The Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is one of the key trials for future stars in the middle-distance novice hurdling division. This 2m 5f contest has consistently produced top-class winners, many of whom have gone on to win Grade 1s at the highest level. Below, we explore the key stats, previous winners, and the strongest betting selections for the 2025 renewal.
📊 Key Trends & Winning Profile
✅ Age: 6-year-olds have dominated — winning 9 of the last 11 renewals.
✅ Form: All but four winners this century had won last time out. The last 9 winners had won their previous two races.
✅ Hurdle Experience: No winner in the last 10 years had more than 3 hurdle runs that season.
✅ Grade 1 Form: 13 of the last 16 winners had already won a Graded hurdle.
✅ Trainer Trends: Willie Mullins (🏆 7 wins) and Irish trainers have won 10 of the last 11. Paul Nicholls has never won this race.
✅ Flat-Bred Horses: Since 2005, 31 runners who started on the Flat have all been beaten.
✅ Market Leaders: Only one of the last 17 winners was priced over 8/1.
✅ Bumper Form: The top six finishers from the previous year’s Champion Bumper have a strong record in this race.
✅ Handicap Experience: Since 1990, no winner’s previous race was in a handicap.
✅ BHA Rating: Pre-race BHA rating of 146+ is ideal.
🏆 Recent Winners & Trends Analysis
| Year | Form | Winner | Age | OR | SP | Trainer | Jockey | Last Race |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 211 | Ballyburn | 6 | 157 | 1/2F | W Mullins (IRE) | P Townend | 1st 2m G1 DRF Leopardstown (38) |
| 2023 | 11 | Impaire Et Passe | 5 | 148 | 5/2 | W Mullins (IRE) | P Townend | 1st 2m G2 Punchestown (59) |
| 2022 | 311 | Sir Gerhard | 7 | 151 | 8/11F | W Mullins (IRE) | P Townend | 1st G1 DRF Nov Hurdle (38) |
| 2021 | 211 | Bob Olinger | 6 | 150 | 6/4F | H de Bromhead | R Blackmore | 1st Naas G1 Lawlor’s (63) |
| 2020 | 111 | Envoi Allen | 6 | 156 | 4/7F | G Elliott (IRE) | D Russell | 1st G1 Naas Lawlor’s (66) |
🔍 Key Takeaways:
✅ Age: 6-year-olds have the ideal profile.
✅ Form: Winning last time out is critical — the last 9 winners had won their previous two races.
✅ Grade 1 form: Most winners had already secured a top-level victory.
✅ Irish trainers dominate: Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott have a stranglehold on this race.
✅ Market: Back horses from the top 4 in the betting — only one of the last 17 winners was priced over 8/1.
🎯 Expert Verdict: Who to Bet On?
✅ Look for a 6-year-old Irish-trained horse who won a Graded race last time out and has a BHA rating of 146+.
✅ Focus on horses trained by Willie Mullins or Henry de Bromhead.
❌ Avoid horses who started on the Flat or have more than three hurdle runs this season.
❌ Avoid Paul Nicholls’ runners — he’s 0 from 17 in this race.
📈 Best Bets for Turners Novices’ Hurdle 2025 – Top Selections
| 🏇 Horse | 📉 Odds | 🎯 Trainer | 🔥 Age | 📊 OR | ⭐ RPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Final Demand | 15/8 | W P Mullins | 6 | 154 | 161 |
| The New Lion | 15/8 | Dan Skelton | 6 | 147 | 159 |
| The Yellow Clay | 13/2 | Gordon Elliott | 6 | 149 | 155 |
| Potters Charm | 14/1 | Nigel Twiston-Davies | 6 | 145 | 153 |
| Sixmilebridge | 16/1 | Fergal O’Brien | 6 | 142 | 152 |
✅ Final Demand (15/8)
- ✅ Trained by W P Mullins — who has dominated this race.
- ✅ Rated 154 — fits the historical winner’s rating profile.
- ✅ Won last time out in a Grade 1.
- ✅ Paul Townend rides — the jockey has won the last three renewals.
💪 Verdict: The ideal trends fit — top trainer, top jockey, strong form. Favourite for a reason.
✅ The New Lion (15/8)
- ✅ 6 years old — ideal age.
- ✅ Rated 147 — close to the key benchmark.
- ✅ Trained by Dan Skelton — improving record at Cheltenham.
- ✅ Proven over 2m 4f — stamina assured.
💪 Verdict: Strong form and fits most of the trends. Big danger to the favourite.
✅ The Yellow Clay (13/2)
- ✅ Trained by Gordon Elliott — successful in this race.
- ✅ Proven over 2m 4f+
- ✅ Grade 1 winning form.
- ✅ Jack Kennedy rides — top jockey booking.
💪 Verdict: Big player with a strong profile. Strong each-way bet.
✅ Potters Charm (14/1)
- ✅ 6 years old — fits the ideal age profile.
- ✅ Strong recent form over 2m 4f.
- ✅ Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies — not a top trainer in this race, but solid profile.
💪 Verdict: Could spring a surprise at decent odds.
✅ Sixmilebridge (16/1)
- ✅ 6 years old — fits the ideal age.
- ✅ Proven over 2m 4f.
- ✅ Trained by Fergal O’Brien — could be a dark horse.
💪 Verdict: Could outrun the odds and place at a nice price.
🚫 Runners to Avoid
❌ Kaid d’Authie – Rated too low; inexperienced and unlikely to have the class.
❌ Supersundae – Poor recent form; unlikely to improve here.
❌ Forty Coats – Low BHA rating and out of his depth at this level.
❌ Kel Histoire – No Grade 1 form; needs more experience.
💰 Each-Way Value
➡️ The Yellow Clay (13/2) – Fits the profile of a strong each-way bet.
➡️ Potters Charm (14/1) – Strong form at an attractive price.
➡️ Sixmilebridge (16/1) – The type to outrun the odds.
🔥Best Trend Fit: Final Demand
✅ Trained by Willie Mullins.
✅ Proven Grade 1 form.
✅ High rating and ideal age.
✅ Paul Townend rides — the ultimate Mullins weapon at Cheltenham.