Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle

Registered as the Baring Bingham Novices’ Hurdle, in memory of the developer who bought Prestbury Park in 1898, the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle was established in 1971. The race has had several sponsors over the years, including Sun Alliance and Ballymore Properties, but has been sponsored by Neptune since 2010.

The “Neptune”, as it is known colloquially, is run over 2 miles 5 furlongs on the Old Course at Cheltenham and is currently scheduled as the opening race on second day of the Cheltenham Festival in March each year. It is open to horses aged four years and upwards which, prior to the start of the current season, have yet to win a hurdle race and, being a Grade 1 contest, the weight carried by each horse is determined by its age and sex. Four-year-old colts and geldings currently carry 10st 12lb, five-year-old colts and geldings carry 11st 7lbs and fillies and mares receive a 7lb allowance.

Irishman Willie Mullins is the most successful of the current crop of trainers, having saddled Fiveforthree (2008), Mikael d’Haguenet (2009), Faugheen (2014) and Yorkhill (2016) for a total of four wins. Mullins’ stable jockey, Ruby Walsh, rode all four and is the most successful jockey.