Ballymore Classic Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle)
Grade 2, Cheltenham 15:05
£50,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus,
2m 4f 56y, Class 1  
Saturday 29th January 2022

Free Racing Tips

1 North Lodge 7/1
2 Balco Coastal 7/2
3 A Different Kind 10/1
6 ran Distances: 2½l, 3l, 17l
Time: 5m 1.14s (slow by 11.14s)

The race was incident-strewn from the off, with hurdles missed out due to the low sun and Harpers Brook coming down early on and hampering Henry Daly’s 4-5 favourite Hillcrest, who jinked and unseated Richard Patrick.

Joined by Nicky Henderson’s Balco Coastal up the hill, the Alan King-trained North Lodge then drifted across the track on the run to the line, slightly impeding the Seven Barrows runner, who was eventually beaten by two and a half lengths.

After a stewards’ inquiry the placings remained unaltered and King’s 7-1 chance added a Cheltenham success to his prior hurdle win at Aintree in early December.

King said: “I hoped he’d run very well, but I thought whatever he did he’d improve again.

“Ideally I’d have liked to have gone a slightly lower route with him, but we had a little chat midweek and decided we’d be brave and come and have a look and see.

“I always felt a step up in trip would suit. Aintree, over two miles, I thought would be sharp enough.

“I think he’s fairly adaptable ground-wise. I had his full-brother years ago, Winter Escape, who was smart as a young horse.

“I thought he jumped well. The hurdles being taken out was actually a hindrance as he got a bit green going round them. It probably confused him a little bit.

“I don’t know about the Festival. I just said to the boys (owners) let’s enjoy today and chat about it next week.

“I think potentially he’s a very good horse and we’ve just got to do it right. Whether he wants to come to Cheltenham this year, I’m not sure.”

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Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
 (Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£50,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 56y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     North Lodge 5 11-5 Alan King A P Heskin 7/1
2 2½ Balco Coastal 6 11-5 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 7/2
3 3 A Different Kind 5 11-8 Donald McCain Brian Hughes 10/1
4 17 Picanha 8 11-5 Richard Phillips Daniel Hiskett 20/1
FELL Harper's Brook 6 11-5 Ben Pauling Kielan Woods 22/1
UR Hillcrest 7 11-10 Henry Daly Richard Patrick 4/5F

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Year Horse Owner Trainer Weight Jockey SP

2000 Monsignor Malcolm Denmark Mark Pitman 6-11-12 Norman Williamson 1/2 f
2001 Indian Scout Indian Scout Partnership Ben De Haan 6-11-06 Liam Cummins 2/1
2002 Keen Leader Adair Catherwood Jonjo O’Neill 6-11-05 Liam Cooper 10/11 f
2003 Iris’s Gift Robert Lester Jonjo O’Neill 6-11-09 Barry Geraghty 1/3 f
2004 Abandoned
2005 Ambobo Sean Mulryan Arnaud Chaille-Chaille FR 5-11-12 Barry Geraghty 14/1
2006 Abandoned
2007 Wichita Lineman J P McManus Jonjo O’Neill 6-11-12 Tony McCoy Evens f
2008 Aigle D’Or J P McManus Nicky Henderson 5-11-09 Marcus Foley 7/4 f
2009 Diamond Harry Paul Duffy/Diamond Partnership Nick Williams 6-11-12 Timmy Murphy 8/15 f
2010 Restless Harry Richard Whitehead Robin Dickin 6-11-12 Henry Oliver 7/2
2011 Bobs Worth The Not Afraid Partnership Nicky Henderson 6-11-12 Barry Geraghty 7/2
2012 Batonnier Raymond Mould Alan King 6-11-05 Wayne Hutchinson 12/1
2013 At Fishers Cross J P McManus Rebecca Curtis 6-11-12 A P McCoy 13/2
2014 Red Sherlock The Johnson Family David Pipe 5-11-09 Tom Scudamore 9/4
2015 Ordo Ab Chao A Marsh Alan King 6-11-09 Wayne Hutchinson 16/1
2016 Yanworth J P McManus Alan King 6-11-12 Barry Geraghty 2/1f
2017 Wholestone Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies 6-11-10 Daryl Jacob 11/4 f
2018 Santini Mr & Mrs R Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson 6-11-05 J McGrath 4/1
2019 Birchdale J P McManus Nicky Henderson 5-11-05 Barry Geraghty 2/1
2020 Harry Senior Brocade Racing Colin Tizzard 6 11-05 Robbie Power 4/1
2021 ABANDONED