Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Tips 2022
The Cheltenham Festival Day 2 action starts with the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle tips that our betting experts have put together. This is an exciting contest for some of the best novice talent around in this sphere. Our Ballymore Novices’ preview casts an eye over this competitive, action-packed opener to Ladies Day at Prestbury Park.
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Potential Runners & Favourites
For this Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle preview, our experts look at both some of the front-runners who have been heading up the ante-post market and some of the best longer priced options.
SIR GERHARD could be one of the key players in this if he is sent to the Ballymore instead of the Supreme Novices’. He is one of the top novices’ around, and Sir Gerhard has proven form with back to back wins this season at Leopardstown, including the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle in February.
THREE STRIPE LIFE finished six lengths behind Sir Gerhard last time out, but made a mistake at a crucial time. If he has a faultless round he could give the market leader his biggest challenge.
JOURNEY WITH ME has won all four starts in his career and could pose a significant threat as well. There have been some cosy scores in his latest efforts, and he looks to have a high ceiling of potential.
STAGE STAR is unbeaten over hurdles and was an impressive winner in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle at the end of last year. He looks a big price and looks a good value E/W bet.
One at a bigger price who could surprise is I AM MAXIMUS, who only found Hillcrest too good on his most recent outing, finishing well clear of the rest. He could cause a minor upset if he comes on for that run.
Ballymore Novices Hurdle Confirmed Runners
| Horse | Silks | Trainer/Jockey | Odds |
| Sir Gerhard |  | J: Paul Townend T: Willie Mullins | 4/7 |
| Three Stripe Life |  | J: Davy Russell T:Gordon Elliott | 6/1 |
| Journey With Me |  | J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry De Bromhead | 13/2 |
| Stage Star |  | J: Harry Cobden T: Paul Nicholls | 15/2 |
| I Am Maximus |  | J: Nico de Boinville T: Nicky Henderson | 20/1 |
| Whatdeawant |  | J: Danny Mullins T: Willie Mullins | 25/1 |
| Scarface |  | J: Brendan Powell T: Colin Tizzard | 50/1 |
| Haxo |  | J: Sean O’Keeffe T: Willie Mullins | 100/1 |
| Hemlock |  | J: Darragh O’Keeffe T: Thomas Gibney | 150/1 |
*Odds Correct as of 12pm 14/03/22*
How Often Does a Favourite Horse Win The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race
Three of the last four Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winners have done so as the favourite on the day. That includes last year’s winner Bob Olinger, ridden to success by Rachael Blackmore for trainer Henry de Bromeahd.
In total, five of the last ten Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winners have been favourites, so there has been a reasonably strong trend there. None of the previous ten winners has claimed the race victory by anything more than a quote of 14/1.
So for Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle betting tips, it is perhaps worth looking at some of those closest to the head of the market. Only once in the last ten renewals has the race day favourite finished outside the top three. 8 of the previous 9 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winners have been Irish horses.
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Favourites vs Winners in The Past 10 Years
| Year | Favourite Horse* | Winning Horse |
| 2021 | Bob Olinger | Bob Olinger (6/4) |
| 2020 | Envoi Allen | Envoi Allen (4/7) |
| 2019 | Battleoverdoyen (PU) | City Island (8/1) |
| 2018 | Samcro | Samcro (8/11) |
| 2017 | Neon Wolf (2nd) | Willoughby Court (14/1) |
| 2016 | Yanworth (2nd) | Yorkhill (3/1) |
| 2015 | Nichols Canyon (3rd) | Windsor Park (9/2) |
| 2014 | Faugheen | Faugheen (6/4) |
| 2013 | Pont Alexandre (3rd) | The New One (7/2) |
| 2012 | Simonsig | Simonsig (2/1) |
*(-) = Finishing Position, UR = Unseated Rider, F = Faller, RO = Ran Out, PU = Pulled Up
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle History & Present Time
While the race is known as the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle because of sponsorship, the race’s official name is the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle. That is in honour of Baring Bingham, who, in 1902, organised the first-ever Cheltenham Festival.
The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 contest on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of 2m 5f with ten hurdles for the competitors to get over. The race, which is open to novices four years old and above, was introduced in 1971. There is a 7lb allowance in the race for fillies and mares. The 2022 purse for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is at £135,000.
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Jockey & Trainer Records
The most successful jockey in the history of the race is Ruby Walsh, who claimed four wins during his illustrious Cheltenham Festival career, with the latest of those being on Yorkhill in 2016.
Davy Russell is the only active jockey who has won the race on more than one occasion, with the most recent three race wins coming on Envoi Allen in 2020.
Trainer Willie Mullins has won four of the last 20 renewals of the Ballymore, and that pus him to the top of the charts for Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle winners. Besides Mullins, only Nigel Twiston-Davies and Gordon Elliott have won the contest more than once, both claiming two winners.