Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle Betting Tips
Day two of the Cheltenham Festival once again begins with the novice hurdlers in the Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle.
Eleven have been declared for the contest and, at the time of writing, the betting is marginally headed by the Willie Mullins-trained Final Demand, with The New Lion for Dan Skelton challenging his place at the head of the market.
There are of course others in the race with a chance and below is who we think is the best selection for the race.
13:20 Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle (2m5f)
The Novices get us started once again, and whilst a case can be made for a few of the runners, the two at the head of the market have the strongest claims and deserve their places there.
The New Lion is one of the main British-trained fancies of the week and it is easy to see why having won all four of his career starts, in the most eye-catching fashion when winning the Challow Hurdle on his most recent run.
He definitely could have won by further on this occasion and the performance can be upgraded as a result. But this doesn’t change the fact that the form is not the strongest, with those behind not doing much to boost the form, even with the second, fourth, fifth and seventh winning since.
Final Demand, on the other hand, comes here with the strongest form of claims. His debut win in December has seen the second and third improve and go on to win. Whilst his performance at the Dublin Racing Festival was one of the best novice hurdling performances we have seen on either side of the Irish Sea all season.
Those to finish behind him that day boast much stronger form than those behind The New Lion, and the margin of victory was much greater too.
He was highly thought of from an early stage and was a 230,000 Euros purchase as a three-year-old and, while being expensive is no guarantee to success, as of now it looks like the money has been well placed.
Further to this, Willie Mullins and Paul Townend have a strong recent record in the race, having won the last three renewals of the race. Not only this but in 2024 Wilie Mullins saddled the first five home in the race and, with six from his stable set to line up this year, the tactics can be played very much to the benefit of Final Demand.
Further to this, since 2018 five of the six winners have been favourite for the race and with such a strong record in the race it would be no surprise to see the favourite land the race again.
Of the others in the race, Gordon Elliot saddles The Yellow Clay and, with the trainer having been successful in the race twice in the past decade, he is one who holds strong place claims. But Final Demand should be too good for the rest of them.
Selection: Final Demand