Fast Results

Scores

Racecards

13:30 Cheltenham

Wednesday 13 March 2024

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:5017:30

Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 22.96s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Ballyburn³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 157

1/2

No match for Firefox on hurdles debut but has emerged as a most exciting prospect in the meantime, destroying his rivals over 2½m at Leopardstown at Christmas before slamming Slade Steel by 7 lengths back over 2m there last month in a race won by many stable stars over the years. Could be top-class.

Form: 111-211

Handstands³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: B Pauling| OR: 136

20/1

Has made the perfect start over hurdles, winning for a third time in listed Huntingdon event last month, again jumping well in the main. Has bags of stamina and open to further improvement. Yard took this in 2017 (the only British-trained winner of the race in the last decade).

Form: 1111

Ile Atlantique⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| BF

9/2

Looked a good prospect back over hurdles after 7 months off when making all in 2m maiden at Gowran in November. Ran at least as well when edged out close home by stablemate Readin Tommy Wrong in Grade 1 at Naas subsequently and he could have an even bigger performance in him.

Form: 3/122-12

Jimmy Du Seuil⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins

66/1

Ex-French performer who got off the mark despite an indifferent round of jumping in extended 2m Clonmel maiden hurdle 9 weeks ago. Open to improvement but this is a whole different test up markedly in trip.

Form: 52-21

Jingko Blue³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140| D

20/1

Has made a promising start, displaying a fine attitude when opening account at Newbury (2½m) before impressively winning handicap at Sandown. Good prospect and more to come quickly upped in grade.

Form: 1-211

Mercurey³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins

40/1

Missed all of last year but opened his account over jumps with the minimum of fuss in a 17f Punchestown maiden hurdle last month, jumping well in the main. Plenty more needed to get involved here but longer trip will suit and he's surely capable of better.

Form: 13/2-31

Predators Gold³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF

7/1

Impressive winner on hurdles debut at Punchestown (19.4f, soft) in November and good efforts in defeat in Leopardstown Grade 1s since, just unable to peg back a stronger stayer having possibly taken a bit too much out of himself in the early stages over 2¾m 5 weeks ago. Respected.

Form: 1-122

Non-Runners

The Grey Man³⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: H Dickin J: Benjamin Poste

Forecasts

Ballyburn (1/2), Ile Atlantique (9/2), Predators Gold (7/1), Handstands (20/1), Jingko Blue (20/1), Mercurey (40/1), Jimmy Du Seuil (66/1), The Grey Man (200/1)

BALLYBURN is considered one of the bankers of the week and it's very hard to oppose him. Willie Mullins has an exceptional bunch of novice hurdlers once again and he is the highest-rated of the lot going into the Festival on the back of a stunning victory in a Leopardstown Grade 1 won by some of the stable stars over the years. He promises to do even better over this sort of trip and can land the odds. Ile Atlantique can complete a 1-2 for the yard, ahead of Ben Pauling's unbeaten Handstands.