Winter Novices Hurdle Betting Odds

There’s a cracking card at Sandown Park on Friday and the third race is the Betfair Winter Novices' Hurdle. This is an encounter over two miles and four furlongs, with No Drama This End having been installed as the odds-on favourite. The five-year-old impressed on a seasonal debut although there are some other decent alternatives.

Tormund Giantsbane has a strong track record and the Dan Skelton-trained runner has been in the winners’ enclosure several times, with Kripticjim also having landed a number of victories during a short career. Absolutely Doyen has racked up three successive wins this term and could also be a strong each-way contender.

2025 Betfair Winter Novices' Hurdle Betting Tips

No Drama This End might be carrying more weight than any other runner in the Betfair Winter Novices' Hurdle, although he is still regarded as the likely winner of this race. The Paul Nicholls-trained charge claimed a recent victory at Cheltenham in November. This was a three-length success in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

It was quite a strong achievement to topple favourite Heads Up by three lengths, with that coming after running at the Cheltenham Festival back in March. On that occasion, the horse was able to secure ninth place in the Champion Bumper and it’s possible that the runner will have too much class. However, Tormund Giantsbane is one to consider.

Dan Skelton has been in form this season and there was a nice victory at Carlisle Racecourse in early November. The 5/2 favourite won over two miles and four furlongs, with this coming after a second-placed finish at Warwick. However, more is needed if the horse is to get the better of an accomplished favourite.

Kripticjim has run twice this season, with the horse being runner-up on a seasonal debut before a victory last time out. Joe Tizzard trains a horse who was second at Chepstow in a maiden hurdle and that happened before a hurdle success at Ascot where three other runners were fended off over two miles, three and a half furlongs.