The Classic Novices Hurdle run on Cheltenham Festival Trails day has Grade 2 status and has been contested by some top class horses since being added to the race program in 2005. It is run over 2m4f and is sponsored by Neptune Investment Management as part of their Road to Cheltenham series.
The 2011 renewal is particularly notable as it saw the 2012 Champion Hurdler Rock on Ruby lose out to the three time Festival winner Bobs Worth. 2013 also saw two future Festival winners battle it out with At Fishers Cross just edging The New One.
At Fishers Cross, Bobs Worth and Wichita Lineman went on to win the three mile Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle after landing this prize.
Classic Novices Hurdle Stats 2003-2012
- Nicky Henderson has trained 2 winners since 2008
- Barry Geraghty and Tony McCoy have each has ridden 2 of the winners
- 6 out of 9 winners had official ratings. 5 of the 6 were rated 140+
- The favourite has won on 3 occasions but not since 2009
- All 9 winners were aged 5 or 6
Classic Novices Hurdle Winners 2005-2014
| Year | Horse | Age | WT | Jockey | Trainer | OR | SP | FOF |
| 2014 | Red Sherlock | 5 | 11-9 | Tom Scudamoe | David Pipe | – | 9-4 | 2 |
| 2013 | At Fishers Cross | 6 | 11-12 | AP McCoy | Rebecca Curtis | 145 | 13-2 | 2 |
| 2012 | Batonnier | 6 | 11-5 | Wayne Hutchinson | Alan King | 129 | 12-1 | 2 |
| 2011 | Bobs Worth | 6 | 11-12 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson | 140 | 7-2 | 4 |
| 2010 | Restless Harry | 6 | 11-12 | Henry Oliver | Robin Dickin | 144 | 7-2 | 3 |
| 2009 | Diamond Harry | 6 | 11-12 | Timmy Murphy | Nick Williams | 155 | 8-15 | 1 |
| 2008 | Aigle d’Or | 5 | 11-9 | Marcus Foley | Nicky Henderson | – | 7-4 | 1 |
| 2007 | Wichita Lineman | 6 | 11-12 | Tony McCoy | Jonjo O’Neill | 148 | Evens | 1 |
| 2006 | No race | |||||||
| 2005 | Ambobo | 5 | 11-12 | Barry Geraghty | Arnaud Chaill̩-Chaill̩ | Р| 14-1 | 2 |
Cheltenham Festival Race Stats and Trends
