Tuesday, November 5, 2024

First run in 1987, the Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle has held many names down the years but has been sponsored by Sky Bet since 2013. It was initially run over 2 miles but had been extended by a furlong before being shortened to its current distance and is held at Cheltenham Racecourse.

The race was scheduled to take place every April but the British Horseracing Authority moved it to October ahead of the 2023/24 schedule. Paul Nicholls, David Pipe, and Nicky Henderson are just some of the big name trainers that have enjoyed multiple successes in this race down the years.

15:00 Cheltenham
Gale Mahler Silk 6
  • Age:5
  • Weight:11-0
  • Form:111111
  • OR:135
Just six go to post for the 2M Grade 2 Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle. The stand out performer here is the Adrian Keatley winning machine Gale Mahler. She has won six of her seven career starts with her best performance coming when upped into listed company at Galway in July when running out a 10L winner. She is penalised 5lb for that run but the likeable five-year-old mare can win again with Paul Nicholls’s Brave Knight the one to chase her home with his latest victory already working out well.

Tomorrow’s Daily Tips aren’t available yet for Wednesday, 6th November 2024. See our expert horse racing tips today for upcoming races at other racecourses.

Gale Mahler 6
Gale Mahler[IRE] Form: 111111
WIN PROB: 54.56%
Valgrand 3
Valgrand[FR] Form: 2/24-11
WIN PROB: 25%
Brave Knight 4
Brave Knight[GB] Form: 111
WIN PROB: 16.67%
Imaginarium 1
Imaginarium[IRE] Form: 1
WIN PROB: 5.26%
Dancing In Paris 5
Dancing In Paris[FR]
WIN PROB: 4.35%
Strong Foundations 2
Strong Foundations[IRE] Form: 2/454-1
WIN PROB: 2.44%

Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As The Sharp Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

2M (Class 1) (4YO plus) (£31,322)
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6 runners
-
2 Places
Going: Good

GALE MAHLER registered a sixth win on the bounce when stepped up to Listed company at the Galway Festival and the five-year-old has been found an excellent opportunity to continue her splendid run of form. Valgrand finished fourth in the Grade 2 bumper at Aintree before a pair of hurdling victories in May. He may prove to be the most obvious threat on his return from a break, although useful Flat performer Brave Knight has taken well to hurdling and is one to keep on the right side of.

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Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle Overview

The Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 2 event held on the Old Course of Cheltenham during the Showcase meeting. The race covers about 2 miles and half a furlong, with competitors jumping eight hurdles. It’s open to novice hurdlers, with the winner receiving a prize of over £30,000.

In April 2023, the British Horseracing Authority announced that this race would be moved to October for the 2023/24 season restructuring. The 2023 race highlighted some promising horses, particularly Lookaway, who followed his victory here with strong performances in the Challow Hurdle and the Greatwood Hurdle. Others who ran behind him, like Kamsinas and Idy Wood, also went on to win races.

Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle Betting Trends and Statistics

Over the past 20 years, leading trainers such as Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson, and David Pipe have each won the race twice. Nicholls’ winners include Imsingingtheblues (2007) and Dodging Bullets (2012), while Henderson’s victories came with Vyta Du Roc (2014) and Altior (2015). Pipe secured wins with The Liquidator (2013) and Moon Racer (2016).

Harry Cobden leads the current jockeys in this race over the last decade, having claimed victory twice: once with Slate House (2017) and again with Elixir De Nutz (2018). The race often goes to a horse prominent in the betting markets, though not always the favourite.

Only two favourites have won in the last ten years (I Like To Move It at 4/6 and Altior at 2/1). The biggest upset was For Pleasure’s victory at 14/1, while Irish-trained horses have only won this race once in the last ten renewals, courtesy of Fennor Cross in 2022.

Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle History

Originally contested over 2 miles and held in December 1987, the race was extended by a furlong in 1992 before being shortened to its current distance and moved to November in 1994.

Thanks to sponsorship from Opus Energy, it was rebranded as the Opus Energy Novices’ Hurdle in 2011. Since 2013, Sky Bet has taken over sponsorship, and the race has been known as the Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle.

Sky Bet Novices’ Hurdle Winners

Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle FAQ

Who won the Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle in 2023?

Lookaway, trained by N B King and ridden by J M Quinlan won the 2023 renewal.

What is the prize money for the Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle?

The prize money for the 2023 winner was £50,000.

When is the Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle?

It is run at the end of October every year.

How many horses race in the Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle?

It can vary but there were 8 runners in the 2023 renewal of the race.