Mersey Novices' Hurdle Tips & Odds

The Mersey Novices' Hurdle will take place on Saturday 15th April, 2023

Watch the race live on ITV1 and Racing TV which also offer options to stream the race via their streaming services. 

Alternatively, most bookmakers offer a free live horse racing stream allowing you to watch the race after you've placed a bet.

There have been some truly special winners of the Mersey Novices Hurdle over the years, including Wayward Lad, Morley Street, Tidal Bay, Nichols Canyon and Yorkhill - but there is no doubt that it is Best Mate is the most iconic.

The Venetia Williams-trained star would of course go on to make history, by sealing three Cheltenham Gold Cup wins on the bounce, but he was a talented hurdler as well, winning this race when it was a Grade 2 contest in 2000. 

There is a clear and defined route the Mersey Novices' Hurdle, with the main protagonists from the previous month's Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham also taking their chance here. Prior to Cheltenham, other races to note include the Challow Novices' Hurdle at Newbury and the Tolworth Novices' Hurdle at Sandown. 

Ruby Walsh has enjoyed plenty of success in the Mersey Novices Hurdle, and is the winning most jockey in the race's history, with four wins to his name - courtesy of Garde Champetre (2004), Natal (2006), Elusive Dream (2008), and Nichols Canyon (2015) all scoring for the Irish rider.

Martin Pipe and Paul Nicholls have four wins apiece in the Mersey Novices Hurdle, with some excellent horses winning for the two legendary trainers. Pipe tasted success with Lemon's Mill (1993), Cyborgo (1994), Silver Shred (1996), and Classified (2002), while Nicholls has won with Garde Champetre (2004), Natal (2006), Elusive Dream (2008) and Lac Fontana (2014) so far.