Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle (Formerly Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle) Race Card

The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, which is also known as the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle for sponsorship reasons, is a Grade 1 National Hunt race that’s run on the Old Course at Cheltenham. It’s for novice hurdlers and it takes place annually on the Wednesday of the Cheltenham Festival.

The race itself is known by many racing fans as the ‘Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle’, or simply as ‘the Ballymore’. This is because Ballymore Properties were the title sponsor of the race for many years.

On this race card page, our experts have outlined all the key information you need to know about the race, including their Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle tips.

Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (Formerly the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle) Runners and Entries 2024

The runners and entries for the Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival can be found below.

This is a full list of entries, but there will be declarations 5 days before the race, and final declarations 48 hours before.

Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

1st
Paul Townend

Ballyburn

Age: 6
Weight: 11.5
OR: 157
J:
 
Paul Townend
T:
 
W P Mullins
took keen hold, raced in second, led after 2 out, shaken up and 6 lengths ahead last, easily
2nd
Sean O'Keeffe

Jimmy Du Seuil

Age: 5
Weight: 11.5
OR: N/A
J:
 
Sean O'Keeffe
T:
 
W P Mullins
held up in last, headway 2 out, went second before last, soon outpaced and no chance with winner
3rd
Mr P W Mullins

Ile Atlantique

Age: 6
Weight: 11.5
OR: 148
J:
 
Mr P W Mullins
T:
 
W P Mullins
towards rear but in touch with leaders, headway 2 out, soon outpaced, went third and hit last, no impression run-in

Ballymore Novices Hurdle Tips

Below you will find all of our tips for the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle at this year’s Cheltenham Festival. Looking to place other bets on the day’s action? Head over to our daily tips page.

Newmarket - May 04 2024
Newmarket 14:35
1(8)
Jim Crowley

Alyanaabi

J: Jim Crowley
T: Owen Burrows
Jim Crowley

Alyanaabi

bet365
£10.00 Returns £190.00
18/1
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £190.00
18/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £190.00
18/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £190.00
18/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £190.00
18/1
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £190.00
18/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £190.00
18/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £170.00
16/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £170.00
16/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £170.00
16/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £170.00
16/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £170.00
16/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £170.00
16/1
18/1
Age: 3
Weight: 9-2
OR: 114
Days: 203
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/10/23NMK7Sft9-32
28/09/23NMK7GF9-21
29/07/23ASC7Gd9-54
18/06/23SAL6GF9-71
Newmarket 12:45
7(7)
Kieran Shoemark

Aberama Gold

J: Kieran Shoemark
T: David O'Meara
Kieran Shoemark

Aberama Gold

betfair
£10.00 Returns £120.00
11/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £120.00
11/1
bet365
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
11/1
Age: 7
Weight: 9-1
OR: 97
Days: 17
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
17/04/24NMK6Gd9-63
29/03/24NCS6St9-06
24/02/24STH5St9-26
18/11/23LIN6St9-54
11/11/23NCS6St9-54
Newmarket 13:20
13(3)
William Buick

Theoryofeverything

J: William Buick
T: David O'Meara
William Buick

Theoryofeverything

bet365
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
coral
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
midnite
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
skybet
£10.00 Returns £70.00
6/1
7/1
Age: 4
Weight: 8-12
OR: 92
Days: 18
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
16/04/24NMK8Gd9-14
28/09/23PON10GS9-73
03/08/23GOO10Sft8-128
30/06/23YAR8GF9-93
11/05/23CHS7.5Sft9-97
Newmarket 13:55
7(2)
Kieran Shoemark

Vadream

J: Kieran Shoemark
T: Charlie Fellowes
Kieran Shoemark

Vadream

betfair
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
betway
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
coral
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
midnite
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
skybet
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
bet365
£10.00 Returns £90.00
8/1
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £85.00
15/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £85.00
15/2
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £85.00
15/2
9/1
Age: 6
Weight: 9-6
OR: 105
Days: 15
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
19/04/24BAT5Gd9-83
21/10/23ASC6Sft9-17
07/10/23ASC6Gd9-45
15/07/23NMK6GS9-57
20/06/23ASC5Gd9-412
Goodwood - May 04 2024
Goodwood 14:20
1(7)
Hollie Doyle

Sumo Sam

J: Hollie Doyle
T: Paul & Oliver Cole
Hollie Doyle

Sumo Sam

bet365
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
betfair
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
betuk
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
betway
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
coral
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
midnite
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
skybet
£10.00 Returns £25.00
3/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
6/4
Age: 4
Weight: 9-9
OR: 109
Days: 217
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
30/09/23LON14GS8-1114
14/09/23DON14.5Sft9-01
05/08/23GOO14Hy8-111
14/07/23ASC12GS9-65
21/06/23ASC14Gd8-138
Goodwood 13:05
3(4)
Harry Davies

Choisya

J: Harry Davies
T: Simon & Ed Crisford
Harry Davies

Choisya

betfair
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
bet365
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
5/1
Age: 4
Weight: 9-7
OR: 100
Days: 28
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
06/04/24KEM8St/Slw9-22
20/11/23KEM8St/Slw9-61
25/10/23NMK8Sft9-122
20/09/23YAR9Gd9-126
01/08/23GOO8GS9-61
Thirsk - May 04 2024
Thirsk 13:40
15(11)
Cam Hardie

Thunder Roar

J: Cam Hardie
T: Tony Coyle & Kaine Wood
Cam Hardie

Thunder Roar

betfair
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
bet365
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
skybet
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
7/1
Age: 5
Weight: 8-8
OR: 83
Days: 7
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
27/04/24LEI8Sft8-43
23/03/24DON8Sft9-82
10/03/24STH7St9-93
28/10/23DON7Hy10-01
13/10/23YOR7Sft9-51
Punchestown - May 04 2024
Punchestown 15:50
9
Paul Townend

Kargese

J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
Paul Townend

Kargese

bet365
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
betfair
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
betuk
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £26.25
13/8
betway
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
coral
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
midnite
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
skybet
£10.00 Returns £25.00
3/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £25.00
6/4
13/8
Age: 4
Weight: 10-7
OR: 137
Days: 23
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
11/04/24AIN17Sft10-92
15/03/24CHL17Hy10-92
03/02/24LEO16Sft10-71
26/12/23LEO16Y10-92
20/05/23AUT17.5VSft10-81

First race of Ladies day

The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle is the opening contest on day two of the Cheltenham Festival. It appears on most race cards as the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle because Gallagher is the title sponsor.

The race is open to novice hurdlers who are aged four and above. The race itself is run on the Old Course over a distance of about two miles and five furlongs (4,225 metres), and during its running there are 10 hurdles to be jumped.

The overall purse for this race is £136,000 and £75,965 of this is given to the winner.

As it’s the first race of Ladies’ Day at the Festival, the horses that take part in the Baring Bingham are usually treated to a particularly large roar from the watching punters.

History of the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (Formerly the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle)

The Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle was added to the Festival calendar in 1971, when it was known as the Aldsworth Hurdle. Since then, a number of different companies have sponsored the race, including Sun Alliance, Ballymore Properties and Neptune Investment Management. Today, the race is sponsored by Gallagher, so the sponsored title of the race is the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle. That said, it’s still known by many fans as ‘the Ballymore’.

The registered (non-sponsored) title of the race remains the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle. The race is named after Baring Bingham, a property developer who bought Prestbury Park in 1898 and organised the first ever Cheltenham Festival in 1902.

Recent years

In recent years, Willie Mullins has dominated the Baring Bingham. His horses have won the race six times since 2008, and this makes him the leading trainer of the race. He’s won the race with:

  • Fiveforthree (2008)
  • Mikael d'Haguenet (2009)
  • Faugheen (2014)
  • Yorkhill (2016)
  • Sir Gerhard (2022)
  • Impaire Et Passe (2023)

Four of those winners (Fiveforthree, Mikael d'Haguenet, Faugheen and Yorkhill) were ridden by Ruby Walsh. His four victories in the race make him the leading jockey in the history of the Baring Bingham.

It’s also worth noting that although this race is open to horses aged four and above, the last four-year-old horse to win the race was Crystal Spirit in 1991. Impaire Et Passe was five when he won the race last year, but the previous five-year-old to win the race was The New One in 2013. As a result, if you’re looking for Baring Bingham tips, it may be best to focus on older horses.

Previous Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle Winners

Looking for an insight into who might win the race this year? Well, take a look at this table, which contains key stats and info about the last 10 Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle winners.

Year Winner Age SP Trainer Jockey
2023 Impaire Et Passe 5 5/2 Willie Mullins Paul Townend
2022 Sir Gerhard 7 8/11 Willie Mullins Paul Townend
2021 Bob Olinger 6 6/4 Henry de Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
2020 Envoi Allen 6 4/7 Gordon Elliott Davy Russell
2019 City Island 6 8/1 Martin Brassil Mark Walsh
2018 Samcro 6 8/11 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
2017 Willoughby Court 6 14/1 Ben Pauling David Bass
2016 Yorkhill 6 3/1 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh
2015 Windsor Park 6 9/2 Dermot Weld Davy Russell
2014 Faugheen 6 6/4 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh
2013 The New One 5 7/2 Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies

Ballymore Novices Hurdle FAQs

Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle (Formerly the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle) Tips

If you’re looking for our Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle tips, then scroll to the top of this page. Alternatively, head over to our Day 2 Tips page. Here you’ll be able to see a full rundown of each horse we’re backing on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

You can also see all the latest odds for this race on our Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle Odds page. This page will show you which bookmakers are offering the best price on each horse in the race.