Sharp Novices’ Hurdle

The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 2 race over an extended two miles at Cheltenham in November.

The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle is held on Sunday 19th November 2023.

The race often attracts possible contenders for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Notable past winners include Cue Card (2010), Dodging Bullets (2012) and Altior (2015).

Find out more about the Sharp Novices Hurdle:

Sharp Novices’ Hurdle

Race Overview

Horses four years old or older may compete in the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle, a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race.

There are eight hurdles to clear during the race, which is raced on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of around 2 miles and a half (2 miles and 87 yards, or 3,298 m).

The novice hurdlers’ race takes place in November each year.

Sharp Novices’ Hurdle 2023 Odds

The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle odds are listed below:

3.30 Cheltenham (Race 6) - BOG
  • Date: Saturday 12th of November 2022
  • Time: 15:30
  • Details: 10 Runners Handicap Hurdle Hurdle 2m 5f 0y
13 Alvaro
NR
14 Unanswered
13/8
12 Wiseguy
10/3
3 Elle Perfecta
7/1
1 Nickle Back
11/1
4 Bourbali
12/1
5 Guernesey
16/1
10 Time Flies By
18/1
11 Forever William
20/1
7 Wild Hunt
50/1

Sharp Novices’ Hurdle 2023 Tips

The Sharp 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 Sharp 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.

Sharp Novices’ Hurdle Previous Winners

Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer
1987Butt and Ben3Roger ChapmanFulke Walwyn
1988Green Willow6Peter HobbsJosh Gifford
1989Run for Free5Peter ScudamoreMartin Pipe
1990no race 1990 [a]
1991Thetford Forest4Richard DunwoodyDavid Nicholson
1992Satin Lover4Graham McCourtNigel Tinkler
1993Large Action5Jamie OsborneOliver Sherwood
1994Berude Not To5Jamie OsborneOliver Sherwood
1995Mandys Mantino5Philip HideJosh Gifford
1996Kailash5Tony McCoyMartin Pipe
1997Circus Star4Adrian MaguireDavid Nicholson
1998Hoh Invader6Richard DunwoodyCharlie Mann
1999Silence Reigns5Mick FitzgeraldPaul Nicholls
2000Reiziger4Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs
2001Fireball Macnamara5Timmy MurphyMark Pitman
2002Mutakarrim5Paul CarberryDermot Weld
2003Self Defense6Barry KeniryEmma Lavelle
2004Marcel4Timmy MurphyMartin Pipe
2005Boychuk4Richard JohnsonPhilip Hobbs
2006Moon Over Miami5Noel FehilyCharlie Mann
2007I'msingingtheblues5Ruby WalshPaul Nicholls
2008Golan Way4Jamie GoldsteinSheena West
2009Loosen My Load5Andrew LynchHenry de Bromhead
2010Cue Card4Joe TizzardColin Tizzard
2011Steps to Freedom5Robbie PowerJessica Harrington
2012Dodging Bullets4Ruby WalshPaul Nicholls
2013The Liquidator5Tom ScudamoreDavid Pipe
2014Vyta Du Roc5Barry GeraghtyNicky Henderson
2015Altior5Nico de BoinvilleNicky Henderson
2016Moon Racer7Tom ScudamoreDavid Pipe
2017Slate House5Harry CobdenColin Tizzard
2018Elixir de Nutz4Harry CobdenColin Tizzard
2019Hang In There5Adam WedgeEmma Lavelle
2020For Pleasure5Harry BannisterAlex Hales
2021I Like To Move It4Sam Twiston-DaviesNigel Twiston-Davies
2022Fennor Cross5Simon TorrensJohn McConnell

Famous Sharp Novices’ Hurdle Winners

The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle has produced three future champions in Cue Card (2010), Dodging Bullets (2012) and Altior (2015).

Cue Card gained his first Cheltenham Festival victory in the Champion Bumper in 2010. He later added the Ryanair Chase in 2013 and was unlucky not to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup when falling in 2016. His biggest career success came in the King George VI Chase at Kempton Park in 2015.

Dodging Bullets also went on to prove top-class over fences. He was trained by Paul Nicholls to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2015. That followed victories in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase at Ascot and Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park.

Altior won this race for Nicky Henderson in 2015 and took the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle the following spring. He defeated Min and subsequent dual Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D’Air in what is regarded as one of the finest renewals in the history of the race.

The son of High Chaparral returned to Cheltenham to win the Arkle Chase (2017) and Queen Mother Champion Chase (2018 and 2019). His win in the 2019 Celebration Chase at Sandown completed a world record nineteenth consecutive victory for a National Hunt horse.

Key Sharp Novices’ Hurdle Trials

It is not possible to identify any specific trials for the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle. However, it is worth noting that 10 of the last 12 winners ran and won within the previous month.

This race can have an impact on the ante-post betting for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. Seven of the last twelve winners ran in that race, although only Altior (2015) was successful.

Cue Card went on to finish fourth after winning here in 2010.

Sharp Novices’ Hurdle Betting Trends

Horses aged four and five have dominated this race, winning all but one of the last twelve renewals. The only exception was Moon Racer (2016) who won at the age of seven for David Pipe and Tom Scudamore.

Elixir De Nutz (2018) won with an official rating of 130 while Dodging Bullets (2012) had been rated 150.

The two market leaders have an impressive recent record in the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle. Ten of the last twelve winners started favourite or second favourite.

Cue Card (2010) started odds-on favourite, as did 2021 winner I Like To Move It.

The only surprise results during the same period came from I’msingingtheblues (2007) at 14-1 and Golan Way (2008) at 8-1.

Sharp Novices’ Hurdle – Top Trainers and Jockeys

Colin Tizzard has a good record here with three relatively recent victories; Cue Card (2010), Slate House (2017) and Elixir Du Nutz (2018).

Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and David Pipe have also been among the winners in this race.

No jockey has been able to dominate this event. Over the last fourteen renewals, the only jockey to win it twice was Harry Cobden (2017 and 2018).

Betting on the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle

It pays to focus on the market leaders in this event.

The winner can go on to win at Grade 1 level over hurdles, although history suggests that they are more likely to reach their peak over fences.

Popular Questions

When is the Sharp Novices' Hurdle?

The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle takes place on Sunday 13th November 2023 at 3:30 pm.

The 15:30 race is held at Cheltenham Racecourse.

What are important facts about Sharp Novices' Hurdle?

Here are some important facts about Sharp Novices’ Hurdle:

  • The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle is run at Cheltenham Racecourse, Great Britain
  • The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle is for horses aged 4 and over
  • The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt race in Great Britain
  • The Sharp Novices’ Hurdle distance is 2 miles and half a furlong

Summary of the Sharp Novices’ Hurdle

Thank you for reading our Sharp Novices’ Hurdle guide.

This novice hurdle has a habit of producing some national hunt horses of the future, mainly over fences. It is a race to saviour and spot new and emerging talent.

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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.