2024 Challow Hurdle Tips - O'Neill's can triumph in Newbury's Christmas highlight
The 2024 Challow Hurdle at Newbury promises to be an exciting race with fierce competition among Britain's top novice hurdlers. Notable contenders include The New Lion, Regent's Stroll, and Bill Joyce, each bringing a stellar track record. Bill Joyce, who impressed at Sandown, is seen as a strong contender, with the potential to handle the challenging course effectively. The race, historically favoring future three-mile chasers, may see a strong performance from Regent's Stroll, trained by Paul Nicholls. Carefully consider these tips and odds for informed betting.
- Odds and betting predictions for the 2024 Challow Hurdle
- This Grade One takes place at Newbury on Saturday 28th December
- Bill Joyce is our best bet at 4/1
Newbury's big card over the Christmas period is headlined by the Grade One Challow Hurdle. This two-and-a-half mile novices hurdle has been won by some famous names down the years, including greats like Bindaree, Wichita Lineman and future Gold Cup winner, Denman.
Here's our free guide to the 2024 Challow Hurdle, along with our best betting tips.
2024 Challow Hurdle Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| The New Lion | 13/8 |
| Regent's Stroll | 2/1 |
| Bill Joyce | 4/1 |
| It's Hard To Know | 16/1 |
| Wendigo | 20/1 |
| First Confession | 25/1 |
| Electric Mason | 66/1 |
2024 Challow Hurdle Runners
Three of Britain's most exciting novice hurdlers will clash in Saturday's main event at Newbury. The betting is headed by Dan Skelton's The New Lion, who has already won over this course-and-distance, when scoring under a penalty last month.
Paul Nicholls will be represented by expensive purchase Regent's Stroll, who survived a terrible error at the final flight to win cosily on his hurdles debut here at Newbury. Jonjo, AJ and Jonjo O'Neill Jnr team up with Bill Joyce, who ran out an impressive winner of the Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown three weeks ago.
There's then a sizeable gap in the betting until we reach Ben Pauling's It's Hard To Know who, like The New Lion and Regent's Stroll, is unbeaten in three career starts. Gavin Sheehan and Jamie Snowden combine with Wendigo, who has scored in a point-to-point, two bumpers and on his second hurdles start at Ludlow.
Joe Tizzard steps runaway Ascot winner, First Confession straight up to Grade One company on Saturday. The seventh and final runner is Electric Mason, who finished five lengths adrift of The New Lion when they met here at Newbury in November.
2024 Challow Hurdle Tips
The Challow Hurdle usually turns into a slog. Often, it's a future three-mile chaser who comes out on top and the roll of honour has been dominated in recent years by Paul Nicholls, who has saddled all of the last four winners.
Regent's Stroll would certainly fit into that future staying chaser bracket and Nicholls will have had this race in mind for his £660,000 purchase since his arrival at Ditcheat. The New Lion is comfortably the best jumper in the field and produced a classy performance when beating Electric Mason, and three more last-time-out winners, on his most recent outing here at Newbury.
I backed BILL JOYCE (4/1) ahead of the Winter Novices' Hurdle and was delighted with what I saw at Sandown. Having travelled a little too enthusiastically on his hurdling debut at Carlisle, Jonjo Jnr managed to settle his mount behind Quebecois in the early stages and only took up the running as the field entered the back straight.
A series of good jumps saw Bill Joyce turn for home with a slight lead over Pony Soprano and Quebecois. As his challengers came off the bridle, Jonjo Jnr's mount was still tanking along on the approach to the last, and the leader pulled a further five lengths clear of Quebecois on the short run to the line, with Pony Soprano - who jumped upsides the leader at the second-last - a further 25-lengths adrift in third.
Despite running keen and a couple of sticky leaps at the final two flights, Bill Joyce won that Grade Two with a little left up his sleeve and the horse he beat into second would be regarded as one of Paul Nicholls' better novice hurdlers. I'd like to see Bill Joyce take a lead in the early stages again - It's Hard To Know and Electric Mason are the other likely front-runners. Jonjo couldn't hold onto his mount for more than a mile at Sandown, so if they did decide to bowl along out in front on Saturday, I wouldn't be too disappointed.
Live Stream
Visit our Challow Hurdle Live Stream page if you plan on watching any of Saturday's races via a mobile or tablet.
Verdict
A good quality renewal of the Challow Hurdle could go the way of Bill Joyce, who won a Grade Two in good style on his most recent start at Sandown and should be well suited by the testing nature of this contest.
Bill Joyce
2024 Challow Hurdle Tips
@4/1 - 10 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS
Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
27 May 2026
- Daily Tips on May 27th -
- Horse Racing
- NAP Of The Day -
- Horse Racing
28 May 2026
- 2026 Brigadier Gerard Stakes -
- Horse Racing
30 May 2026
- 2026 Lester Piggott Stakes -
- Horse Racing
Load More
