Cheltenham Festival 2019: Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle preview, tv schedule, race time, tips, runners and riders and odds

THE Ballymore Novices' Hurdle is the opening race on day two of this year's Cheltenham Festival, won in brilliant style last year by Samcro.

Here's all you need to know to get you in the mood for the big race at Prestbury Park.

When is the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, what's the distance and which sort of horses can enter?

The 2019 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle will take place on Wednesday, March 13 at 13.30 (1.00pm).

It's a Grade 1 National Hunt novices' hurdle run over two miles and five furlongs, for horses aged four years and upwards.

Who is running in the 2019 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle?

How can I watch the race?

The race will be broadcast live on Racing TV and ITV.

ITV1 is on Sky channel 103 and Virgin channel 103.

Who won the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle in 2018?

Samcro (8-11f) was a very easy winner of the Ballymore last year, bolting up from Black Op (8-1) in second.

Which jockeys and trainers have won the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle the most? 

Willie Mullins leads the trainers' wins with four, courtesy of Fiveforthree (2008), Mikael d'Haguenet (2009), Faugheen (2014), and Yorkhill (2016).

Jockey Ruby Walsh has also won the race four times on the same four horses.

What are the top tips for the race?