Ballymore Classic Novices' Hurdle
(Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle)
Grade 2, Cheltenham 15:05
£50,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus,
2m 4f 56y, Class 1  
Saturday 28th January 2023

Free Racing Tips

1 Rock My Way 13/2
2 Pembroke 5/4F
3 Mofasa 14/1
10 ran NR: Blenkinsop, Bonttay Distances: 1½l, 4¼l, 4½l
Time: 5m 5.84s (slow by 15.84s)

Trainer Syd Hosie enjoyed the biggest success of his training career when Rock My Way took the honours by a length and a half. 

Syd Hosie said: “We have done it today and that was great, but how good is Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horse (Weveallbeencaught) that is what I want to know, and we will find out in Ireland next week.

"Speaking to Tom (Scudamore) there will probably step him up in trip. He wanted a bit more of a lead and he got to the front early enough and he had a look around. We could have done with a bit more of a pace there. We had Way Out in the race as well and at home he runs all over this horse every day. I might need to put a longer gallop on!

“The previous time I didn’t have a clue how he would get on as he came from the point-to-point field. This time I thought if we can get him in the top three I won’t look stupid for the entries we have made for the Ballymore and the Albert Bartlett and I’m glad about that. We will get him home and see where he is really.

“We have had a Cheltenham hunter chase winner and that to me was the pinnacle but this today this means a lot to me. It is nice to do it at Cheltenham on Trials Day. I used to come to Trials Day and be with my mates in the bottom bar and I always said to them when we start to win some money we might have a go at this and here we are.”

BetGoodwiin

Dan Skelton, trainer of the runner-up Pembroke, said: “That was a really good run. Look, I thought we’d win beforehand and I wasn’t afraid to say how much we thought of him, but on that ground the trip perhaps just exposed him a little. With a better jump at the last we’d perhaps been a bit closer but he’s run very creditably, his jumping can improve. We were going everywhere with him due to the weather and this just ended up being the one we came for in the end. I don’t know what to do with him in the spring yet, he’s got a little cut which is only superficial but we’ll wait and double check he’s ok before making firm plans.”

Michael Scudamore, trainer of the third-placed Mofasa, said: “That was a great run considering we gave away weight to the first two horses, so I’m really pleased. He ran so poorly at Newcastle last time that it’s just nice to put a line through that and Luca was pleased with him. He said he had a horrible run all the way through and thought he could and should have finished closer with a clearer run. I’m delighted to see him back though and he’s proven he’s good enough to compete at this level. Coming back here in March is a possibility, but we’ve got plenty of time to think about it. He’s a big boy for chasing next year and it wouldn’t be the worst idea to put him away for that either, so there’s lots of options and lots to talk about. If anybody had to beat us though I’m delighted it was Tom (Scudamore) – he can get the beers in later!”

Horses 468x60 Jpg

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
 (Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2)
£50,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 56y, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT JOCKEY TRAINER SP
1     Rock My Way 5 11-5 Syd Hosie Tom Scudamore 13/2
2 1½ Pembroke 6 11-5 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 5/4F
3 4¼ Mofasa 7 11-8 Michael Scudamore Luca Morgan 14/1
4 4½ Henri The Second 6 11-10 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 7/2
5 1¾ Moka De Vassy 5 11-5 Jane Williams David Noonan 66/1
6 2¼ Doctor Brown Bear 5 11-5 Martin Brassil J J Slevin 50/1
7 17 Cruz Control 6 11-5 Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard 10/1
8 16 Way Out 6 11-5 Syd Hosie Tom Cannon 100/1
9 4¾ Can You Call 8 11-5 Evan Williams Adam Wedge 11/1
10 1 War Soldier 6 11-5 Sandy Thomson Ryan Mania 12/1
NR 3 Blenkinsop 6 11-5 Henry Daly NON-RUNNER
NR 12 Bonttay 6 10-12 Fergal O'Brien NON RUNNER

Year Horse Owner Trainer Weight Jockey SP

2000 Monsignor Malcolm Denmark Mark Pitman 6-11-12 Norman Williamson 1/2 f
2001 Indian Scout Indian Scout Partnership Ben De Haan 6-11-06 Liam Cummins 2/1
2002 Keen Leader Adair Catherwood Jonjo O’Neill 6-11-05 Liam Cooper 10/11 f
2003 Iris’s Gift Robert Lester Jonjo O’Neill 6-11-09 Barry Geraghty 1/3 f
2004 Abandoned
2005 Ambobo Sean Mulryan Arnaud Chaille-Chaille FR 5-11-12 Barry Geraghty 14/1
2006 Abandoned
2007 Wichita Lineman J P McManus Jonjo O’Neill 6-11-12 Tony McCoy Evens f
2008 Aigle D’Or J P McManus Nicky Henderson 5-11-09 Marcus Foley 7/4 f
2009 Diamond Harry Paul Duffy/Diamond Partnership Nick Williams 6-11-12 Timmy Murphy 8/15 f
2010 Restless Harry Richard Whitehead Robin Dickin 6-11-12 Henry Oliver 7/2
2011 Bobs Worth The Not Afraid Partnership Nicky Henderson 6-11-12 Barry Geraghty 7/2
2012 Batonnier Raymond Mould Alan King 6-11-05 Wayne Hutchinson 12/1
2013 At Fishers Cross J P McManus Rebecca Curtis 6-11-12 A P McCoy 13/2
2014 Red Sherlock The Johnson Family David Pipe 5-11-09 Tom Scudamore 9/4
2015 Ordo Ab Chao A Marsh Alan King 6-11-09 Wayne Hutchinson 16/1
2016 Yanworth J P McManus Alan King 6-11-12 Barry Geraghty 2/1f
2017 Wholestone Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Nigel Twiston-Davies 6-11-10 Daryl Jacob 11/4 f
2018 Santini Mr & Mrs R Kelvin-Hughes Nicky Henderson 6-11-05 J McGrath 4/1
2019 Birchdale J P McManus Nicky Henderson 5-11-05 Barry Geraghty 2/1
2020 Harry Senior Brocade Racing Colin Tizzard 6 11-05 Robbie Power 4/1
2021 ABANDONED
2022 North Lodge McNeill Family & Niall Farrell Alan King 5 11-05 A P Heskin 7/1