What to look for in the Neptune Investment Management Novices Hurdle
The Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle was introduced to The Festival in 1971 as the Aldsworth Hurdle. The race was given some pedigree when Istabraq (1997) and Hardy Eustace (2003) both won this race en route to victory in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
The Irish have an outstanding record in the race and they have been responsible for 1994 winner, Danoli, who was the subject of a massive gamble and was sent off the 7/4 favourite. The shortest-priced winner was another Irish victor, Mr Kildare, at 8/11 in 1978. Favourites have been successful in 13 of the 37 runnings, the longest-priced winner was 40/1 chance Even Dawn in the second running in 1972. It’s also worth noting that this is one of the Cheltenham races in which Paul Nicholls hasn’t done well in.
The role of honour for this race includes some of brightest young stars of recent times and it will be fascinating to see how last year’s winner, Peddlers Cross get on in this seasons Champion Hurdle.
Last time out, the usual competitive and high quality renewal went to the highest rated horse in the race Peddlers Cross who had never run beyond 2M 1F before. He was one of the more inexperienced runners in the race and should have plenty of scope to improve as has been proved this year. He travelled strongly throughout and really quickened up in the style of a decent sort to put the race to bed after jumping the last. Reve De Sivola, sixth in the Triumph last year, has improved for longer distances this year, and he jumped better off this quicker ground than he did when successful in the Challow to finish second, but he did maintain the record of all of the past 13 winners of the Challow being beaten in this race. Rite Of Passage was the one to complete the first three home and this flat bred horse was outstayed by the front two – he may well be better over shorter distances in the future.
Nicky Henderson has a desperate record in this race and is 0-21. Only 2 of his runners since 1990 have finished any higher than tenth – his 11/2 chance Finian’s Rainbow finished fifth last year. His rival Paul Nicholls doesn’t have a good record either and the real clash between the pair will come in the Cheltenham 2011 Gold Cup.
Good recent form is very important and only one of the last 27 winners has finished out of the first two in their run before winning the race. One trainer who should be avoided is Nicky Henderson who is now 0-21 in the race, despite having had some well fancied contenders. Over recent years the race has produced few shocks and it is usually best to concentrate on the first six in the betting.
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