Who’s leading the pack in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle odds this year? Stay ahead of the game with our up-to-date breakdown of the horses at the forefront and those that could be potential surprises. We go over all the trends and patterns that have emerged over the years to help you make your picks for one of the Cheltenham Festival’s most anticipated races.
Key Takeaways
- The current favourite is Ballyburn, shortly followed by Slade Steel and Mystical Power as second and third favourites.
- Market movers include Predators Gold and Ile Atlantique.
- Leopardstown has produced the most winners with 5 winners running there last time out over the last decade.
Baring Bingham (Ballymore) Novices Hurdle Tips
The Ballymore Novices Hurdle is a grade 1 race contested over 2 miles and 5 furlongs with ten hurdles to be jumped. As the opening race on Wednesday, this meeting is open to horses 4 years and up and brings a lot of top talent.
We can feel the enthusiasm surrounding this gbb race continuing to grow and look forward to this year’s renewal as well as future Cheltenham Festivals.
Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle Odds
Let’s take a look at our 2024 Cheltenham Festival odds.
Comparing runners in the market
Ballyburn emerges as the bookies’ favourite at odds of 4/5*, a testament to its formidable presence on the course. The depth of contenders adds to the intrigue of this race.
- Ballyburn at odds of 4/5* – trained by Willie Mullins, this 6 year old beat Slade Steel at the grade 1 novice hurdle at Leopardstown 4 February and does well under Paul Townend.
- Slade Steel at odds of 3/1* – trained by Henry De Bromhead, this 6 year old has won a grade 2 race and picked up a couple victories at a few other tracks.
- Mystical Power at odds of 3/1* – trained by Willie Mullins, this 5 year old has won a grade 2 race and has 2 other victories.
Analysing Top Contenders and Dark Horses
- Readin Tommy Wrong at odds of 6/1* – also from the Mullins stable, enters the fray undefeated and with a Grade 1 victory under its belt.
- Billericay Dickie at odds of 10/1* – trained by Willie Mullins, won the Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown 29 January, but doesn’t seem to have too much experience.
- Ile Atlantique at odds of 5/1* – trained by Willie Mullins, their last win came in the form of the Irish EBF Maiden Hurdle at Gowran Park 11 November 2023.
Previous Winners
| Year | Horse | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 5:10.74 | Impaire Et Passe (FR) 5yo 11-7 5/2 | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2022 5:20.38 | Sir Gerhard (IRE) 7yo 11-7 8/11F | Paul Townend W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2021 5:05.05 | Bob Olinger (IRE) 6yo 11-7 6/4F | Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead (IRE) |
| 2020 5:18.73 | Envoi Allen (FR) 6yo 11-7 4/7F | Davy Russell Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2019 5:06.03 | City Island (IRE) 6yo 11-7 8/1 | Mark Walsh Martin Brassil (IRE) |
| 2018 5:18.20 | Samcro (IRE) 6yo 11-7 8/11F | Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott (IRE) |
| 2017 5:08.80 | Willoughby Court (IRE) 6yo 11-7 14/1 | David Bass Ben Pauling (GB) |
| 2016 5:00.89 | Yorkhill (IRE) 6yo 11-7 3/1 | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
| 2015 5:07.40 | Windsor Park (IRE) 6yo 11-7 9/2 | Davy Russell D K Weld (IRE) |
| 2014 4:54.80 | Faugheen (IRE) 6yo 11-7 6/4F | R Walsh W P Mullins (IRE) |
The Ballymore Novices Hurdle is more than a race; it’s a proving ground for future legends. Some notable horses who have won this race and gone on to achieve great success include:
- Faugheen, who won the Ballymore Novices Hurdle in 2014 and then went on to win the Champion Hurdle the following year.
- Yorkhill, who won the Ballymore Novices Hurdle in 2016 and then went on to win multiple Grade 1 races.
These horses have etched their names into the annals of racing history with their post-Ballymore triumphs in subsequent seasons.
Patterns of Progression
Victors of the Ballymore Novices Hurdle often possess the stamina to the conquer their next race out. If you’d followed the winner of Ballymore next time out over the last 20 years, you would have backed 13 winners in total.
Baring Bingham Novices Hurdle Key Trends
Historical trends in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle offer valuable clues, with the following factors playing significant roles in determining the winner, including analysing previous winners and past winners:
- Favourites often find themselves in the winner’s circle, with 5 of the last winners in the past decade being favourites.
- 8 of the past 10 winners were 6 years old.
- Winners had at least one victory under their belt that season
These trends can help inform your betting strategy for the Ballymore Novices Hurdle.
Trend Analysis
Leopardstown stands out as the launchpad for many Ballymore champions, while horses holding penalties for previous Graded wins have shown that form over hurdles is a strong success indicator. A horse winning the Ballymore without a recent victory or with just a single win that term is an uncommon occurrence, making these factors pivotal for bettors to ponder.
The dominance of Irish trainers, especially Willie Mullins, is clearly seen even when examining the runners’ racecards for this year’s edition.
Trainer and Jockey Insights
Best Trainers (over the past 20 renewals)
- Willie Mullins – 6 wins
- Nigel Twiston-Davies – 2 wins
- Gordon Elliott – 2 wins
- Nicky Henderson – 1 win
- Henry De Bromhead – 1 win
Best Jockeys (over the past 20 renewals)
- Davy Russell – 3 wins
- Paul Townend – 2 wins
- Sam Twiston-Davies – 1 win
- Mark Walsh – 1 win
- Rachael Blackmore – 1 win
Exclusive Betting Offers and Free Bets
With the approach of the Ballymore Novices Hurdle, we’re offering Cheltenham Festival offers and the chance to get horse racing free bets, depending on the offer you choose.
If you’re a new customer, sign up and opt in to one of our offers to get started.
18+ | Opt in | T&Cs apply | Begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
How to Watch the Race Live
Our bettors at BetVictor can catch every heart-stopping moment with our live streaming service once logged in and after placing a bet.
Expert Predictions and Last-Minute Tips
As the excitement builds, expert predictions and last-minute tips begin to take shape, offering a mosaic of insights on who might write the next chapter in Ballymore history.
Drawing from the expertise of our seasoned tipster, Sam Boswell, you can get Cheltenham betting tips for every day of the festival.
*All odds are correct at time of writing and are subject to change.
18+ | Begambleaware.org | Please gamble responsibly
Frequently Asked Questions
The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade One race in Great Britain, open to horses aged four years or older. This is the race the inaugurates the Cheltenham Festival.
The Ballymore Novices Hurdle is significant at the Cheltenham Festival because it serves as a proving ground for future champions, with past winners often achieving great success in subsequent races and seasons, demonstrating the depth of talent and importance of stamina.
Favourites have a strong track record in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle, with five of the last ten winners being the market leader before race day, showing that well-fancied horses with solid form often succeed.
