Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle

The Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 juvenile novices' hurdle run over 2 miles and 179 yards on the New Course at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day in late January. As such, the race is restricted to horses aged four years who, obviously, having started the season as three-year-olds, did so without a win over hurdles.

Festival Trials Day is the last fixture staged at Prestbury Park before the Cheltenham Festival in March and, run over the same course and distance, the Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle is considered a significant trial for the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle, run on the final day of the Festival. Indeed, the race is also sponsored by JCB and hence known, for sponsorship purposes, as the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle.

The Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle was inaugurated in 1985 and, although many winners have subsequently contested the Triumph Hurdle, just three horses – Katchit (2007), Peace And Co (2015) and Defi Du Seuil (2017) – have completed the double. Nicky Henderson, trainer of Peace And Co, also saddled Mister Banjo (2000), Rolling Star (2013), Protek Des Flos (2016) and Apple's Shakira (2018) to victory and is the leading handler in the history of the Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, with five wins in all.

For the record, the 2023 winner of the Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, Comfort Zone, is currently quoted as 10/1 fourth favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle on March 17. Joseph Patrick O'Brien's Churchill gelding ticks plenty of boxes, insofar as he has run four times over hurdles and won his last two starts in Grade 2 company, but his official rating, of 132, is lower than a typical Triumph Hurdle winner; he also has just over six lengths to find with the current ante-post favourite, Lossiemouth, on their running at Fairyhouse in December 2022.

Ascot Hurdle

The Ascot Hurdle is a Grade 2 hurdle race run over 2 miles, 3 furlongs and 58 yards on the course from which it takes its name in November. Open to horses aged four years and upwards, the race was inaugurated in 1978, but has been sponsored by Coral since 2006 so, for sponsorship purposes, as the Coral Hurdle. In 2004 and 2005, during the multi-million redevelopment of Ascot, the Ascot Hurdle was run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs at nearby Windsor.

Worth £40,000 in guaranteed prize money, the Ascot Hurdle is obviously a prestigious and valuable contest in its own right, but its position in the National Hunt calendar makes it an appropriate early-season 'stepping stone' for horses with aspirations of winning the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. In fact, in its history, a total of seven winners of the Ascot Hurdle, including three dual winners, have also won the Champion Hurdle before or after their Ascot victory.

In chronological order, they were Dawn Run (1983), Gaye Brief (1984, 1985), Morley Street (1990, 1991), Hardy Eustace (2006, 2007), Annie Power (2013), Faugheen (2014) and Rock On Ruby (2015). Dawn Run, of course, remains the only horse in history to have won both the Champion Hurdle and the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

As far as the most successful trainer in the history of the Ascot Hurdle is concerned, although long retired, Martin Pipe, with five winners – Sabin Du Loir (1987, 1988), Pridwell (1997), Wahiba Sands (1999) and Mr. Cool (2003) – still holds sway. Those in search of more useful statistics ahead of the 2022 renewal, schedule for 2:40pm on Saturday, November 19, may like to note that ten of the last dozen winners had won at least four times over hurdles, including at least once at Graded level.

Mersey Novices' Hurdle

The Mersey Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle race run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs on the Mildmay Course at Aintree in early April. The race takes its name from the River Mersey, which empties in to Liverpool Bay a few miles west of Aintree Racecourse and, as the name implies, is restricted to horses, aged four years and upwards, who start the season without a win over hurdles.

The Mersey Novices' Hurdle was inaugurated in 1977, but was shortened from its original distance of 2 miles and 5½ furlongs in 1988. Similarly, the race was promoted to Grade 2 status in 1991 and again, to Grade 1 status, in 2014. The position of the Mersey Novices' Hurdle in the National Hunt calendar – the 2023 renewal is scheduled for 2.25pm on Saturday, April 15 – means that it often features horses that contested the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival the previous month. That said, of all the winners of the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle since 2014, only the 2016 winner,Yorkhill, ran in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle,  but completed the double with a minimum of fuss at long odds-on. 

The now-retired Martin Pipe saddled four winners of the Mersey Novices' Hurdle, namely Lemon's Mill (1993), Cyborgo (1994). Silver Shred (1996) and Classified (2002). More recently, his record has been equalled by Paul Nicholls, who saddled Garde Champetre (2004), Natal (2006), Elusive Dream (2008) and Lac Fontana (2014); jointly, the two multiple champions are the leading trainers in the history of the race. 

Obviously, at this still early stage of the season, it must be fairly long odds-against naming a runner in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle, never mind the winner. However, the first half a dozen or so in the ante-post betting for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, which include leading 'bumper' performers from last season, such as Facile Vega, American Mike and James's Gate would merit close examination if lining up at Aintree. 

Jason MacGuire Triumphs on Ballabriggs to Win the 2011 Aintree Grand National

Just 12 months previously, A P McCoy had ridden Don’t Push It to win the 2010 Grand National and he was installed as joint 2nd favourite on the same horse alongside Silver By Nature ridden by Northern Irishman Peter Buchanan, both backed into 9-1. The most popular money however was on Ruby Walsh on The Midnight Club who was fancied as the 15-2 favourite.

Sunshine graced the start of the 2011 John Smith’s Grand National Grade 3 Handicap and by the 3rd fence, it was Ballabriggs making the running from Hello Bud, who came close in last year’s race. There had only been a few casualties by this point, with outsiders Becauseicouldntsee, Vic Venturi and That’s Rhythm the unfortunate trio.

The leaders fared well over both Becher’s and Foinavon, but that wasn’t the case for everyone as the field reduced further with West End Rocker, The Tother One, Dooney’s Gate and Barry Geraghty on Or Noir de Somoza all falling foul.

Jamie Moore

Santa’s Son had made his way through the melee to reach the front, guided by the brave Jamie Moore who had once been told he wouldn’t walk again after fracturing two vertebrae in a fall in 2004. Puppy Power had also joined the leaders on Killyglen and Hello Bud was tucked in behind.

The entire field had become quite closely bunched with the lead changing hands several times and Santa’s Son was still leading after clearing the Chair. However, this was short lived, as a strong looking Ballabriggs strode into the lead over the water and so it remained, with fence 20 being omitted from the race due to an obstruction.

Becher’s was also omitted just two fences later for the same reason meaning the race had experienced the first and second time it had ever happened.

Almost!

Ballabriggs almost came a cropper over Valentine’s, but MacGuire somehow managed to hold on and held onto the lead, being pressed by Harry Skelton on Niche Market. How fortunate that was, as it was an advantage Ballabriggs would not relinquish again.

Despite being tested through the elbow by Sam Waley-Cohen on Oscar Time, Jason MacGuire claimed the £535,135 prize money for Trevor Hemmings and the accolades for himself. It had been a hot day in more than one sense and the extreme temperatures meant that Ballabriggs was too dehydrated to take his lap of honour, marking the first time a jockey had ever entered the winner’s enclosure without his champion horse.

Hedgehunter Returns with Ruby Walsh to Claim the 2005 Grand National Crown

Having fallen at the last, while still in contention for the 2004 Martell Grand National, the 9 year old Trevor Hemmings owned Hedgehunter had been installed as the 7-1F for the 2005 running of this famous steeplechase. Also heavily backed were last year’s runner up Clan Royal, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, the Richard Ford trained Forest Gunner and French Grey, Strong Resolve.

Last year’s winner, Amberleigh House was listed as 16-1, 5th favourite.

The going for the rebranded John Smith’s Grand National was good to soft and the 40 strong field set off under leaden Aintree skies. The assembled crowd cheered as the race was officially underway.

Over Becher’s

By the time the field crossed over Becher’s Brook for the first time, there had been just 4 fallers, with last year’s 3rd placed horse, Lord Atterbury, trained by M C Pipe amongst those whose race ended in the first few fences. The early running was being made by 150-1 outsider Glenelly Gale, followed a couple of lengths back by Double Honour with Paddy Brennan in the saddle and Astonville in 3rd.

The Chair

At the mid way point of the race, there were still as many as 20 horses within touch of the leading bunch and the arduous Aintree course had resulted in 8 fallers. The remaining field was still headed by Glenelly Gale, who was starting to feel the pace, causing the horse to fade away shortly after.

Bad Luck

Coming up to Becher’s Brook for the second time, Clan Royal, who had been flanked by two riderless horses for much of the straight was baulked by the pair, leading to a refusal and disappointment for Jockey Tony McCoy.

This allowed favourite Ruby Walsh on Hedgehunter to hit the front, jumping over Foinavon, followed by Innox, ridden by Robert Thornton and 16-1 shot, Joly Bay in third.

It was a lead that Hedgehunter would hold all the way to the finish line, Ruby Walsh skillfully saw the steed home, some 14 lengths clear of the field. It was another wonderful day for Irish racing, as the Irish trained and ridden horse romped home to rapturous applause from the vibrant Aintree crowd, earning owner Trevor Hemmings £406,000 in prize money in the process