Cheltenham Festival Tips 2022: Ballymore Novices Hurdle Preview

Novice Hurdlers are some of the most talked about horses during any jumps season, but much of the Cheltenham ante-post betting focus for any season will centre on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. However, the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle can offer plenty of value too, especially with more uncertainty over this race as a target traditionally leading to some more generous ante-post odds. Keep reading for more Cheltenham Festival tips 2022

Sir Gerhard 4/1 bet365*

The current 4/1 favourite across the board is Sir Gerhard, who was the beneficiary of fantastic Rachael Blackmore ride in the Champion Bumper last year to get the better of Kilcruit, who was outsped when Blackmore quickened from the front two out. He was beaten into third at the Punchestown Festival but didn’t lose too much credit there and ought to take some high ranking novice hurdles this season.

However, 4/1 at bet365* looks a very short price – one that assumes this will be the target – and surely better value can be found?

Ginto 7/1 Betfair

One horse of interest is Ginto, who was a deeply impressive winner of the Navan Novice’ Hurdle when putting 11 lengths between him and Eric Bloodaxe, a previous winner at Naas by eight lengths. Ginto was 20/1 last month but is now into around 7/1. Trainer Gordon Elliott said: “We’ve always liked Ginto and I was delighted with what he did at Navan.”

If he does eventually arrive at Cheltenham in good nick then he could be the best of our Cheltenham Festival tips 2022.

Dysart Dynamo 8/1 bet365*

Dysart Dynamo is as short as 3/1 with Hills after an impressive win at Cork, but the Supreme may be higher on the agenda for him at the moment given the speed he showed there.

Constitution Hill 10/1 Unibet

A more interesting contender could be Constitution Hill, who was a deeply impressive winner on debut at Sandown, when leaving the previously impressive hurdles winner Might I trailing in his wake by 14 lengths.

He’s as short as 10/1 for the Supreme, but the stamina he showed up the stiff Sandown hill suggests that this 3-mile point-to-point second would have no trouble going further and with Supreme leader Jonbon casting a tall shadow at Seven Barrows currently, it would not be a surprise if a longer trip was tried.

Mighty Potter 14/1 Betfair

One horse who may want further than two miles is Mighty Potter, who was third in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse but may have been the best horse on the day. Always free from the off under a slow pace, he had to be switched at a crucial time on the run in after being tapped for toe when the pace lifted three out, yet was finishing best of all, finishing third behind the unbeaten Statuaire and My Mate Mozzie, who had previously been an impressive winner of the For Auction Novice Hurdle (*10 length runner up second has since won at Fairyhouse).

He looks as if he’ll relish a step up in trip at Cheltenham – and a faster pace – and if connections take this course then Cheltenham betting odds of 16/1 could look extremely generous for a horse who already has graded form in the book.

Classic Getaway 40/1 bet365*

£570,000 purchase Classic Getaway – the joint-highest price ever paid for a point-to-pointer at public auction – was a wide margin winner on his debut at Tipperary. He has obvious promise but the form of that race has been weak and it would be nice to see him again.

The same has to be said of Kilcruit after his leaden legged display at Cork behind Largy Debut – it’s highly unlikely that was his running, for all that Largy Debut impressed there, and both could still end up heading to the Supreme.