Cheltenham Tips: Our Gallagher Novices' Hurdle Pick For Wednesday's First Race

The Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle is the opening race on Day Two of the 2024 Cheltenham and we have a red-hot favourite on betting sites for an encounter which is due off at 1.30pm.

Ballyburn originally had an entry for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle before connections decided to opt for this longer distance race, with the six-year-old having shortened significantly in the odds to claim the spoils.

The fact that Slade Steel was the winner of the Supreme should stand Ballyburn in good stead here, with the pair meeting at the Dublin Racing Festival when the latter was able to oblige with a seven-length victory.

Sent off as the 10/11 favourite in a two-mile novice hurdle, Ballyburn made no mistake by landing a decisive victory and we might see an even more impressive performance over a longer trip.

After all, this is a horse who landed a maiden hurdle victory at Leopardstown over the festive season when obliging by an incredible 25 lengths and punters will be looking to include this horse in their daily multiple bets.

Willie Mullins has the first three in the betting, with Ile Atlantique regarded as the biggest threat to Ballyburn - with the six-year-old having finished second to Readin Tommy Wrong in a novice hurdle at Naas last time out.

Predators Gold was also second in his previous outing when following home Dancing City in a Grade One encounter at the Dublin Racing Festival, although all eyes will be on Ballyburn who has been all the rage for this race.

Gallagher Novices' Hurdle @ Cheltenham 1.30pm - Predators Gold (Without Ballyburn) @ 7/2

Willie Mullins has been amongst the winners on the opening day of the festival and he looks sure to bag the winner of the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle with Ballyburn in the opener.

He has only tasted defeat once in his career when needing the run when losing to Firefox on his seasonal debut.

Ballyburn bounced back in style at Leopardstown, and the form was franked when Slade Steel won the Supreme on Tuesday.

Since Ballyburn looks unopposable, I will be playing in the without market here on horse racing betting sites and I like Predators Gold.

A dual winner at Punchestown, he was stepped up to Grade One level at Leopardstown next time out, when he was the only horse to give the highly regarded Caldwell Potter a race of some sort.

He followed that up with another second-place finish at the Dublin Racing Festival, where he possibly could have been ridden to better effect.

The Masked Marvel gelding is the second highest-rated horse in the race and should relish the soft conditions, so he has all the right credentials to chase Ballyburn home.