The Leamington Novices Hurdle is a Grade 2 run at Warwick in early January over 2 miles 5 furlongs.
It should be a pointer to the Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and shares the same sponsor in 2013. The roll of honour includes subsequent World Hurdle winner Inglis Drever and a future Hennesy winner in Carruthers. The 2012 renewal was won by Cotton Mill who appeared to be running a big race before ducking out at Cheltenham.
Nigel Twiston Davies, Aintree Bumper winner The New One created a good impression was an imppressive winner of the 2013 renewal:
Leamington Novice Hurdle 2013 Result
1. 3 The New One (S Twiston-Davies, 1-2 fav)
2. 7 Mickie (A Tinkler, 14-1 );
7 ran.
4 Dursey Sound (A P McCoy, 7-2 2nd-fav);
Distances: 16 lengths; 21 lengths; 11 lengths;
Winning trainer: N A Twiston-Davies.
Leamington Novices’ Hurdle Stats 2003-2012
- The last 7 winners were first or second on their previous run (5 won)
- The last 7 winners had at least two runs over hurdles
- 7/7 winners had ran between 11 and 43 days beforehand
- The last two favourites were beaten but previous 5 all won
Leamington Novices’ Hurdle Winners 2002-2012
| Year | Form | Winner | LTO | Age | Jockey | Trainer | OR | SP | FOF |
| 2012 | 11 | Cotton Mill | 33 | 5 | Jack Quinlan | John Ferguson | 139 | 11-2 | 4 |
| 2008 | 12 | Carruthers | 11 | 5 | Mattie Batchelor | Mark Bradstock | 0 | 8-1 | 3 |
| 2007 | 112 | Labelthou | 35 | 8 | Barry Fenton | Emma Lavelle | 0 | 8-13 | 1 |
| 2006 | 11 | Be Be King | 18 | 7 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 122 | 2-1 | 1 |
| 2005 | 12 | No Refuge | 43 | 5 | Graham Lee | Howard Johnson | 0 | 5-6 | 1 |
| 2004 | 11 | Inglis Drever | 36 | 5 | Graham Lee | Howard Johnson | 0 | 8-15 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1111 | Classified | 14 | 6 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe | 0 | Evens | 1 |
