The Turners Novices’ Hurdle, registered as the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle opens Cheltenham’s Wednesday card. This 2m5f contest serves as a significant stepping stone for top-class novice hurdlers, with the likes of Simonsig,
Faugheen and Envoi Allen all on the recent roll of honour. This year’s race looks one of the most exciting Grade 1s of the week, so he’s a rundown of the leading contenders…
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Final Demand
Trained by Willie Mullins, who is aiming to win this race for the fourth year running, Final Demand arrives at Cheltenham with a well-earned big reputation. He cost €230,000 after winning an Irish point last spring and immediately stamped himself as a prospect right out of the top drawer when running out a 15-length winner on his hurdles debut at Limerick.
He was even more impressive when recording a commanding victory in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The sky could be the limit in terms of his potential and he’s amongst the most exciting runners of the whole week.
The New Lion
Perhaps the most exciting novice hurdler in Britain is The New Lion. Trained by Dan Skelton, he’s won all 4 starts, beginning in a Market Rasen bumper last spring before landing novice hurdles at Chepstow and Newbury in the autumn.
It was his performance in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle, also at Newbury, just after Christmas which really highlighted him as a horse of significant potential, never needing to fully come off the bridle to run out a comfortably winner.
He’s also entered in the Supreme over 2m on the opening day, but the Challow proved he’ll have no issue the longer trip in the Turners and he may be likeliest to appear here.
The Yellow Clay
Sixth in the Champion Bumper last season, The Yellow Clay has made a fine transition to hurdling, winning all four starts over hurdles so far. The latest came when making the breakthrough at Grade 1 level in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Hurdle in January, where he again looked a straightforward, strong-staying type.
He is also entered in the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham over 3m on Friday, but connections are reportedly leaning towards the shorter contest and he has to merit respect.
Potters Charm
Potters Charm made a fine start to this season, winning twice at Cheltenham before making the successful step up to Grade 1 company to win the Formby Novices Hurdle over 2m at Aintree.
He met with a shock defeat at the handles of Sixmilebridge back at Prestbury Park on Trials Day, so would need to bounce back and build on the huge potential he was showing before the turn of the year to land the Turners.
Sixmilebridge
Sixmilebridge finished down the field in the Champion Bumper this season, but has progressed with each run over hurdles. Despite being beaten on his debut over timber at Stratford, he has won all three starts since, scoring at Leicester and Huntingdon before causing an upset against Potters Charm here on Trials Day.
This requires another significant step up again, but he’s clearly going in the right direction.
The Turners Novices’ Hurdle has often been a tricky race tactically, perhaps due to its position on the second day of the Festival. If the opening day features aggressively run races, the tempo in the Turners can be more measured, creating a stop-start dynamic that might not suit every runner.
Final Demand’s biggest challenge could come from horses with a sharper turn of foot.
The New Lion showed serious pace when winning the Challow Hurdle at Newbury, marking him out as a real speed threat over this distance. Similarly, Kawaboomga has shown flashes of class, though his defeat to Kopek Des Bordes at Christmas suggests he may not quite be top level.
One horse who cannot be ruled out is The Yellow Clay, a tough and talented performer from Gordon Elliott’s yard. He handled softer-than-ideal ground to win the Lawlors of Naas Novice Hurdle, but Elliott has made it clear he’d prefer a sounder surface for his charge.
If the ground at Cheltenham is in his favour, he could be a real contender.
While Final Demand might prove to be the best horse in the long run, that doesn’t necessarily mean he will win the Turners Novices’ Hurdle. If the race develops into a sprint finish, he could find himself vulnerable to speedier rivals. If there’s a strong enough gallop, his stamina and jumping ability could come to the fore.
This remains a fascinating puzzle, and Final Demand certainly shouldn’t be dismissed, but whether he has the raw speed to land the spoils at Cheltenham is another question entirely.
13:30 Turner Novices Chase Tips
14:10 Pertemps Final Tips
14:50 Ryanair Chase Tips
15:30 Stayers Hurdle Tips
16:10 Plate Handicap Tips
16:50 Mares Hurdle Tips
17:30 Kim Muir Tips
Previous Analysis
Leading the field are four horses that we believe should be in the win. Dan Skelton’s Grey Dawning is available at 5/2, and will be trying to turn the tables on Paul Nicholls’ Ginnys Destiny who was victor on course and distance when the two last met.
Going up in trip is Facile Vega, a horse that can be unpredictable but with decent recent form. Willie Mullins’ charge will have Paul Townend on board and stands every chance at 11/4.
The most interesting of the four main protagonists could be Iroko. Trained by the Greenall and Guerriero partnership, he’s had a lengthy break so was likely aimed at this and we expect him to be right there at the finish.
Sharjah is another interesting entry from the Mullins yard and we’re surprised at a 20/1 price so keep this one handy for an each-way, and Venetia Williams saddles Djelo, a handy chaser with more to come. At 18/1, this is another opportunity for a good each-way.
We reckon this could be a great battle between Grey Dawning and Ginnys Destiny, setting us up for another exciting day at Cheltenham.
Day 3 featured races quick links:
Previous Update: Turners Novices 2023
Mighty Potter is unbeaten over fences and was seen to best effect on his most recent start when beating Adamantly Chosen at the DRF.
His pinpoint accuracy at his fences helped him gain lengths every time. Even though his bizarre giraffe-like tendencies to hang look as if he’s an awkward ride he galloped straight through the line to win comfortably.
The Gordon Elliot trained gelding has always looked a shade green in all of his races when out under pressure however he does nothing but try when asked to do so.
Read more about Cheltenham Festival tips at the 2024 Festival here.
The one worry for me would be when he came over to England last year in the Supreme he was majorly disappointing and although as I’ve mentioned he’s green maybe travelling might catch up with him.
I respect him at the market and think he’s the best horse in the race but that niggle in the back of my brain worries me about him.
Banbridge won at last year’s Cheltenham Festival in the Martin Pipe and has done nothing but progress since then over fences.
He came over to Britain in November to run in an Arkle Trial in which he flew round and brushed aside some nice horses.
He was slightly disappointing in the Drinmore finishing behind Mighty Potter but maybe that run came too quickly on going he may have found too soft.
Having been on the go fairly early in the season he was given a break and had a nice return in the Irish Arkle finishing second when being found out for speed.
This step up in trip is something he will enjoy and I would t be surprised if he reversed the placings with the favourite here.
Nicky Henderson won this race back in 2021 with Chantry House after the shock departure of Envoi Allen early on.
He looks to win this race again with Balco Coastal who bumped into Gerri Colombe last time in the Scilly Isles at Sandown.
He was just outstayed that day by a horse who wanted three miles and I was more impressed by how he jumped.
He was poor on his debut over fences but showed a much better showing at Kempton at Christmas.
That step up into graded level last time showed the improvement that he’d found and I wouldn’t devalue his chances here.
Stage Star won a novice handicap over the course and distance and looked thrown in off his mark.
He steps up in class for the Champion Trainer Paul Nicholls but I don’t think he’s as talented as some of the others.
Overall, I think that Mighty Potter has the best form in the race and the stronger possibility of more progression to come.
With both of those factors I believe 5/4 is a fair enough price against some exposed rivals.
Selection – Mighty Potter 5/4