2025 Novice Hurdlers

[FinalFurlong91]

New Lion. I didnt pick up on this during the quotes until now, but he refered to him as like a remote control car. Thats a bit mad no ? Thats quite a statement.

If you ride him through a puddle he stops working completely? Let's hope it's dry ground then

In all seriousness this looks like the year that the Challow hoodoo is going to get broken to me

Think he has a better turn of foot than final demand and the yellow clay

I was kind of hoping he'd drift but that doesn't look like happening especially with kawaboomga out

Was hoping I'd get 4s or 5s on the machine on the day

[Kevloaf]

Unfortunately jurancon not declared for the Morebattle. My fears were realised and he's opted for Newbury.
Apologies to anyone who followed me in on the related double with Tripoli flyer last weekend.

As Meatloaf sings,

Life is a lemon, and I want my money back

[Kevloaf]

I can very much see William Munny being the sentimental bet for the Supreme and him going off a lot shorter than he currently is.
Same colours Michael O'Sullivan won the race in, a lot of ITV coverage will happen about it too, I suspect.

Be even better when he wins it

[AaronLad]

Turners Novices hurdle.

The front 2 in the market final demand and the néw lion both have a couple of long losing streaks to break.
The new lion has the hoodoo of being the challow winner to break, its been so long, it almost seems inevitable that he will be beaten.
final demand would have to be the first horse since mikael d'hagenuet in 2009 to not have run in a NHF race(bumper), every winner since has not only ran in a bumper but has won one.
How significant is it? How many have tried?
Well I was prepared to have a thorough look back, but the first renewal i went to was when impaire et passe won, hermes allen 9/4 fav and gaelic warrior 4/1, both fancied, no bumper runs between them, both beaten.

Last season Ballyburn restored the p2p/bumper/graded hurdle trend? That was appearing more regularly in the recent winners, of course impaire et passe had bucked that trend but its still very strong in recent years. 6 from the last 10 winners.

So why is bumper form so important?
Is it because they're mostly run at around the 2mile mark, generally needing a bit of pace to win one.
Bumpers can become quite tactical with no obstacles to jump, is this an important experience with regards to how the turners is usually run, tactical speed is certainly an advantage.

Sixmilebridge, started his career in the p2p sphere, having 2 runs in 4yrold maidens.
He was with Ben Pauling last season winning a bumper at Sandown before being well beaten in the champion bumper at cheltenham.
During the summer the megsons decided to move their horses from the ben pauling yard and sixmilebridge ended up at fergal o'briens, he had wind surgery in august.

He started his hurdling career over 2miles, ridden in touch with leaders and staying on at the finish just not reaching the winner.
stepped up in trip on his 2nd start, he led after the 1st and duly won with ease.
He made all again on his 3rd start over hurdles winning comfortably and earning a step up in grade.

Cheltenham for trials day against Potters charm in the Grade 2 classic novices hurdle.
He again made all, briefly headed 2 out, but showing a real good attitude to pull clear on the run in, over the turners course and distance. Potters charm carrying a 5lb penalty, but easily swatted aside.

Since joining fergal, he had his wind op. He has also wore a tongue tie in each of his races. On his last run i'd say both are/have worked an absolute treat.
Since a change in how he is ridden he has thrived, he loves to gallop out in front and make it a proper test.

The last British trained horse to win the turners was Willoughby court. He made all to win that year, just kept galloping to the line.

Sixmilebridge p2p Runs, tick, won a bumper tick, graded hurdle form, tick.