Festival Favourites - Novice Hurdlers

(Picture - Bravemansgame sold at the 2019 Festival Sale) 

Tattersalls Cheltenham graduates look set to take high rank in the Novice Hurdle division at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

The opening race of the meeting will see BALLYADAM bid for glory in the Supreme Novices Hurdle. The Gordon Elliott trained son of the late great FAME AND GLORY is already a Grade 1 winner having scored in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse. He is currently one of the market leaders for the curtain raiser and looks to hold solid claims for owners Cheveley Park Stud. He was a £330,000 purchase at the 2019 November Sale by his trainer on behalf of the owners after impressing in his point to point for Colin McKeever and Wilson Dennisson.

On the Wednesday BRAVEMANSGAME will attempt to arrest the Irish stranglehold on the Ballymore Novices Hurdle for Paul Nicholls and owners John Dance and Bryan Drew. The BRAVE MANSONIEN gelding is vying for favouritism in what is set to be a vintage renewal of the race which has an illustrious roll of honour which includes last year’s winner ENVOI ALLEN. BRAVEMANSGAME was purchased for £370,000 at the 2019 Festival Sale by Tom Malone from Donnchadh Doyle’s Monbeg Stables.

FAROUK D’ALENE is near to the top of the ante-post market for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle which takes place on the final day of the meeting. He was a winner of a Grade 2 on his last start at Limerick over Christmas and looks to boast the right credentials for the race. The Irish have a great record in this race down the year’s and they look set to dominate once more. The Racinger gelding was purchased by Mags O’Toole and Gordon Elliott for £260,000 at the 2019 Festival Sale from Donnchadh Doyle.