Prestige Novices’ Hurdle

The Prestige Novices Hurdle is a Grade 2 race over just short of three miles at Haydock Park in February.

The race is now sponsored by Albert Bartlett and is considered an important trial for their three-mile novice event at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Notable past winners include Grand National winners Miinnehoma (1990) and Neptune Collonges (2006).

Find out more about the Prestige Hurdle:

Prestige Novices’ Hurdle

Race Overview – The Prestige Hurdle

Horses four years old and older may compete in the Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle competition known as the Prestige Novices’ Hurdle in Great Britain.

There are twelve hurdles to clear throughout the race, which is raced at Haydock Park over a distance of around 2 miles and 7 furlongs (2 miles, 6 furlongs, and 177 yards, or 4,588 metres).

The Prestige Novices’ Hurdle will be held on Saturday 18th February 2023. This event is a main event to take place in February 2023.

Prestige Novices’ Hurdle 2023 Odds

The Prestige Novices’ Hurdle odds are listed below:

The odds for this race have not yet been released.

Prestige Novices’ Hurdle Tips

The Prestige 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 Prestige 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.

If you are looking for more racing tips for events taking place at Haydock Racecourse then check out our Haydock racing tips page.

Prestige Novices’ Hurdle Previous Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1977Kas5K GrayP Ashworth
1978Lighter5Philip BlackerJ Edwards
1979Quarry Stone6T McGivernJ Cox (Ir)
1980Woodford Prince7John FrancomePeter Cundell
1981Gaye Chance6Sam MorsheadFred Rimell
1982Angelo Salvini6Steve KnightPeter Easterby
1983Inish Glora7R KingtonGraham Thorner
1984Bucko7R O'LearyJimmy FitzGerald
1985Lonach7Richard LinleyToby Balding
1986Pike's Peak5Steve Smith EcclesNicky Henderson
1988Crumpet Delite8Mark PitmanJenny Pitman
1989Pertemps Network5Peter ScudamoreMartin Pipe
1990Miinnehoma7Peter ScudamoreMartin Pipe
1991Smith's Cracker5Mark PitmanJenny Pitman
1992Rothko11Richard GuestSue Smith
1993Brackenfield7Peter NivenMary Reveley
1994See Enough6Anthony ToryBob Buckler
1997Young Kenny6Robbie SupplePeter Beaumont
1999Kates Charm6Andrew ThorntonRobert Alner
2000Shotgun Willy6Joe TizzardPaul Nicholls
2001Historic5Carl LlewellynTom George
2003Iris's Gift6Barry GeraghtyJonjo O'Neill
2004Royal Rosa5Graham LeeHoward Johnson
2005Mephisto6Timmy MurphyHoward Johnson
2006Neptune Collonges5Christian WilliamsPaul Nicholls
2007Chief Dan George7Alan DempseyJames Moffatt
2008Tazbar6Phil KinsellaKeith Reveley
2009Tarablaze6Tony McCoyPhilip Hobbs
2010Wymott6Jason MaguireDonald McCain, Jr.
2011Back in Focus6Brian HughesHoward Johnson
2012Brindisi Breeze6Campbell GilliesLucinda Russsell
2013Two Rockers6Wayne HutchinsonAlan King
2014Toubeera8Aidan ColemanVenetia Williams
2015Definitly Red6Richard JohnsonBrian Ellison
2016Jonniesofa6Craig NicholRose Dobbin
2017The Worlds End6Adrian HeskinTom George
2018Chef Des Obeaux6Noel FehilyNicky Henderson
2019Lisnagar Oscar6Sean BowenRebecca Curtis
2020Ramses De Teillee8David NoonanDavid Pipe
2021Alaphilippe7Paddy BrennanFergal O'Brien
2022Hillcrest7Richard PatrickHenry Daly
2023Makin'yourmindup6Lorcan WilliamsPaul Nicholls

Prestige Novices’ Hurdle Previous Result

Famous Prestige Novices Hurdle Winners

The Prestige Novices Hurdle was originally run at Newbury in 1977 as the Philip Cornes Saddle of Gold Stayers Novices Hurdle Final. It was then run at Chepstow from 1992 until switching to Haydock in 2001. Early winners include the high-class Gaye Chance (1981) and Pike’s Peak (1986).

In 1990 it was won by Martin Pipe’s Miinnehoma. He famously went on to win the 1994 Aintree Grand National for owner comedian Freddie Star. The Prestige produced a second subsequent Grand National winner in 2006 in Neptune Collonges. The grey also won the Punchestown Gold Cup in 2007 and 2008 before his memorable photo-finish victory at Aintree in 2012.

2003 winner Iris’s Gift won the Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree. He would almost certainly have won one of the novice events at Cheltenham but took his chance in the World Hurdle instead when finishing runner-up to Baracouda. He went one better the following season and also claimed the Liverpool Hurdle.

Other notable winners of the Prestige include Brindisi Breeze (2012), Definitly Red (2015) and Lisnagar Oscar (2019). The latter was a shock 50-1 winner of the Stayers Hurdle, beating a field that included Paisley Park, Apple’s Jade and Penhill.

Key Prestige Novices Hurdle Trials

There are no obvious trials for the Prestige Novices Hurdle but it may be worth noting that nine of the last twelve winners had won their most recent start.

The same number had already won over three miles and had at least two previous wins over hurdles.

The Albert Bartlett is the main target for winners of this race at the Cheltenham Festival.

Nine of the last twelve winners ran in that race, although only Brindisi Breeze (2012) was successful.

Prestige Novices Hurdle Betting Trends

There have been four winning favourites and one successful joint-favourite in the last twelve seasons. Brindisi Breeze returned 9-2 joint-favourite.

The winning outright favourites were Two Rockers (2013), Chef Des Obeaux (2018), Ramses De Teillee (2020) and Hillcrest (2022).

Back In Focus (2011) was a shock winner at 16-1 but the only recent winner outside the first three in the betting was 8-1 chance Jonniesofa in 2016.

Six-year-olds have the best record in the race. T

he oldest winner was the eleven-year-old Rothko in 1992.

Prestige Novices Hurdle – Top Trainers and Jockeys

The Prestige has been won by a wide range of trainers.

Howard Johnson trained the winner three times between 2004 and 2011.

Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson have two winners apiece.

It is a similar story among the jockeys. Peter Scudamore and Mark Pitman both rode the winner twice between 1988 and 1991 but every subsequent renewal has gone to a different rider.

Betting on the Prestige Novices Hurdle

The Prestige Novices Hurdle is usually won by a high-class performer, although it has not produced the winner of the Albert Bartlett since the ill-fated Brindisi Breeze in 2012.

The first three in the market have dominated and the winner often goes on to make its mark over fences.

Facts about the Prestige Novices’ Hurdle

  • The Prestige Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older.
  • It is run at Haydock Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 7 furlongs, and during its running, there are 12 hurdles to be jumped.
  • It was first to run in 1977.

Summary of the Prestige Novices’ Hurdle

Thank you for reading our Prestige Novices’ Hurdle guide.

The race is often an informative one, won by horses who go on  to perform well at the major jumps racing festivals including Cheltenham and Aintree.

Related February Horse Racing Posts

Here are all of February’s horse racing related posts:

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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.