13:30 Cheltenham

Wednesday 13 March 2024

Premier Race Day Text
All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:5017:30

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

  • 4YO plus  |   Class 1  |   2m 5f  |   Soft (Heavy in places)  |   7 Runners  |   Turf  |   Weighed In
  • Off time: 13:45  |   Winning time: 5m 22.96s
1st
Horse silk
1
1/2f
T: W P MullinsJ: P Townend
Tracked leader, took keen hold, led after 2 out, quickened before last, soon clear, stayed on well, impressive tchd 4/9 and 8/15
2nd
Horse silk
13
4
66/1
T: W P MullinsJ: S F O'Keeffe
Held up in last trio, took keen hold, not fluent 7th, headway after 2 out, chased winner before last, well held from last, kept on op 50/1
3rd
Horse silk
3 ½
3
9/2
T: W P MullinsJ: Mr P W Mullins
Held up in last trio, headway 5th, went 3rd when hit last, no chance with winner, kept on op 11/2 tchd 6/1
4th
Horse silk
6
6
40/1
T: W P MullinsJ: B Hayes
Led until after 2 out, lost 3rd when no impression last, no extra flat tchd 33/1 and 50/1
5th
Horse silk
3 ¼
7
7/1
T: W P MullinsJ: D E Mullins
Held up in last trio, reached at 6th, switched outside 7th and soon closed, mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced, 5th and weakening last op 15/2 tchd 6/1
6th
Horse silk
16
2
20/1
T: B PaulingJ: H Cobden
Raced on outside, prominent early, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, weakened after 2 out, tailed off op 12/1

Also Ran

PU
Horse silk
5
20/1
T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville
Chased leaders on inside, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last tchd 18/1 and tchd 22/1

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Non-Runners

8
Horse silk
The Grey Man35
Weight: 11-7|  Age: 5
T: H Dickin  J: Benjamin Poste
NR

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£1.50Pl:£1.30, £10.70EX:£27.70Trifecta:£86.30Tricast:£82.05SF:£49.51Swingers:£7.60, £1.10, £13.30

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)

Verdict

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.

  1. BALLYBURN (IRE)
  2. ILE ATLANTIQUE (FR)
  3. HANDSTANDS (IRE)

Previous Winners

2023
Impaire Et Passe
Weight: 11-7  |Age: 5
5/2

Prize Money

1st: £75,964.002nd: £28,620.003rd: £14,324.004th: £7,155.005th: £3,591.006th: £1,796.007th: £891.008th: £459.00

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