Cheltenham 2010 - Ballymore Properties Novices Hurdle

Probably best know as the Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle, the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle has been sponsored by Ballymore Properties since the 2007 renewal of the race. The race is a good pointer for future Champion Hurdle winners. Most recently, Istabraq and Hardy Eustace have gone on to win the Champion Hurdle following victories in this event.

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh have teamed up to win the last 2 renewals of this Novice Hurdle, but there is no other trainer or jockey to have won the race more than once since Aidan O’Brien and Charlie Swan in 1996 and 97.

Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle Details

Trip: 2 miles and 5 furlongs

Class: Grade 1

First Run: 1971

Next running: Wednesday 17th March 2010

2010 Neptune Novices Hurdle Betting

Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle Trends

Nine of the last ten winners finished 1st or 2nd last time out.

Seven of the last ten renewals have been won by six year olds.

Nine of the last ten winners already had a hurdles victory over at least 2m4f.

There has only been one winner older than six since 1974.

2010 Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle

The market for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle looks wide open at the moment. Most bookmakers are going between 8’s and 10/1 the field so there are some nice prices to be had, no all we need to do is identify the winner!

Quel Esprit, hailing from last year’s winning yard, is the current market leader with most firms. He’s won both his start over hurdles thus far and was 4th in last year’s Champion Bumper. Quel Esprit has done all his racing with cut in the ground thus far and his two hurdle wins were on heavy ground. There is nothing to say he won’t handle ground that is good or faster but if it comes up that way at the 2010 Festival, it would be n unknown quantity.

Nicky Henderson’s Quantitativeeasing is only a four year old but is unbeaten in three career starts. He’s owned by JP McManus so is likely to have every assistance from the saddle in the shape of AP McCoy and this young horse could be anything.

The one I like at the prices is Tell Massini. He’s also unbeaten, has two victories at Cheltenham to his name and his last time out win in the Albert Bartlett Bristol Novices’ Hurdle is about the best form on offer in the field. Currently a general 12/1 chance, he rates a rock solid each way bet.

Back Tell Massini at 12/1 with Betfred and get a free £50 bet.

Tags: 2010 cheltenham festival, ballymore properties novices hurdle, royal and sun alliance hurdle

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 3:47 pm and is filed under Cheltenham Festival 2010, Cheltenham Festival News, Horse Racing Previews, Horse Racing Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.