Grade Two Ballymore Leamington Novices' Hurdle Guide 2023

Trainer Paul Nicholls looks to have another strong fancy on the card at Warwick for Saturday as he runs Knowsley Road with Lorcan Williams taking the ride.

He is currently 2-2 over hurdles and has won both in very decent fashion. They were both over 2m3f at Chepstow so this is quite evidently a step up in not just trip, but grade too.

More will come as he looks a talented individual and this son of Flemensfirth may prove that he is good enough to take this race.

Has a great chance of making it 3-3 and will likely be in the mix at the very least so rates a major player for a yard in superb form.

This 7 year old son of Yeats disappointed on hurdling debut considering he was well fancied on the day (5/2 favourite). He ended up finishing fourth behind a rival who he faces again here in Mexico and it looks likely he will reverse that form for the second time as he got the better of him last time out.

Ginny’s Destiny was the bigger price on the day, but won over course and distance beating Mexico by 8 ½ lengths. He won very easily and that form could put him in good stead here as he will look to make it 2-2 albeit the ground may be a bit tougher to race on to what he is normally used to.

Has to be respected as that past course and distance experience should count for a lot here.

This talented grey has been a very progressive type for the Skelton’s as he has won four out of his five career starts so far.

He stayed unbeaten in two NH Flat races before being beaten on hurdling debut at Aintree. He soon bounced back as he was victorious at Exeter then Kempton on Boxing Day winning both in stylish fashion.

Proven at the trip and looks a really exciting young horse for connections. Steps up in grade here, but one who has to be fancied due to the fact he keeps on improving with nearly every run.

Can make it another career success here which would be three wins from four career starts over hurdles.

Big run can be expected as long as this has not come too soon after the Christmas outing.

Lucinda Russell’s gelding has just had the three starts so far, but he has progressed with each of his three runs over hurdles, easily defying a penalty in a 2m4f Newcastle novice last month. This is a tougher ask, but he cannot be discounted in what looks a very competitive Grade 2.

He was stepped up to Class 1 company on just his second start so they must think highly of this horse. A few make strong cases in this year’s renewal of the Grade 2 Ballymore Leamington Novices’ Hurdle and Snake Roll is certainly one of them.

Givega is a winning pointer who has looked an excellent prospect when bagging two novice hurdles at Lingfield and Fontwell this winter. He has won both by a combined distance of 18 lengths and will have more to offer over this longer trip.

A bold show is very much on the cards, but one thing to note is that the Moore yard have hit a bit of a sticky patch in terms of form as their horses have not been running too well of late, but things may change here with Givega who is looking to make it 3-3.

Just like his rival Givega, Moon Hunter is a winning pointer who went 2-2 over hurdles with tenacious success in a 2m3f Doncaster novice 16 days ago. He has shown signs that a step up in trip will suit so he is sure to improve again over this longer distance.

Trainer in decent form and one at a bigger price who may represent some strong each way value on the day so watch out for any market support that may come for this lad. Very much respected.

Stuart Edmunds’ 7 year old was a fairly useful bumper winner who has shown similar form in this sphere and opened his account in a 2m4f Southwell novice last month.

This demands much more and he looks set to struggle and will find it tough to reverse any form with a rival he faces again here in Ginny’s Destiny.

Just does not have the experience warranted for race of this magnitude and looks set to be making up the numbers here in what is not the biggest of fields either.

One to easily dismiss.