Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Cheltenham

13:30

Date 2024-03-13

Distance 2m5f

Class Class 1

Going Soft

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 4yo+

Prize £75,965

Runners (8)

EW Terms: 3 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
1	Ballyburn Bay J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	161	—	11-211	157	164	134	38d	—	—	-13	46.8	0.13/1	8/15 65%
Confirmed he's a top-class novice when clear winner of 2m Leopardstown Grade 1 last month
3	Ile Atlantique Brown J:Mr P W Mullins T:W P Mullins	J:Mr P W Mullins T:W P Mullins	161	—	122-12	148	156	127	61d	—	—	+15	28.5	1.50/1	6/1 14%
Headed on run-in when favourite for Naas Grade 1 in January but still has potential
7	Predators Gold Bay J:Danny Mullins T:W P Mullins	J:Danny Mullins T:W P Mullins	161	—	1-122	150	156	121	39d	—	—	+24	35.1	2.00/1	8/1 11%
Second in Grade 1s on last two outings (2m/2m6f); could still have a bigger run in him
2	Handstands Brown J:Harry Cobden T:Ben Pauling	J:Harry Cobden T:Ben Pauling	161	—	1111	136	145	116	34d	—	—	+41	48.6	3.50/1	14/1 7%
Beat previous Grade 1 winner in 2m3f Listed race last month and now 3-3 over hurdles
5	Jingko Blue Bay J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	J:Nico de Boinville T:Nicky Henderson	161	—	1-211	140	150	130	39d	—	—	+26	30.7	5.50/1	22/1 4%
Displayed jolt of improvement when comfortable winner of Sandown handicap last month
6	Mercurey Chestnut J:Brian Hayes T:W P Mullins	J:Brian Hayes T:W P Mullins	161	—	3/2-31	-	153	132	37d	—	—	+3	5.9	10.00/1	40/1 2%
Wide-margin winner of Punchestown maiden last month; others have more compelling form
4	Jimmy Du Seuil Bay J:Sean O'Keeffe T:W P Mullins	J:Sean O'Keeffe T:W P Mullins	161	—	52-21	-	133	103	62d	—	—	-2	0.7	12.50/1	50/1 2%
Did not need to improve upon very promising hurdle debut when very easy maiden winner
8	The Grey Man Grey J:Ben Poste T:Harriet Dickin	J:Ben Poste T:Harriet Dickin	161	—	522	-	109	94	35d	—	—	—	8.5	—	—
Second in run-of-the-mill Ludlow novice on recent hurdle debut; out of his depth here

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Ladbrokes	Unibet	Boyle Sports
Ballyburn	1/2	8/15	4/9	4/9	2/5
Ile Atlantique	6/1	5/1	11/2	6/1	6/1
Predators Gold	8/1	6/1	13/2	7/1	15/2
Handstands	14/1	9/1	14/1	12/1	12/1
Jingko Blue	20/1	16/1	18/1	22/1	16/1
Mercurey	33/1	28/1	33/1	40/1	33/1
Jimmy Du Seuil	50/1	40/1	50/1	50/1	40/1

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Handstands

48.6

OR: 21.5 Form: 25 Odds: 2.1

14/1

2nd

Ballyburn

46.8

OR: 26.8 Form: 0 Odds: 20

8/15

3rd

Predators Gold

35.1

OR: 25 Form: 7 Odds: 3.1

8/1

Jingko Blue

30.7

OR: 22.5 Form: 7 Odds: 1.2

22/1

Ile Atlantique

28.5

OR: 24.5 Form: 0 Odds: 4

6/1

The Grey Man

8.5

OR: 0 Form: 8.5 Odds: 0

—

Mercurey

5.9

OR: 0 Form: 5 Odds: 0.9

40/1

Jimmy Du Seuil

0.7

OR: 0 Form: 0 Odds: 0.7

50/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Ballyburn	157	164	134
Predators Gold	150	156	121
Ile Atlantique	148	156	127
Jingko Blue	140	150	130
Handstands	136	145	116
Mercurey	—	153	132
Jimmy Du Seuil	—	133	103
The Grey Man	—	109	94

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Handstands	34d ago	Fit
The Grey Man	35d ago	Fit
Mercurey	37d ago	Fit
Ballyburn	38d ago	Fit
Predators Gold	39d ago	Fit
Jingko Blue	39d ago	Fit
Ile Atlantique	61d ago	Fresh
Jimmy Du Seuil	62d ago	Fresh