AIS Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle)
Grade 2, Cheltenham 16:10
£75,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus,
2m 4f 56y, Class 1  
Saturday 24th January 2026

1 Kripticjim 14/1
2 Taurus Bay 11/4
3 Fortune Timmy 15/2
7 ran NR: Act Of Innocence
Distances: shd, 2l, 1¼l Time: 5m 9.27s (slow by 19.27s)

The race had its drama before a hurdle was even jumped, a lengthy delay as officials inspected a false patch of ground on the home straight. Eventually the affected area was dolled off, the all-clear was given, and the Grade 2, registered as the Classic Novices’ Hurdle, was able to proceed.

One of the anticipated leading players, Act Of Innocence, was a notable absentee, but a talented field of seven still came under starter’s orders. Champion Bumper runner-up Heads Up took them along at a fair clip, setting the tempo as they moved through the early stages. The remainder sat close enough, none too far adrift, with the exception of The Blue Room, who never appeared comfortable throughout.

Racing towards the business end, three lined up on the run to the last. By the time they reached the final flight Taurus Bay had edged just about in front, seemingly with the advantage. But Kripticjim, sent off at 14/1, found plenty when it mattered. He rallied strongly and what followed was a ding-dong battle all the way up the Cheltenham hill.

The judge was called upon, a photo required to separate them, and in the end it was Kripticjim who got the verdict by a short-head. Fortune Timmy stayed on to take third.

The victory took Kripticjim’s record under Rules to four wins from seven starts and completed a hat-trick over hurdles, marking him down as a novice very much on the rise.

AIS Classic Novices' Hurdle
 (Grade 2)
£75,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 56y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Soft

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Kripticjim 6 11-5 Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell 14/1
2 shd Taurus Bay 5 11-5 Ben Pauling Ben Jones 11/4
3 2 Fortune Timmy 6 11-5 Chris Gordon Freddie Gordon 15/2
4 1¼ Open Secret 5 11-5 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 14/1
5 24 Heads Up 6 11-5 John C McConnell Danny Mullins 6/4F
6 28 Adonedeal 6 11-5 Olly Murphy Gavin Sheehan 40/1
PU The Blue Room 6 11-5 Olly Murphy Sean Bowen 4/1
WD Act Of Innocence 6 11-5 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville

Year Horse Owner Trainer Age 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
2022 North Lodge McNeill Family & Niall Farrell Alan King 5 11-05 A P Heskin 7/1
2023 Rock My Way Nick Case, Syd Hosie, John Romans Syd Hosie 5 11-05 Tom Scudamore 13/2
2024 Gidleigh Park The Eyre Family Harry Fry 6 11-05 Jonathan Burke 5/6F
2025 Sixmilebridge The Megsons Fergal O'Brien 6 11-05 Kielan Woods 9/1

BoyleSports