The Grade 1 Turners Novices’ Hurdle looks a belter to kick of Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival. Reputations are put on the line from both sides of the Irish Sea and Joe Napier previews the race with his 1-2-3 verdict.
Ballyburn won in sensational style a year ago to front a 1-2-3-4-5 for Willie Mullins.
FINAL DEMAND
(Willie Mullins/Paul Townend)
Willie Mullins’ production line is approaching endless levels and Final Demand is a threatening omen of the future for his rivals. The six-year-old has emerged on the scene this year in some style, routing his opposition on debut in quieter climes before stepping up to Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Novices’ Hurdle was run over 2m6f on soft ground at Leopardstown, but he fairly swam through it, winning by 12 lengths without having to change through the gears. He will have to prove he can adapt back down to 2m5f, but he has plenty of stablemates to make this a thorough test for the distance and he looks to have enough class either way.
THE NEW LION
(Dan Skelton/Harry Skelton)
It has been a wipeout for British yards in this race since 2017, but The New Lion looks the best off the domestic conveyor belt for some years. Kept relatively unexposed on his first two novice starts, which he won comfortably, he then hacked up in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury with minimal fuss.
The race set up for him well at Newbury, but he could not have been any more impressive. JP McManus would not have parted with as much cash as he did were he not convinced of his ability, especially as he has not previously had many runners with the Skelton yard. Whether he has the reserves to repel the Irish challenge is up for debate, but unlike so many home hopes in recent years, he looks a genuine one.
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase Preview – Bally Can Burn Off Rivals for Second Straight Year
Six of the last ten favourites have obliged in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase with Willie Mullins responsible for three of them, and similarly to the Supreme, Mullins is responsible for over half of what is a relatively underwhelming turnout of this three mile contest without a sole British runner to boot. Ballyburn (Willie Mullins/Paul…
Mon 10 Mar 2025THE YELLOW CLAY
(Gordon Elliott/Jack Kennedy)
He does not possess the reputation of the two above him, but The Yellow Clay has amassed the superior body of work to date in four starts over hurdles. That makes him more experienced and he has improved for every start so far, graduating from maiden company to Grade 3, Grade 2, and latterly Grade 1 successes.
The Grade 1 win came in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle and elements of that form are directly comparable with Final Demand. The temptation has been resisted to go for the easier Albert Bartlett, so it is a show of faith in this consistent, admirable type to serve it up to the favourites.
POTTERS CHARM
(Nigel Twiston-Davies/Sam Twiston-Davies)
There was a point in the ante-post markets where British trainers had the top two novices in the betting for this race, as Potters Charm was going about his unbeaten run. That undefeated streak is now technically back in place after the horse that beat him at Cheltenham last time, Sixmilebridge, will be disqualified for a banned substance.
The six-week break since has probably been necessary given he has been kept busy since September. He already has a victory over course and distance too, one which was claimed very easily in November, plus a Grade 1 at Aintree, but the overall form is probably short of what is required, for all he is a potential improver.
THE FIELD
Sixmilebridge is also in attendance after sweeping aside Potters Charm last time, albeit a banned substance has since been found in a sample, and he was in receipt of 5lb anyway. There are doubts about him.
As in the Supreme, Willie Mullins’ battalions are far deeper than just the favourite. Kiss Will has only won a maiden, but did it easily, while both Kaid d’Authie and Kel Histoire were beaten in 2m Graded events last time. Each might have a lit more to offer at this trip, while Kappa Jy Pyke, beaten on debut before success last time, is unexposed, although probably the least likely of the Mullins sextet, behind also Supersundae, second to The Yellow Clay at Naas before bombing out at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Forty Coats is a maiden for Henry De Bromhead, finishing second three times to decent horses, but looks unlikely to keep that streak of twos going.
VERDICT
The New Lion might serve it up to the Irish big guns, but FINAL DEMAND has looked imperious so far and the connections’ record in this race shades him the verdict. The Yellow Clay may turn into the chief danger as he has done precious little wrong so far, while both Kiss Will and Kaid d’Authie are also interesting among the six-strong Mullins challenge.
- Final Demand
- The Yellow Clay
- The New Lion
