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13:30Supreme Novices' Hurdle
14:10Arkle Chase
14:50Ultima Handicap Chase
15:30Champion Hurdle
16:10Mares Hurdle
16:50Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
17:30National Hunt Chase
13:30Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (Registered as The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle)
14:10Brown Advisory Novices' Chase
14:50Coral Cup Hurdle
15:30Champion Chase
16:10(ABANDONED) Cross Country Chase
16:50Grand Annual Chase
17:30Champion Bumper
Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (Registered as The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle)
13:30 Cheltenham Festival
2024-03-13
Winner: £76,113
Runners: 7
Going: Soft
No. of hurdles: 10
Distance: 2m5f0y
The Gallagher Novices' Hurdle,- formerly known as the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, and registered as The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle 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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6(0)
3/2-31
Mercurey
-
J: Brian Hayes
T: W P Mullins
6
11-7
0
153
Placed in a Listed bumper last season and came good over hurdles at third attempt, dominating from the front and winning Punchestown maiden (2m, soft to heavy) by 22l last month; can probably improve again if today's longer trip suits but others have more compelling form.
1(0)
11-211
Ballyburn
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
6
11-7
157
164
Outsprinted by Firefox in falsely run 2m maiden on hurdling debut in December but scored by wide margin when upped to 2m4f for next outing and confirmed he's a top-class and very exciting novice when drawing nicely clear in Leopardstown Grade 1 (2m, soft) last month; after some dilly-dallying, connections opted to move him back up in trip for his Festival run; regarded by many as the banker of the meeting, and it's easy to understand why.
3(0)
122-12
Ile Atlantique
-
J: Mr P W Mullins
T: W P Mullins
6
11-7
148
156
Very useful in bumpers last season and won easily by 19l when back over hurdles at Gowran (2m, heavy) in November; headed on run-in and unable to justify favouritism in 2m4f Grade 1 at Naas (soft) in January but that form still gives him possibilities here and he remains open to improvement.
5(0)
211
Jingko Blue
-
J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
5
11-7
140
150
Found one too good when odds-on for stable/hurdle debut in November and prevailed by only a nose in Newbury novice (2m4f, good to soft) the following month but displayed significant jolt of improvement when sauntering clear of very progressive subsequent winner in Sandown handicap (2m4f, good to soft) last month; after that performance, he's well worth his place in this line-up.
7(0)
1-122
Predators Gold
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
150
156
Won valuable Punchestown bumper (yielding to soft) on debut last April and impressed in 2m3f maiden hurdle there (soft) on seasonal return in November; had to settle for second in two subsequent Leopardstown Grade 1s (2m, heavy/2m6f, soft) but may yet have a bigger run in him; likely contender.
4(0)
52-21
Jimmy Du Seuil
-
J: Sean O'Keeffe
T: W P Mullins
5
11-7
0
133
Placed in French bumper in 2022 and, following a long absence, made very promising stable/hurdle debut when close second to a very useful stablemate at Thurles (2m, yielding) in December; did not need to improve to win Clonmel maiden (2m, heavy) very easily in January and could plausibly have significant untapped potential over today's longer trip.
NR(0)
522
The Grey Man
-
T: Harriet Dickin
5
11-7
0
109
Runner-up in good-ground Hereford bumper in November and stuck to his task pretty well when filling same position in run-of-the-mill Ludlow novice (2m, soft) on last month's hurdling debut; likely to be suited by today's step up in trip but looks a long way out of his depth.
2(0)
111
Handstands
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: Ben Pauling
5
11-7
136
145
Joined Ben Pauling after winning Irish point debut in October and is 3-3 over hurdles; did not need to be asked for maximum effort when beating a previous Grade 1 winner (who gave 5lb) in Listed race at Huntingdon (2m3f, soft; has also won on good) last month and, although he has more on his plate here, it's hard to gauge the limit of his ability.
RACING POST TIP
Jingko Blue
It feels somewhat reckless to suggest that this Grade 1 might elude Willie Mullins, particularly as his comfortable Grade 1 winner Ballyburn sets such a high form standard, but one from the home team with a sporting chance is JINGKO BLUE, who displayed major improvement when winning a Sandown handicap in the style of a Graded-level performer last month. He can reward each-way support, at least. Ballyburn is clearly the main danger, while his stablemates Predators Gold and Ile Atlantique have been placed in Grade 1 hurdle races this year and also have big roles to play.
Verdict
BARING BINGHAM NOVICES HURDLE (FORMERLY BALLYMORE NOVICES' HURDLE ) PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2023 | Impaire Et Passe | 1-11 | 5 | 5/2 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 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 |
BARING BINGHAM NOVICES HURDLE (FORMERLY BALLYMORE NOVICES' HURDLE ) KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Started career in Irish points or bumpers, ten winners in last ten runnings
- Two or three hurdle runs, 10/10
- 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
- Scored over at least 2m4f, 8/10
- Aged six, 8/10
Other factors
- Five of the last ten favourites have obliged and in that period only Willoughby Court’s SP (14-1 in 2017) was bigger than 8-1.
Check out all of our latest Cheltenham Free Bets ahead of placing your bets on the 2024 Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - BALLYMORE NOVICES HURDLE 2023
IMPAIRE ET PASSE had been the buzz horse in the build up to the race, following easy wins against lesser opposition at Naas and Punchestown and reports of excellent homework, and despite a late market drift he ran out a most impressive winner, travelling, jumping and taking off once asked before the last. Gaelic Warrior and Champ Kiely filled the places to make it a 1-2-3 for Willie Mullins.