RacingBetter News
	Wednesday 12th October 2022

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle Race Preview (21/10)

The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle race is a highlight on the calendar for many horse racing fans and trainers. While it may not carry the same weight as more individual races such as the Grand National or the Gold Cup, it is something that still generates a lot of interest, and this year is no different.

Nobody can dispute the quality and stature of the two races we have just mentioned. However, races such as the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle are more for the purists who enjoy novice hurdle racing, and the more specific races that occur at Cheltenham during a meeting.

Any huge horse racing event causes mass excitement and a lot of attention from sports companies, sponsorships and betting companies. You can find free bets from bet365 online – one of the worlds premier betting companies, and a goliath within the UK - as well as markets for individual races, or even a number of races, if you're into accumulators.

The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle is the first race on Day 2, and many horse racing fans, trainers and experts believe it is stronger than any of the other three novice hurdles run at the festival.

The race had the same sponsor for over 30 years, before changing in 2006. So, while it was commonly referred to as the Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle, following this sponsorship change, it is referred to as one of two names: the Ballymore Hurdle or the Neptune.

This is how fans and experts refer to it. These are names that have been picked up through the years. No formal title was presented, much like many other races up and down the country. They seem to have named themselves, or names given by fans have stuck with it.

The proper title of the race and the name that is registered with the British Horseracing Authority is the Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle. It was named in memory of William Baring Bingham, who was the innovator who successfully arranged the first National Hunt meeting at Prestbury Park just over 120 years ago.

The beauty of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle race is that it is an important indicator of which horses, trainers and riders will go on to become future Champion Hurdles. Obviously, the race isn't the same, as the course distance is nearly half a mile longer.

The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle track is run over a distance of two miles and five furlongs, with 10 hurdles to be jumped. It is a serious length of track for novice horses and starts to separate the class.

This has been the case in the past few Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle races. There haven't been many shocks or surprises, as the favourite has won several of the most recent novice hurdle races.

In addition, for over a decade, no race winner has been ranked outside of the top 150. Four of the last five favourites have won, and only one winner has been priced at over 8/1 since 2007.

The New One is the only 5-year-old to win in the last 10 years, and this happened back in 2013, so the horses that have won most recently have all been of high quality and didn't freeze on the big stage when they were given a chance to show what they could do.

Horses that have won the race are some of the big names in horse racing folklore, including the likes of Faugheen, Hardy Eustace and Istabraq. In addition to this, other winners include a number of future chasing stars, including the likes of Sabin du Loir, First Lieutenant and Davy Lad.

While this type of race may not command the television audiences of huge meetings such as the Grand National, horse racing enthusiasts and experts have high regard for them. Over 100,000 racegoers attended the most recent Grand National, which shows the mainstream appeal of racing in today's society.

The purists will argue that the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is more of a horse racing enthusiasts’ race, and it would be hard to disagree with this statement. That's not to say both races don’t have their charm, though, and can be enjoyed for what they are, without any comparisons.

The Grand National is more of a marquee and landmark spectacle, whereas the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle is something for the fans and experts to dissect.

The Ballymore Novices' Hurdle race this month will be no different. There'll be many a keen eye taking note of what transpires on the track, as many people may be witnessing the start of a career for a potential future star.

If previous races are anything to go by, this would suggest this is the case. Whichever horse will win and potentially forge a legendary career in the sport is anybody's guess for now. All will become clear as time progresses and the race takes shape.