Sky Bet Novices' Hurdle Tips, Odds, & Racecards

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.

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