2023 Sefton Novices Hurdle Betting Odds at Aintree racecourse

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.