January 2018

Previously called the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle, this is the first race on the second day at the Cheltenham Festival. The race with ten hurdles, is run on the Old Course, over 4255 metres (around 2 miles and 5 furlongs) and is open to horses over four years of age who are novice hurdlers. The race is named after the property developer, Baring Bingham, who bought Prestbury Park in 1898, before organising the very first Cheltenham Race Festival shortly after this. Also previously named the Aldsworth Hurdle in 1971, then the Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle in 1974, it has been registered under its current sponsored name since 2007.

 

The race is run left-handed and with ten hurdles, poses quite a challenge for the novice riders if they hope to emerge in first place. The 2017 race winner was Willoughby Court, with rider David Bass. His winnings amounted to £68340, for his first victory in this race.

 

The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle has only been cancelled once in its history, since 1971, when an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth disease caused the disruption of the entire Cheltenham Festival in 2001. The race currently attracts strong contenders, with several National Hunt racehorses using it as a stepping stone to further championship races.

 

 

This race is the final one on the first day at Prestbury Park. Taking place Tuesday 13^th March at 17.30 GMT, and covering 2 miles and 4 and a half furlongs, this Listed chase is for novice chasers only over 5 years old. Run on the Old Course, over 16 fences, with a prize fund of £70,000.

 

Previously sponsored by Jewson and introduced in 2005 to the Cheltenham Festival, this race is usually crammed with fast improving entrants, with at least 5 of the last 7 winners coming to the race on the back of a triumph. This race requires the horses to go at a strong gallop, with them getting into an early rhythm, to tackle the 16 fences.

 

Previous winners were Tully East in 2017, with jockey D O’Regan, and in 2016, Ballyalton ridden by B Hughes. The handicap has a limit to horses under 140 lbs but with the many entrants, all rated within a few pounds of this handicap ceiling, it promises to be a very closely matched race.

 

The Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase is a very challenging race to win, and although the race doesn’t provide many previous statistics, Irish trainers have won 2 out of the last 10.

 

 

Previously run as the first race on day 2 of the Festival, this Amateur National Hunt Challenge Cup is now the second to last race on the meeting’s day one. To be run on Tuesday 13^th March 2018 at 4.50pm GMT. 2018 sees the Grade 2 race in its 145^th year, ridden over a stamina draining four miles with fences, and intended for amateur riders and novice chasers only.

 

With many of the same horses entered jointly into the RSA Chase and this National Hunt Chase, betting can be quieter on this competition, although the punters will still be excited to see this race. Gordon Elliot has won two out of the last three races, so expectation is high that he will once again challenge for this year’s win.

 

Favourite this year is Sutton Place, and although he is still young and inexperienced, he is a first rate horse, after winning five in a row before his lameness last season. Ballyoptic follows as second place favourite, after running several excellent races last season, all eyes will be on him in this national Hunt Challenge Cup at Cheltenham.

 

With an age limit to enter of 5 years and more, and a restriction to amateur riders and novice chasers only, it takes a very genuine horse with lots of stamina to win this race.