2024 Sefton Novices' Hurdle Tips

There’s a testing encounter on Day Two of the Grand National meeting in the form of the Sefton Novices’ Hurdle, with the runners and riders competing over three miles, half a furlong. The Jukebox Man is a six-year-old who has landed two victories this season, with Ben Pauling saddling a runner who looks like a decent each-way selection.

The horse ran well at the Cheltenham Festival when finishing second behind Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, with the horse having previously performed well at Newbury when landing third place behind Captain Teague. Dancing City also has two wins this season and was third in the Albert Bartlett.

Stellar Story has to be respected after outperforming his 33/1 odds to land the spoils at the Cheltenham Festival, with this coming after a fourth-placed finish at the Dublin Racing Festival. Better Days Ahead also goes for trainer Gordon Elliott and there have been two victories for this runner this season.

Readin Tommy Wrong was pulled up on a last outing although that came after four successive victories and perhaps the Willie Mullins-trained charge can be among the first few home this time around, with Shanagh Bob also available at a similar price and Nicky Henderson will hope for a better Aintree than he had at Cheltenham.

2023 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle Tips

Hermes Allen was sent off as the 9/4 favourite to win the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, although the runner was a full twenty lengths off the pace when it came to this Cheltenham Festival encounter. Having briefly led the race with four obstacles left, the horse faded and it would appear that this Paul Nicholls-trained runner is ground dependent.

Perhaps we shouldn’t lose faith in a runner that previously beat You Wear It Well at Newbury on New Year’s Eve and this form looks strong considering the former was the winner of the Mares Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, although stablemate Stay Away Fay has to be respected after winning the Albert Barlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Few expected the 18/1 shot to produce such a strong performance around Prestbury Park and he was able to edge out 150/1 rag Affordale Fury in a really close finish, with the six-year-old having previously finished second over three miles at Doncaster Racecourse, with the jockey selection potentially having a bearing on the odds.

Absolute Notions runs for trainer Gordon Elliott and he was last seen running at the Dublin Racing Festival, with Davy Russell giving the horse a tremendous spin when finishing runner-up to Good Land over two miles and six furlongs on yielding ground. However, Iroko won the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle over two miles, four and a half furlongs and the five-year-old could be capable of more.