Turners Novices Hurdle: Final Demand is the best horse but he’s not guaranteed to win

*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply.

*Paddy also has the more traditional ante-post market where you will lose your stake if your selection doesn’t run in the race for whatever reason.

Paddy Power Media’s ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ podcast ‘Cheltenham Countdown’ is back as host Tom Nugent picks the brains of the Festival’s winning-most jockey turned TV pundit Ruby Walsh and well-known journalist and broadcaster Rory Delargy for their Cheltenham betting tips.

In the fifth episode of this year’s series, the gang have looked at the Turners Novices Hurdle ahead of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

RUBY WALSH

I thought Final Demand was impressive at the Dublin Racing Festival. It was 2m 6f on pretty slow ground. He’s been a really good jumper, I thought he looked a through stayer when winning at Leopardstown.

The one time I sat on him at home, he rode like a stayer. I know Willie Mullins is not keen to go Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle with him and for the overall development of the horse, I can see why he’s saying that.

But do I think Final Demand is guaranteed to be quick enough for a Turners Novices Hurdle over 2m 5f? I’m not sure.

There have been plenty of tactical Turners Novices’ Hurdles – don’t ask me why. Maybe because it’s the second day of the Festival. If you get one or two races that were too strongly run on the Tuesday it will have an effect. You’re up in trip to 2m 5f – it just can get messy.

They can go a little bit slower. I’m not sure what the size of the field will be. There’s some good horses in there that might just be quicker than Final Demand. The New Lion has a good turn of foot. He was the fastest horse in the Challow hurdle at Newbury.

And Kawaboomga is the same – I don’t know if he goes here. To me he couldn’t beat Kopek Des Bordes at Christmas when Kopek Des Bordes broke every hurdle in Leopardstown.

I couldn’t see him beating Kopek Des Bordes in the Supreme Novices Hurdle, now that Kopek Des Bordes’ jumping has improved. I’d say 2m 5f  might suit him and he could have that turn of foot at the end of the race.

Ultimately Final Demand is probably the best horse in the Turners Novices Hurdle, but that doesn’t mean he’s guaranteed to win the race.

Don’t rule him out

The Yellow Clay is a tough horse who jumps well. Gordon Elliott was debating whether to take him out of the Lawlors of Naas as he thought the ground was too soft for him. He won though but Gordon thinks he wants a sounder surface.

You couldn’t rule out The Yellow Clay.

To me, Final Demand will ultimately prove the best horse ‘going forward’ in his career, but whether he wins the Turners or not, only time will tell.

I just hope there’s a good enough gallop in the race and that he’s seen at his best on the day.

*Paddy Power is now Non Runner Money Back for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival. That means that if your selection does not line up in the race you back it in for any reason – you will now get your stake back. TC’s apply. 

*Paddy also has the more traditional ante-post market where you will lose your stake if your selection doesn’t run in the race for whatever reason.

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