Formby Novices' Hurdle Tips & Odds
The Formby Novices' Hurdle has replaced the Tolworth Hurdle and is a Grade 1 treat on Boxing Day at Aintree's brand new fixture, which came into being after the BHA rejigged the fixture list...
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Formby Novices' Hurdle Tips
You can check out our Formby Novices' Hurdle tips closer to the time here...
What is the Formby Novices' Hurdle?
The Formby Novices' Hurdle has been introduced as a direct replacement for the Tolworth Hurdle. The Tolworth Hurdle was a Grade One horse race run over a trip of two miles at Sandown Racecourse each January.
The new race is open to horses aged four and up and, just as the Tolworth tended to attract some of the best young animals in training, it is hoped this race will become a prize worth winning in its own right. As well as being a key Grade One, the Tolworth was also a key trial for the Cheltenham Festival with the Supreme Novices' Hurdle the likely destination for horses that compete well. The Formby should take its place.
What happened in the 2023 Formby Novices' Hurdle?
The first ever running of the Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, replacing the Tolworth at Sandown, saw Jango Baie scoop the pot for Nicky Henderson with James Bowen in the saddle. The four year old put in a fine round of jumping and big things were expected for the rest of his season.
The history of the Formby Novices' Hurdle
First run in 1976, the then Tolworth Hurdle grew into one of the most important and prestigious races of the entire season for the best novice hurdlers in the country over the minimum trip.
The race in January tended to be the last start for the majority of the runners before they head to the Cheltenham Festival in March, which makes it a crucial contest. We have seen a number of excellent winners claim the Sandown race over the past forty years, with the biggest names in the sport often targeting the race for their bright young stars of the future. It has now been switched to Aintree.
Who was the most iconic winner of the Formby Novices' Hurdle?
There is a fantastic list of names on the Formby (or Tolworth) roll of honour, including Summerville Boy who was the last horse to also win the Supreme in the same season. Yorkhill and Noland are another iconic duo to name just three sine the turn of the century. There is, however, one stand-out name in the form of Desert Orchid who claimed the win back in 1984.
"Dessie" would go on to become one of the greatest horses of all time, with four King George victories to his name and a Gold Cup, but it was at Sandown where he first came to the attention of many racegoers as he claimed the Tolworth for David Elsworth as a five-year-old.
Are there any trials for the Formby Novices' Hurdle?
The Tolworth Hurdle was often the key prep race trial target for horses heading to the Supreme or the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, which means punters can tend to get a decent idea of potential runners. Elixir De Nutz won a novice hurdle at Cheltenham in December before winning the Tolworth, while Summerville Boy used the same path on the way to his victory in 2018.
Since the race's switch to Aintree, its place as a trial for Cheltenham is still yet to be determined in this era of Irish dominance.