The Turners Novices' Hurdle, opening race on Day 2, is arguably the strongest of the four novice hurdles run at the Festival.
Sponsored for many years by Sun Alliance (1974-2006), it has since been known as the Neptune, the Ballymore and the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle.
However, for 2025, Turners are the new title sponsor, after the Turners Novices' Chase was axed from the Festival schedule.
It's registered name is the Baring Bingham Novices' Chase, in honour of William Baring Bingham who organised the first National Hunt meeting at Prestbury Park in 1902.
It has often been an excellent guide to future Champion Hurdles, even though it's run on a trip of over half a mile longer.
Previous winners of both races include Istabraq, Hardy Eustace and Faugheen.
The race has also been won by plenty of future chasing stars such as Davy Lad, Sabin du Loir and First Lieutenant.
TURNERS NOVICES’ HURDLE TRENDS
Class has come to the fore in recent years and there has been no winner rated below 146 since First Lieutenant in 2011.
Five of the last seven favourites have won and there has only been one winner priced at over 8/1 since 2007.
Willie Mullins is the most successful trainer with seven winners, while Gordon Elliott has also been successful recently with Samcro (2018) and Envoi Allen (2020).
TURNERS NOVICES’ HURDLE ODDS
LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA
RECENT WINNERS
Ballyburn 2024
Ballyburn - Gallagher Novices' Hurdle 2024#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/0ljXlW24YA
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) August 14, 2024
Jockey Paul Townend celebrated back-to-back wins in this race in 2023, this time on the unbeaten Impaire Et Passe.
The five-year-old bolted up by six and a half lengths, leading home a 1-2-3 for trainer Willie Mullins - his sixth success in the race:
Impaire Et Passe - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2023#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/OqRKUZanMr
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) July 17, 2023
Sir Gerhard powered through the soft ground to justify his short odds in the 2022 renewal.
The previous year's Champion Bumper winner handled the step up to two miles and five furlongs with aplomb under Paul Townend:
Sir Gerhard - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2022#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/k6DJH8RclB
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) January 29, 2023
Rachael Blackmore rode Bob Olinger to victory in 2021, with trainer Henry De Bromhead delighted he saw out the trip:
Bob Olinger - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2021#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Uc23EqwqQ3
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) January 28, 2023
Irish banker Envoi Allen extended his unbeaten record, ahead of stablemate Easywork for a Gordon Elliott 1-2 in 2020:
Envoi Allen - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2020#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/FJzcA2zYXS
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 3, 2023
The ultra-tough City Island was trainer Martin Brassil's first Festival winner in 2019:
City Island - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2019#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/W2pQ1KyHmd
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 3, 2023
Samcro was another unbeaten hotpot to score for Gordon Elliott in 2018, having cruised into contention at the final bend:
Samcro - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2018#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/3jzHR7oBti
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 3, 2023
Willoughby Court just beat favourite Neon Wolf in a thrilling battle to the line in 2017, a first Festival winner for trainer Ben Pauling:
Willoughby Court - Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2017#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/TirHk5FwQH
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 3, 2023
Yorkhill 2016
Yorkhill - Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2016#CheltenhamFestival
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 11, 2023
pic.twitter.com/fYNTyIo59T
Windsor Park 2015
Windsor Park - Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2015#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/xl0JkA43yU
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 11, 2023
In 2014 Faugheen won this before going on to win the Champion Hurdle 12 months later:
Faugheen - Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2014#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/fnuSciai7c
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 11, 2023
The New One 2013
The New One - Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2013#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/sKOobQrqrZ
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 11, 2023
In 2012 the brilliant grey Simonsig, who won the Arkle Chase the following year, never came out of second gear and cruised up the run-in under Barry Geraghty:
Simonsig - Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2012#CheltenhamFestival
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) October 29, 2022
pic.twitter.com/aO4t8RvehA
First Lieutenant 2011
First Lieutenant - Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2011#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Sx5tEzc6aC
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) October 28, 2023
Peddlers Cross 2010
Peddlers Cross - Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle 2010#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/3B6ZfiV8Uw
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 11, 2023
Mikael d'Haguenet 2009
Mikael d'Haguenet - Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle 2009#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/eRasSPKKjL
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) October 28, 2023
Fiveforthree 2008
Fiveforthree - Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle 2008#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/9t7URMcsCa
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) October 28, 2023
Massini's Maguire 2007
Massini's Maguire - Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle 2007#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/HWR5wNQV3d
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) October 29, 2023
Nicanor 2006
Nicanor - Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle 2006#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/KtrKWbPH5V
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) November 18, 2023
No Refuge 2005
No Refuge - Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle 2005#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/R0pxZw7UAu
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) November 18, 2023
Fundamentalist 2004
Fundamentalist - Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle 2004#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/oVx8HZFnnR
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) November 18, 2023
Hardy Eustace 2003
Hardy Eustace - Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle 2003#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/q2PBKIdLgg
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 12, 2023
Galileo 2002
Galileo - Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle 2002#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/pvTkp0jYwQ
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) November 17, 2023
In 2000 Monsignor won by eight lengths in what was regrettably his final ever race due to a tendon injury.
It completed an unbeaten novice hurdle season for the giant horse who had won the Champion Bumper 12 months earlier and looked destined for greater things.
Monsignor - Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle 2000#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/B3ZifatOTx
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 12, 2023
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Barton 1999
Barton - Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle 1999#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/vDxsc0LQVw
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) November 18, 2023
French Holly was another huge horse to cap an unbeaten novice campaign by winning this race - speadeagling the field in 1998.
Third behind Istabraq in the Champion Hurdle a year later, a tragic schooling accident meant he also never got to fulfil his potential over fences:
French Holly - Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle 1998#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/psOxlwjkKm
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 16, 2023
A year earlier, Istabraq himself had been made to graft to win this race, before returning to win the Champion Hurdle three times:
Istabraq - Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle 1997#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/ApBJniOVHQ
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 16, 2023
Urubande 1996
Urubande - Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle 1996#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/grwkVZeqVK
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) November 18, 2023
Putty Road 1995
Putty Road - Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle 1995#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/BBxABfGAPQ
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) November 19, 2023
But the most popular winner of the race must surely be Danoli - darling of Irish race fans.
There was a great roar when 'The People's Champion' hit the front at the top of the hill and delirious scenes after the race:
Danoli - Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle 1994#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/6cBhssPFhc
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) February 16, 2023
Gaelstrom 1993
Gaelstrom - Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle 1993#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/qcb8wwNJJc
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) November 20, 2023
Thetford Forest 1992
Thetford Forest - Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle 1992#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/nGjq8HoJq7
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) December 8, 2022