Ballymore Novices Hurdle 2021 (13:20) Betting Guide

Best Ballymore Novices Hurdle Betting Sites

Antepost Key Runners & Favourites

Traders at all major betting firms have gone up with their early thoughts on the Ballymore Novices Hurdle. This gives backers the chance to support their runner of choice early in the hope their pick will run in the race and become 2021 champion, landing them a handsome profit.

Generally, the earlier you bet on an antepost market at the Cheltenham Festival the bigger the available price will be. This is because you are showing your hand early and jumping the queue, taking a risk before the final field has been decided. A great way to get more for your stake but other players prefer to wait until closer to the off to ensure their selection is confirmed in the final race field and this is a shrewd approach.

Keep your eye out for the popular non-runner no bet promotion which promises to refund your stake if your preferred horse doesn’t run in the race you backed it to win. Without the NRMB promo, if connections enter it into a different race or choose to bypass the festival entirely, you would lose your cash without ever getting a run for your money. Also, numerous Cheltenham free bet offers definitely deserve your attention.

It is still very early in the build up to the 2021 Ballymore Novices Hurdle and the Cheltenham Festival but let’s take a loolk at the current betting and pick out any value that exists amongst the antepost favourites. The deal here is to look for any major differences of opinion that exists on the same horse between traders at different bookmakers.

The Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, registered as the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, has a hugely competitive look to it this year. There are three horses towards the head of the betting with previous Grade 1 successes under their belts who look set to battle it out for the spoils at the Cheltenham:

Gaillard Du Mesnil (100/30)

Irish trainer Willie Mullins has won this race a record four times and has the rapidly progressive Gaillard Du Mesnil as ante post favourite to add to that tally. A typical French import to the stable, he relished stepping up in trip from a two-mile maiden hurdle to the highest level at the Dublin Racing Festival and ran out a ready winner over two-and-three-quarter miles. As Gaillard Du Mesnil doesn’t hold an entry in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and supplementing him for that looks unlikely, he is a leading fancy in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle betting for a hat-trick.

Bravemansgame (9/2)

Believe it or not, Paul Nicholls has never trained the winner of the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle before. The Ditcheat maestro could well change that this season with Bravemansgame, however. A leading British contender for the race this year, Nicholls compared him to past yard great Denman after he emulated that legendary horse by winning the Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury over the festive period. That punched a ticket to Cheltenham for Bravemansgame and, although he still has quite some billing to live up to, he looks more than capable of justifying his handler’s faith by following-up in this contest.

Bob Olinger (5/1)

Henry De Bromhead is also searching for a maiden victory in this race, and Bob Olinger won the same prep race as Envoi Allen did en route to Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle glory last season. That was the Lawlor’s of Naas Novices’ Hurdle in January. Bob Olinger bested Blue Lord, who has since run well as a staying on third when dropped back in trip at the Dublin Racing Festival. Only last year’s Champion Bumper winner Ferny Hollow, who sadly misses Cheltenham due to injury this time around, has been too good for him in his career to date. Bob Olinger clearly has a hand to play here, which is reflected in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle betting and the odds on offer.

Check out our Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide for the list of TOP 15 betting sites to place a bet on upcoming Festival.

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2021 Entries

There are 120 early closing entries for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle this year. More than half of those (65) are trained in Ireland. A maximum field of 22 is allowed to run in the race. Here is the list of potential runners for the Ballymore Novices Hurdle 2021 in full:

Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2021 Betting Offers (Updated: February 2021)

Race Stats & Trends

• The leading jockey in this race at present is Ruby Walsh and it’s unlikely he will lose his position anytime soon. The fans favourite rider has won this race four times in the past between 2008 and 2016. He finally got off the mark with Fiveforthree in 2008 before doubling up a year later when Mikael d’Haguenet came good in 2009. Ruby Walsh was again on the winner thanks to Faugheen in 2014 and was last seen in the winner’s enclosure with Yorkhill in 2016.
• Leading trainer in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle is Willie Mullins and that will come as no surprise to followers of the Cheltenham Festival. Mullins banked his first title with Fiveforthree in 2008 and scored for a second time thanks to Mikael d’Hagunet. Faugheen and Yorkhill make up the spare two wins. Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins have an exceptional record in this race.
• Horses aged six years old at the time of entering show real form in this race. City Island was a six-year-old and that age was shared by each of the last six champions and eight of the nine most recent champions.

Ballymore Novices Hurdle Betting Guide

Get Access to Live Streaming

Live betting and live streaming is offered by major bookmakers on all UK and Irish horse racing and that coverage will extend to the 2021 Cheltenham Festival. Back a horse and you will be able to watch it run through an HD quality live streaming service that also offers expert commentary and in-play betting odds. All this comes free of charge to registered members, but most bookies have a condition in place that says you must place a bet before being given access to the live coverage.

Ballymore Novices Hurdle Past Winners

Last 10 Ballymore Novices Hurdle winners:

• Envoi Allen – 2020
• City Island – 2019
• Samcro – 2018
• Willoughby Court – 2017
• Yorkhill – 2016
• Windsor Park – 2015
• Faugheen – 2014
• The New One – 2013
• Simonsig – 2012
• First Lieutenant – 2011
• Peddlers Cross – 2010

What happened in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2020?

Winner: Envoi Allen

The horse racing world is very much the oyster of Envoi Allen, who justified his status as the Irish banker of the 2020 Cheltenham Festival with success at an odds-on price of 4/7 in the 2m 5f Grade 1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Trained by Gordon Elliott for owners Cheveley Park Stud, the six-year-old looked trapped in a pocket at one stage during the race, but jockey Davy Russell soon angled him out with work to do and the pair found themselves some six lengths off the pace rounding the home bend. Envoi Allen closed quickly, however, to lead approaching the last and ran on to score by 4 1/4 lengths from each-way gamble Easywork for owners Gigginstown House Stud and trainer Henry De Bromhead who was backed into a starting price of 12/1.

The Big Getaway made most of the running but was beaten a further 3 3/4 lengths in third for Willie Mullins. Envoi Allen had his rivals well strung out at the line and the big question is where will he go from here? After success in the Champion Bumper here in 2019, he is already a dual Cheltenham Festival winner and one Irish horse that it will obviously pay to follow for future assignments.

Regular pilot Russell would not comment on future plans, but bookmakers have already priced up possibilities for next year. If he remains over hurdles, then Envoi Allen is a first-show 10/1 for the 2021 Champion Hurdle. Alternatively, he could be sent chasing by connections. Dropping back in trip for the Arkle is an option in that eventuality, so Envoi Allen is 14/1 for that. He is also the 6/1 favourite for the Marsh Novices’ Chase over the middle distance of 2m 4f.

What Happened in 2019?

The Ballymore Novices Hurdle results show City Island won the 2019 version of this race with Mark Walsh in the saddle. That was the bay gelding’s standout result to date, but it was fully deserved. Sent off as an SP 8/1 shot that day, City Island beat runner up Champ by two lengths after putting in a near perfect performance. The victor was held back in the pack during the early exchanges but struggled for racing room at the business end of the race.

He eventually found a way through and delivered a charge for the line that saw him lead turning for home. He possessed the turn of foot and fitness needed to pull away from his main rivals that day and stay on for the prize. Champ was well beaten in second for Barry Geraghty and we had Bright Forecast another 2 ¼ lengths behind in third at a stunning 25/1 to put a smile on the faces of those who backed him each-way. He ran a fair race but made no real impression on the two ahead.

Ballymore Novices Hurdle Key Trials

Followers of the National Hunt horse racing season will notice a number of Cheltenham Festival trial races late in 2020 and early into 2021. The results of these will be important when it comes to backing your winner of the Ballymore Hurdle. The list below will be updated with key trials results, times and other useful information.

Upcoming Ballymore Novices Hurdle Trials

• Ballymore Novices Hurdle Trial (Cheltenham trials day) – 25th January 2020