Bob Olinger was the winner of the 2021 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and it was a comprehensive victory for the Henry de Bromhead-trained charge. Sent off as the 6/4 favourite for this two mile five furlong encounter, he was able to secure a win by over seven lengths and it appears as though the Irish raider is going to be sent off at an even shorter price for the Turners Novices Chase.
For various reasons, Bob Olinger has only had one run during the 2021/22 National Hunt season although there was everything to like about his seasonal debut at Gowran Park, with the horse being sent off as 1/3 favourite on that occasion. There was a victory by over six lengths and it’s easy to see why the horse is market leader for this encounter.
Galopin Des Champs is one of the pretenders to the crown, with the Willie Mullins trained horse having landed the spoils in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle in 2021, with the six-year-old then following this up with a win at the Punchestown Festival when triumphing in the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle.
We have subsequently seen the charge take well to the bigger obstacles when winning the Ballymaloe Relish Beginners Chase, with that being a twenty-two length victory. Venetia Williams also has a lively prospect in the form of L’Homme Presse, with three successive victories this season and the latest of these came on New Year’s Day in the Paddy Power Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.