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Turners Novices Hurdle tips: Rory Delargy’s 7/1 each-way shout for Cheltenham

Rory Delargy

Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips

5 months ago

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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.

RORY DELARGY

The New Lion won the Challow at Newbury over Christmas and we don’t really see horses win that and go on to win the Turners Novices Hurdle that opens Wednesday’s card at the Festival.

He ran in a very different Challow than we’re used to as it wasn’t a particularly deep contest. I don’t think Regent’s Stroll is a superstar (beaten again since). The New Lion won with enough in hand but it’s difficult to know how much he had in hand, so we’ll have to guess.

The ground wasn’t too bad and the pace wasn’t too strong either so it might not have taken too much out of him. This could be the year that the rule of winning the Challow then winning the Turners is broken.

It’s hard to put a form figure on The New Lion as he hasn’t beaten anything exceptional so we don’t know what his ceiling is.

Final Demand, who won at the Dublin Racing Festival, sets a very high standard and I’d much rather be with him over The New Lion.

Underestimated

The Yellow Clay deserves a mention and I’m a huge fan of his. He won the Lawlor’s Of Naas and while he became one of the favourites for the Albert Bartlett, I feel that was due to the heavy ground. The Lawlor’s doesn’t tend to be a trial for the Albert Bartlett.

Gordon Elliott said he’ll be a better horse on better ground and I was really impressed with his win.

I can see The Yellow Clay running in the Turners Novices Hurdle and he’s underestimated in the market. He’s a proven Grade 1 horse and he was a decent bumper performer. He’s coming on nicely and I don’t see why he won’t run a big race.