers and has been won by the likes of Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Faugheen, all of whom went on to win the Champion Hurdle the following season.
NO.DRAW
FORM
FORM
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8(0)
2-1151
Marble Sands
-
J: Paddy Brennan
T: Fergal O'Brien
7
11-7
136
143
3-8 over hurdles, the latest win gained in small-field Listed race at Huntingdon (2m3f, good) last month; that was a career-best performance but he'll need to take another big step forward to trouble the principals here.
4(0)
2/1U11
Good Land
-
J: Michael O'Sullivan
T: Barry Connell
7
11-7
147
151
Early mishap on hurdling debut in December but has won twice since, holding on well to land Grade 1 at Leopardstown (2m6f, yielding) last month; others have shown better form and created better visual impressions but, nevertheless, he's well worth his place in this line-up.
2(0)
1-1141
Champ Kiely
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
7
11-7
149
156
Below form in 2m Royal Bond at Fairyhouse but quickly got back on track with game, front-running success in Grade 1 at Naas (2m4f, soft) in January; has no stamina concerns and ought to play a significant role.
1(0)
2-3124
American Mike
-
J: Davy Russell
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-7
140
143
Second to Facile Vega in Champion Bumper here a year ago and collected Down Royal maiden (2m6f, soft) with minimal fuss on hurdling debut in November; however, could not justify 2-7 odds in Navan Grade 3 later that month, and was again a beaten favourite when fourth in Listed race in February; tongue-tie fitted for first time; has a point to prove.
3(0)
32-111
Gaelic Warrior
-
J: Mr P W Mullins
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
157
162
Lost out by a short head when hot favourite for Boodles Juvenile Handicap here on stable debut 12 months ago and is 3-3 this term (on heavy ground two starts back); not bred to benefit from this step up in trip but was odds-on winner of major handicap at Leopardstown (2m, yielding) last month, despite tending to jump to his right, and brings very solid form back into novice company.
5(0)
111
Hermes Allen
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
6
11-7
150
161
Out of a French Grade 3 hurdle winner and was bought for big money after Irish point win in 2021; made all in C&D Grade 2 on good ground in November and proved he's fully effective on soft when coasting up the run-in for very comfortable success in Grade 1 Challow at Newbury (2m4f) in December; leading contender.
9(0)
-3F226
Master Chewy
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Nigel Twiston-Davies
6
11-7
122
130
0-5 over hurdles; has shown fairly useful form in defeat, most notably when second here (2m1f, good) in December; could plausibly have untapped potential over 2m5f but faces a very tall order today.
10(0)
12
Persian Time
-
J: A P Heskin
T: Nicky Henderson
5
11-7
128
136
Left in front by Master Chewy's late fall when making winning rules debut at Ascot (1m7f, good to soft) in November but no match for winner when second there (2m3f, good) last month; has a lot to find.
7(0)
1-11
Impaire Et Passe
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
148
158
Easily won Naas maiden (2m3f, soft) on hurdling debut in December and firmly established himself as a top novice when darting clear in Grade 2 at Punchestown (2m, heavy) in January; has stamina to prove today but it's still very difficult to gauge how good he is; commands respect.
6(0)
F1
Ho My Lord
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
-
133
Joined Willie Mullins after successful Flat debut in France; missed last season and fell at the second on hurdle debut but won Naas maiden (2m, good to yielding) comfortably last month and remains very unexposed.
RACING POST TIP
Impaire Et Passe
It was hard not to be impressed by Impaire Et Passe in a Grade 2 at Punchestown in January but the most compelling piece of form arguably belongs to his stablemate GAELIC WARRIOR, who beat his 16 rivals fairly comfortably in a hot 2m handicap at Leopardstown last month. Both have stamina to prove today but Willie Mullins was quick to nominate this race as Gaelic Warrior's most likely target after he landed that big prize. British hopes rest almost entirely on the shoulders of Challow winner Hermes Allen, who has made an excellent start to his hurdling career, and he is third on the list.
Verdict
BALLYMORE NOVICES HURDLE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2022 | Sir Gerhard | 1-13-11 | 7 | 8-11F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2021 | Bob Olinger | 11-211 | 6 | 6-4F | Henry De Bromhead |
Rachael Blackmore
|
| 2020 | Envoi Allen | 11-111 | 6 | 4-7F | Gordon Elliott | Davy Russell |
| 2019 | City Island | 11D11 | 6 | 8-1 | Martin Brassil | Mark Walsh |
| 2018 | Samcro | 11-111 | 6 | 8-11F | Gordon Elliott | Jack Kennedy |
| 2017 | Willoughby Court | 15-211 | 6 | 14/1 | Ben Pauling | David Bass |
| 2016 | Yorkhill | 11-11 | 6 | 3/1 | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2015 | Windsor Park | 1-1142 | 6 | 9/2 | Dermot Weld | Davy Russell |
| 2014 | Faugheen | 1-111 | 6 | 6-4F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2013 | The New One | 1-1112 | 5 | 7-2 | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
Sam Twiston-Davies
|
BALLYMORE NOVICES HURDLE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
- Started career in Irish points or bumpers, 10/10
- Scored over at least 2m4f, 9/10
- Rated within 5lb of RPR top-rated, 9/10
- Adjusted RPR of at least 154, 9/10
- Won at least 50 per cent of hurdle runs, 9/10
- Finished first or second in all hurdle runs, 9/10
- Won a Graded hurdle, 9/10
- At least three runs over hurdles, 8/10
- Aged six, 8/10
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - BALLYMORE NOVICES HURDLE 2022
The second of Willie Mullins’ festival victories came as Sir Gerhard ran out a comfortable winner of the Ballymore. Owned by Cheveley Park, he became the first seven-year-old to land the Grade 1 since French Holly did so in 1998. Turning for home, Sir Gerhard took control of the race and had the beating of Journey With Me, who was a faller at the last hurdle. The Gordon Elliott-trained Three Stripe Life valiantly battled until the line, but the race had already been wrapped up then by Paul Townend as Mullins secured a first win in this contest since 2014. Whatdeawant, who was another representative of the trainer, finished narrowly ahead of I Am Maximus to take third spot.