BALLYMORE PROPERTIES NOVICES' HURDLE HISTORY FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS

The Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle race for four-year-old and above novices. It is run over 2m 5f on the Old Course during the Cheltenham Festival in March. Introduced as the Aldsworth Hurdle in 1971, it became the Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle in 1974, when the insurance company began sponsoring the race. The name was altered to the Royal & Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle after the merger of Royal Insurance and Sun Alliance in 1996. The race has been run under its present sponsored title since 2007.

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2008 FIVEFORTHREE (Jockey: Ruby Walsh, Trainer: Willie Mullins)

Following the abandonment of racing due to high winds on the second day of the 2008 Cheltenham Festival, the race was rescheduled and run on Cheltenham's New Course over a distance of 2 miles 4½ furlongs. For Cheltenham statistics followers, the winner had looked a good prospect at the previous Cheltenham Festival, finishing fifth in the 2007 Festival Bumper. A 7/1 chance in the Cheltenham betting, he led home an Irish 1-2-3-4, followed by Venalmar, Trafford Lad and Forpadydeplasterer.

2007 MASSINI'S MAGUIRE (Jockey: Richard Johnson, Trainer: Philip Hobbs)

Something of a surprise result, with the winner, 20/1 in the Cheltenham betting, battling on to deny Tidal Bay by a neck. Third-placed Catch Me, one of Ireland's best 2m hurdlers, appeared to stay on his first try at this trip, finishing a further 1½l back. Another significant result in Cheltenham statistics, with Tidal Bay an impressive winner of the 2008 Arkle Challenge Trophy.

2006 NICANOR (Jockey: Paul Carberry, Trainer: Noel Meade)

The winner and Denman (the 11/10 favourite in the Cheltenham betting) had the race between them in the straight, with Noel Meade's charge proving too speedy by 2½l, with Refinement 6l back in third. Yet another important contest in Cheltenham statistics, with Denman going on to collect the 2008 Gold Cup.

2005 NO REFUGE (Jockey: Graham Lee, Trainer: Howard Johnson)

Howard Johnson gained compensation for Inglis Drever's narrow defeat at the 2004 Cheltenham Festival, with the progressive No Refuge, a 17/2 chance in the Cheltenham betting.

2004 FUNDAMENTALIST (Jockey: Carl Llewellyn, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies)

Another significant Cheltenham statistics result, with ½l runner-up Inglis Drever going on to win three World Hurdles for Howard Johnson. Grey Report ran a blinder in third.

2003 HARDY EUSTACE (Jockey: Kieran Kelly, Trainer: Dessie Hughes)

6/1 in the Cheltenham betting, Hardy Eustace was a ready winner of a classy renewal. Coolnagorna, second-past-the post, was disqualified for causing interference, leaving favourite Pizarro and Lord Sam to fill the placings. Interestingly from a Cheltenham statistics perspective, Hardy Eustace went on to victory in the 2004 and 2005 Champion Hurdles.

2002 GALILEO (Jockey: Jason Maguire, Trainer: Tom George)

The Polish-bred winner, 12/1 in the Cheltenham betting, had won from 5f to 2m on the Flat in his native land. Despite running green, he was an impressive 3½l winner from Over the Bar with Lanzerac a short head back in third

2001 Cheltenham Festival abandoned – foot and mouth epidemic

2000 MONSIGNOR (Jockey: Norman Williamson, Trainer: Mark Pitman)

The 2000 renewal was intriguing from a Cheltenham statistics standpoint. Monsignor, 5/4 in the Cheltenham betting was another favourite to retain his unbeaten record. An impressive winner by 8l and 5l from No Discount and Gentle Rivage, he was trained by Mark Pitman, whose mother supplied the runner-up in 1999.

1999 BARTON (Jockey: Lorcan Wyer, Trainer: Tim Easterby)

The winner, 2/1 favourite in the Cheltenham betting, retained his unbeaten record over hurdles at the 1999 Cheltenham Festival, with an impressive 9l win over Jenny Pitman-trained Artadoin Lad and 100/1 chance Winston Run.