The opening act of Cheltenham Festival Day 2 brings us Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Tips.
This is the first Grade 1 action of the day as well.
Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival is Ladies’ Day and there is a cracking line of fixtures to come from Prestbury Park, including this one.
Our betting experts look at the latest Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Tips by sizing up the latest market odds and also looking at trends.
There is a clear market favourite in this year’s Ballymore Novices’ betting with Sir Gerhard dominating proceedings. Will he deliver the odds?
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Racing Odds
Sir Gerhard 4/6
Journey With Me 6/1
Three Stripe Life 6/1
Stage Star 7/1
I Am Maximus 16/1
Whatdeawant 20/1
Scarface 66/1
Haxo 100/1
Hemlock 150/1
* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Bet365)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
- 1 FAV in Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Racing Odds
- 2 Other contenders in Ballymore Novices Hurdle betting
- 3 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Betting Contenders
- 4 Rest of the runners
- 5 Last 10 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Winners at the Cheltenham Festival
- 6 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Trends
- 7 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Tips & Predictions Cheltenham Festival 2022
- 8 Cheltenham Festival Betting Offer 2022
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Race Details Cheltenham Festival
- Grade 1
- 4-year-olds plus
- 9 declared runners
- 2m 5f
- 10 hurdles
- Going: Good To Soft
FAV in Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Racing Odds
The dominant player in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Tips is SIR GERHARD who is the current 4/6 odds-on favourite* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Bet365).
Despite not having a totally clear round last time out at Leopardstown, he still comfortably landed the victory.
It’s been five wins in his last six efforts and notably, Sir Gerhard landed the Champion Bumper at last year’s Festival.
Sir Gerhard has made it two from two over the hurdles this season, both at a 2m trip so he will be coming up in distance.
He looks high-class and the further distance for the Willie Mullins-trained favourite could see him bring even more to the table.
Sir Gerhard sets the standard for this one and he could be hard to knock over if he runs true to form.
Other contenders in Ballymore Novices Hurdle betting
THREE STRIPE LIFE has shown plenty of positive output this season on the switch to the hurdles.
He opened the season with a debut win over the timbers at Fairyhouse.
He was then pushed up to Grade 1 the last twice at the 2m distance and went well in both, claiming back to back runner-up spots.
Three Stripe Life placed in last year’s Champion Bumper and should thrive at this trip.
WHATDEAWANT is another to keep an eye on for the shortlist in Ballymore Novices betting.
He opened his account over the hurdles on his debut in December, which was at Navan.
He was fifth on his follow up at Naas in a hot Grade 1 contest.
But he ran with credit in that one, enough to suggest that he is no forlorn hope on Wednesday.
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Betting Contenders
What about the lay of the land behind SIR GERHARD for Ballymore Novices’ betting 2022?
Next, we look at some of the other contenders.
STAGE STAR completed a hat trick last time out with a victory in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury.
That was an eye-catching victory that he took as well, easily handing the move up in class.
The former bumper winner has a lot going for him and he should still have plenty more to offer.
He could be one of the main challengers to the favourite from 7/1* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Bet365).
JOURNEY WITH ME will be putting his unbeaten career record on the line at the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday.
He is another of the exciting prospects that are heading to the start in this one.
He has won both hurdles efforts for this current campaign. The form from both of those efforts reads quite well.
Former bumper winner Journey With Me looks like he could make his presence felt in the Ballymore in midweek and is a current 6/1 quote* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Bet365).
Rest of the runners
HAXO was a runner up on his debut over the hurdles three weeks ago, which was a 2m trip. He is from a top yard but is going to need something extremely special to pull this off.
HEMLOCK has taken back to back runner-up spots over the hurdles in his last two runs. But this looks well beyond his current ability.
I AM MAXIMUS got off the mark at the second time of asking over the hurdles with a good score at Newbury. He was even better next time out in a runner-up effort in a Listed run here at Cheltenham. He’s no forlorn hope for Nicky Henderson.
SCARFACE could benefit from the extra test of stamina here. He’s finished runner-up in his last two attempts over the hurdles. More could come from him on longer trips.
Last 10 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Winners at the Cheltenham Festival
| Year | Winner | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2021 | Bob Olinger | 6/4F | Rachael Blackmore | Henry de Bromhead |
| 2020 | Envoi Allen | 4/7F | Davy Russell | Gordon Elliott |
| 2019 | City Island | 8/1 | Mark Walsh | Martin Brassil |
| 2018 | Samcro | 8/11F | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
| 2017 | Willoughby Court | 14/1 | David Bass | Ben Pauling |
| 2016 | Yorkhill | 3/1 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2015 | Windsor Park | 9/2 | Davy Russell | D K Weld |
| 2014 | Faugheen | 6/4F | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
| 2013 | The New One | 7/2 | Sam Twiston-Davies | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
| 2012 | Simonsig | 2/1F | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Trends
For the next part of this Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle betting preview, we look at some of the trends surrounding the fixture.
Starting with favourites, this is a race in which favourites have done well recently.
There has been a winning favourite in five of the last 10 renewals, including three of the last four.
In 11 of the last 12 renewals of the Ballymore, the starting favourite has finished somewhere inside the top three.
Bob Olinger delivered the odds last year at a 6/4F SP for trainer Henry De Bromehad.
That’s eight wins in a row by a six-year-old in the Ballymore at the Cheltenham Festival.
All but one of the last eight winners of this Cheltenham Festival fixture was from an Irish yard.
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Trends Cheltenham Festival
- There have been 5 winning favourites in the last 10 renewals
- The leading trainer is Willie Mullins with 4 wins in the last 20 renewals
- Davy Russell is the leading active jockey with three wins from 11 attempts
- Had won at least a Class 3 before 20/20
- Placed last time out 20/20
- Won within the last 90 days 19/20
- Was in the top two last time 19/20
- Ran in a field of no more than 12 last time out 19/20
- Had won within the last 3 starts 19/20
- Had gone at a distance of at least 2m 4f 18/20
Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle Tips & Predictions Cheltenham Festival 2022
We hit the Ballymore Novices Hurdle tips part of the look ahead to Wednesday’s race at the Cheltenham Festival.
The clear option at the head of the market is SIR GERHARD who just looks like high-quality prospect all the way.
Sir Gerhard won comfortably last time out at Leopardstown despite putting in an error-strewn run, so he is only going to get better and better.
So Sir Gerhard has to be on the shortlist as an 8/11 option* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Bet365).
JOURNEY WITH ME has seen some form work out in his favour this season and he looks like a very exciting one.
He comes from last year’s winning jockey/trainer pairing of Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead and could find himself involved from 6/1* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Bet365).
The final shortlist selection for the contest is STAGE STAR at 7/1* (odds recorded at 17:57 GMT on March 15th, 2022 at Bet365).
Like the previous rival, he is undefeated over the hurdles and has seamlessly moved up through the classes.
Stage Star’s eye-catching run in the Challow suggests that he could make a splash on Wednesday.
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