Challow Novices’ Hurdle

The Challow Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 race over two miles and four and a half furlongs at Newbury in late December or early January.

The Challow Novices’ Hurdle takes place on Saturday 30th December 2023.

The race is an important trial for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Famous past winners include Bonanza Boy (1986-1987), Bindaree (1999-2000), Denman (2005-2006) and Champ (2018-2019).

Find out more about the Challow Novices Hurdle:

Challow Novices’ Hurdle

Race Overview – Challow Novices Hurdle

Horses four years old and older may compete in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race.

Ten hurdles must be cleared during the race, which is raced at Newbury over a distance of approximately 2 miles and 412 furlongs (2 miles 4 furlongs and 118 yards, or 4,131 metres).

Challow Novices’ Hurdle 2023 Odds

The Challow Novices’ Hurdle odds are listed below:

The odds for this race have not yet been released.

Challow Novices’ Hurdle 2023 Tips

The Challow Novices’ Hurdle tips are below:

2 points to win for TBC at odds of TBC
1 point each way for TBC at odds of TBC

Many Challow Novices’ Hurdle horses will race in more races throughout the years. Stay updated on the horses and place ante-post bets if you want to wager on them.

Challow Novices’ Hurdle Previous Winners

Season Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1970–1971True Luck4Ken WhiteFred Rimell
1971–1972Official3Clive BaileyToby Balding
1972–1973Glorious Fifteenth3Terry BiddlecombeRon Smyth
1973–1974Ashendene3Redvers WeaverGeorge Vergette
1974–1975Benroy3David MouldHaynes
1975–1976Havanus4Bob DaviesDavid Morley
1977–1978Pollerton3Steve Smith-EcclesHarry Thomson Jones
1978–1979Snowtown Boy3Roger RowellAuriol Sinclair
1979–1980Celtic Isle3Eddie Woods[a]Fred Rimell
1980–1981Highway4Bob DaviesDavid Morley
1981–1982Right Regent4Colin BrownDavid Elsworth
1982–1983Ambiance4Peter ScudamorePeter Bailey
1983–1984Catch Phrase5Peter DoubleJosh Gifford
1984–1985The Breener5Simon SherwoodOliver Sherwood
1986–1987Bonanza Boy6Peter HobbsPhilip Hobbs
1987–1988Slalom7John WhiteMichael Robinson
1988–1989Green Willow6Peter HobbsJosh Gifford
1989–1990Forest Sun4Jimmy FrostToby Balding
1990–1991Tyrone Bridge4Richard DunwoodyMartin Pipe
1991–1992Lift and Load4Graham McCourtRichard Hannon Sr.
1992–1993Lord Relic7Peter ScudamoreMartin Pipe
1993–1994Large Action6Jamie OsborneOliver Sherwood
1994–1995Berude Not To5Jamie OsborneOliver Sherwood
1998–1999King's Road6Carl LlewellynNigel Twiston-Davies
1999–2000Bindaree [b]5Carl LlewellynNigel Twiston-Davies
2001–2002Classified5Tony McCoyMartin Pipe
2002–2003Coolnagorna5Tony McCoyJonjo O'Neill
2003–2004Cornish Rebel6Ruby WalshPaul Nicholls
2004–2005Brewster7David DennisIan Williams
2005–2006Denman [b]6Ruby WalshPaul Nicholls
2006–2007Wichita Lineman5Tony McCoyJonjo O'Neill
2007–2008Souffleur4Tom O'BrienPeter Bowen
2008–2009Diamond Harry5Timmy MurphyNick Williams
2009–2010Reve de Sivola4Daryl JacobNick Williams
2010-2011Backspin5Tony McCoyJonjo O'Neill
2011-2012Fingal Bay5Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs
2012-2013Taquin du Seuil5Tony McCoyJonjo O'Neill
2013-2014Captain Cutter6Tony McCoyNicky Henderson
2014-2015Parlour Games6Noel FehilyJohn Ferguson
2015-2016Barters Hill5David BassBen Pauling
2016-2017Messire Des Obeaux4Daryl JacobAlan King
2017-2018Poetic Rhythm6Paddy BrennanFergal O'Brien
2018-2019Champ6Barry GeraghtyNicky Henderson
2019-2020Thyme Hill5Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs
2020-2021Bravemansgame5Harry CobdenPaul Nicholls
2021-2022Stage Star5Harry CobdenPaul Nicholls
2022-2023Hermes Allen5Harry CobdenPaul Nicholls

Challow Novices’ Hurdle Previous Result

Famous Challow Novices’ Hurdle Winners

The Challow Hurdle was originally restricted to juveniles over two miles. It was opened up to older horses in 1981-82 with the distance extended and soon became as a significant trial for Cheltenham.

In 1986-87 the race was won by Bonanza Boy, then trained by Peter Hobbs. Despite his small stature, he came into his own over fences, winning the Welsh Grand National twice for Martin Pipe and Peter Scudamore. He won off a lightweight in 1988 and followed up with 11st 11lb the following year.

Other high-class Challow winners in the eighties and nineties include Forest Sun (1989-90) and Large Action (1993-94).

In 1999-2000 the race was won by Bindaree, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and ridden by Carl Llewellyn. He went on to win the Aintree Grand National in 2002 when ridden by Jim Culloty.

In 2005-06 the Challow Novices’ Hurdle was won by the Paul Nicholls-trained Denman. The race was staged at Cheltenham that season after Newbury had been abandoned Denman strode to an impressive 21 lengths victory.

Although he finished runner-up in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle he would become a Cheltenham legend over fences. He won the Sun Alliance Novices’ Chase in 2007 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2008, famously defeating stable companion Kauto Star. Arguably his greatest performances came at Newbury where he won two Hennessy Gold Cups.

The son of Presenting was surprisingly beaten over hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival but was destined to become a star over fences. He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2008 when beating stable companion Kauto Star. He also finished runner-up in the Gold Cup on three occasions and won the Hennessy Gold Cup in 2007 and 2009.

Reve De Sivola (2009-2010) became one of the leading staying hurdlers in the country, winning the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot for three successive seasons from 2012 to 2014. Diamond Harry (2008-2009) and Taquin Du Seuil (2012-2013) were other high-class winners.

The high standard of winners have been maintained in recent years with Champ (2018-19), Thyme Hill (2019-20) and Bravemansgame (2020-21) all going on to win further Grade 1 races.

Key Challow Novices’ Hurdle Trials

The Hyde Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham November meeting has been a good guide for this race. Three of the last twelve winners ran in that race with Fingal Bay (2011) and Parlour Games (2014) both having won at Cheltenham. Brewster (2004) and Diamond Harry (2008) also won both races.

The other key trial for the Challow is the Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park. Three recent winners of that event came here and followed up successfully; Fingal Bay (2011), Taquin Du Seuil (2012) and Messire Des Obeaux (2016).

The obvious Cheltenham target for winners of this race is the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. Reve De Sivola (2009), Parlour Games (2014) and Champ (2018) all finished runner-up in that race.

Forest Sun (1989) successfully dropped back to two miles to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Four of the last twelve winners were stepped up to three miles for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle but all were beaten.

Challow Novices’ Hurdle Betting Trends

Horses aged five and six have won all but one of the last twelve renewals. The only exception was the four-year-old Messire Des Obeaux in 2016-17.

Slalom (1987-1988), Lord Relic (1992-1993) and Brewster (2004-2005) all won the race at the age of seven.

Seven favourites and one joint-favourite have won in the last twelve seasons.

There were only two winners from outside the first two in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle betting during that period; Captain Cutter (2013) at 8-1 and Parlour Games (2014) at 6-1.

Fingal Bay (2011) and Barters Hill (2015) were heavily-backed odds-on favourites.

Taquin Du Seuil (2012), Poetic Rhythm (2017), Champ (2018), Thyme Hill (2019) and Stage Star (2021) also started market leaders and Bravemansgame (2020) was joint-favourite.

All but one of the last twelve winners had won last time out and all of them had recorded at least one win over hurdles. Seven of those had already won a Grade 2 race and an official rating of 139 or higher is usually required to win this race.

Champ (150) and Fingal Bay (149) were the highest-rated winners in recent seasons.

Challow Novices’ Hurdle – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Jonjo O’Neill and Paul Nicholls share the honour of leading trainer in this race with four winners apiece. O’Neill’s winners were Coolnagorna (2002), Wichita Lineman (2006), Backspin (2010) and Taquin Du Seuil (2012).

Paul Nicholls won it with Cornish Rebel (2003) and Denman (2005-2006) but had to wait until Bravemansgame (2020) and Stage Star (2021) for his next Challow winners.

Nicky Henderson won it for the first time in 2013 with Captain Cutter and again in 2018 with Champ.

Tony McCoy is the leading jockey in the history of the race with six winners; Classified (2001), Coolnagorna (2002), Wichita Lineman (2006), Backspin (2010), Taquin Du Seuil (2012) and Captain Cutter (2013).

Betting on the Challow Novices’ Hurdle

Although Challow Hurdle winners have a poor record in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle it consistently goes to a high-class performer.

Favourites have a great record in this event and the market has proved a reliable guide.

Popular Questions

When is the Challow Novices' Hurdle?

The Challow Novices’ Hurdle takes place on Saturday 31st December 2023 at 3:00 pm.

The 15:00 race is held at Newbury Racecourse.

What are important facts about Challow Novices' Hurdle?

Here are some important facts about Challow Novices’ Hurdle:

  • The Challow Novices’ Hurdle is run at Newbury Racecourse, Great Britain
  • The Challow Novices’ Hurdle is for horses aged 4 and older
  • The Challow Novices’ Hurdle is a National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain
  • The Challow Novices’ Hurdle distance is 2 miles and 4½ furlongs

Summary of the Challow Novices Hurdle

Thank you for reading our Challow Novices’ Hurdle guide.

We have looked at previous winners of the Challow novice hurdle, facts and figures, betting and more so you can make an informed decision if placing a bet or just enjoying the race.

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As the Founder of British Racecourses, I have a life-long passion for horse racing and have loved the sport as long as I can remember. I am also a keen racehorse owner and have worked in the gambling industry for several years. I set up British Racecourses with the desire to share my passion for racing with other like-minded people.