2025 Sefton Novices' Hurdle Tips

Nicky Henderson has plenty of horses that can land an Aintree victory over the three days that comprise the Grand National meeting, with Califet En Vol currently heading the market and there have been some bright performances this term. The six-year-old was last seen winning at Huntingdon and there was also a success at Kempton last November.

Jacob’s Ladder was able to score back-to-back wins for Gordon Elliott, with the horse producing a commanding performance at Naas when winning by three lengths, with the runner previously obliging at Navan and there’s every chance that the horse can continue this successful run in this competitive encounter.

Then there’s Mister Meggit, with the seven-year-old having landed a victory in his previous outing and that came at Aintree. The even money shot was able to score by nearly five lengths in a novices’ hurdle, so the seven-year-old can clearly handle this course. However, perhaps Familiar Dreams could run up a string of victories.

Gordon Elliott has a six-year-old who has claimed a win in three of his four outings this term, with the latest success coming at Limerick during Cheltenham Festival week. That came after a triumph at Punchestown over two miles and four furlongs, with the Irish raider now tackling Aintree for the first time and he can’t be ruled out easily.

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.