13:30 Cheltenham

Wednesday 13 March 2024

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:5017:30

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

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 22.96s

1^st

Ballyburn

611-7

1/2f

T: W P MullinsJ: Paul Townend

Tracked leader, took keen hold, led after 2 out, quickened before last, soon clear, stayed on well, impressive tchd 4/9 and 8/15

2^nd

Jimmy Du Seuil

511-7

66/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Sean O'Keeffe

Held up in last trio, took keen hold, not fluent 7th, headway after 2 out, chased winner before last, well held from last, kept on op 50/1

3^rd

3 ½

Ile Atlantique

611-7

9/2

T: W P MullinsJ: Mr P W Mullins

Held up in last trio, headway 5th, went 3rd when hit last, no chance with winner, kept on op 11/2 tchd 6/1

4^th

Mercurey

611-7

40/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Brian Hayes

Led until after 2 out, lost 3rd when no impression last, no extra flat tchd 33/1 and 50/1

5^th

3 ¼

Predators Gold

511-7

7/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Danny Mullins

Held up in last trio, reached at 6th, switched outside 7th and soon closed, mistake 3 out, not fluent 2 out, soon outpaced, 5th and weakening last op 15/2 tchd 6/1

6^th

Handstands

511-7

20/1

T: B PaulingJ: Harry Cobden

Raced on outside, prominent early, chased leaders, pushed along before 3 out, weakened after 2 out, tailed off op 12/1

Also Ran

Jingko Blue

511-7

20/1

T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville

Chased leaders on inside, mistake 3rd, not fluent next, mistake and rider lost iron briefly 5th, lost place 3 out, soon weakened, pulled up before last tchd 18/1 and tchd 22/1

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Non-Runners

The Grey Man³⁵

Weight: 11-7| Age: 5

T: H Dickin J: Benjamin Poste

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£1.50Pl:£1.30, £10.70EX:£27.70Trifecta:£86.30Tricast:£82.05SF:£49.51Swingers:£7.60, £1.10, £13.30

Forecasts

Ballyburn (1/2), Ile Atlantique (9/2), Predators Gold (7/1), Handstands (20/1), Jingko Blue (20/1), Mercurey (40/1), Jimmy Du Seuil (66/1), The Grey Man (200/1)

BALLYBURN is considered one of the bankers of the week and it's very hard to oppose him. Willie Mullins has an exceptional bunch of novice hurdlers once again and he is the highest-rated of the lot going into the Festival on the back of a stunning victory in a Leopardstown Grade 1 won by some of the stable stars over the years. He promises to do even better over this sort of trip and can land the odds. Ile Atlantique can complete a 1-2 for the yard, ahead of Ben Pauling's unbeaten Handstands.

BALLYBURN (IRE)
ILE ATLANTIQUE (FR)
HANDSTANDS (IRE)

Previous Winners

2023

Impaire Et Passe

Weight: 11-7 |Age: 5

J: Paul Townend | T: W P Mullins

5/2

Prize Money

1st: £75,964.002nd: £28,620.003rd: £14,324.004th: £7,155.005th: £3,591.006th: £1,796.007th: £891.008th: £459.00