Ballymore Novices` Hurdle Preview - Cheltenham Festival
Published on: 13/03/2019
Ballymore Novices` Hurdle Preview - Cheltenham Festival
March 13, 2019 13:30pm - Cheltenham
Cheltenham Festival
Distance: 2m 5f 26y
Grade: 1
Runners: 16
Winner: £70,338.00 2nd: £26,500.00 3rd: £13,262.00 4th: £6,625.00 5th: £3,325.00 6th: £1,662.00 7th: £825.00 8th: £425.00
Going: Soft (Heavy in places)
Wednesday`s Cheltenham Festival action kicks off with the Ballymore Novices` Hurdle. Day One proved to be as tough as expected as conditions took their toll prompting many punters to reassess their pre-festival selections.
It is clear that stamina is going to prove even more vital that usual which could suit the likes of Sams Profile in Wednesday`s opener. He was beaten into second by Battleoverdoyen in the Grade 1 Navan Novices` Hurdle at Naas in January, but a mistake held him up before he rallied late on. He has proved he is stayer over distance and the heavy conditions should bring him into contention.
Sams profile will have to overcome the Gordon Elliott-trained Battleoverdoyen who has shown speed and stamina in recent performances. He came out on top when the two raced at Naas but conditions will be different today and he has yet to run on soft ground.
Also fancied is Nicky Henderson`s Champ, although the seven-year-old`s win in the Challow Hurdle may be a deceptive benchmark. None of the 16 winners of that event who have then entered Ballymore have prevailed. Or course, he could be the one to buck that trend and is out to make it five wins from his last five starts this week.
Ballymore Novices` Hurdle Winners - past five years:
2014: Faugheen (6) - Ruby Walsh (Willie Mullins)
2015: Windsor Park (6) - Davy Russell (Dermot Weld)
2016: Yorkhill (6) - Ruby Walsh (Willie Mullins)
2017: Willoughby Court (6) David Bass (Ben Pauling)
2018: Samcro (6) J W Kennedy (G. Elliott)
Latest Betting odds:
Champ 7/2
Battleoverdoyen 9/2
Brewinupastorm 8/1
City Island 9/1
Sams Profile 11/1
Easy Game 12/1
Beakstown 16/1
20/1 bar
You can back Sams Profile at a best price of 11/1.
By Neil Morris
Published on: 13/03/2019
Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (13/03/2019 08:52:30) but are subject to change.
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