2026 Premier Novices' Hurdle Betting Tips
The bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle will have several runners operating at single figure betting odds, with Starmount having won two of his three outings this term. The Ben Pauling-trained charge scored at Wetherby in an easy fashion in January, although there was more to like about an early December success at the same track before a solid effort in the Formby Novices' Hurdle.
Montemares is perhaps the pick of the five-year-olds and Tom Lacey trains a runner who obliged at Hereford on his debut before following this up with a success at Market Rasen in early December. There was also lots to like about a Newbury effort when running well as the big-priced outsider in the Coral Challow Novices' Hurdle.
La Beau Madrik has landed successive wins and Dan Skelton saddles a horse who could be a good each-way option. After finishing second out of eleven runners at Cheltenham in October, with the horse then obliging at Newcastle at the end of November. The runner then returned to the track at the end of January to win over two miles, four and a half furlongs.
The Blue Room is trained by Olly Murphy and the six-year-old was pulled up in a previous outing. There was a victory at Chepstow in early November over two miles, with the horse finishing second in a field of five runners at Sandown Racecourse. It will be interesting to see how the charge recovers after not travelling in the previous showing.
2025 Premier Novices’ Hurdle Tips
The going is set to be good to soft at Kelso Racecourse on Saturday for an encounter over two miles and two furlongs, with the Premier Novices’ Hurdle being a Grade 2 encounter which looks wide open. Chart Topper was a winner at Wetherby at the end of January, with the horse obliging at even money when triumphing by four and a half lengths.
This came after a success at Downpatrick back in August and further improvement is expected here, although Good And Clever has been a strong performer this season and there was a solid showing at the Dublin Racing Festival. Finishing third in the Grade One Novice Hurdle was no mean feat at odds of 16/1.
Previously to this, there was another impressive display when sent off at 28/1 in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle, with the horse only finishing seven lengths behind short-priced favourite Potters Charm. The runner has been hitting the frame regularly this term and this was borne out by a runner-up spot in a Maiden Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse.
There are some other talented six-year-olds lining up and Vanderpoel will be looking to add to his string of victories this time around, with Ben Pauling training a six-year-old who was successful at Ludlow last time out when sent off as the strong favourite. This came after a New Year’s success at Huntingdon and there could be more to come.