Turners Novices’ Hurdle Tips: Will Mullins’ magic return?

The New Lion was a very impressive winner in the Turners Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last year. He was saddled by Dan Skelton, whose top prospect this time around is an outside shot at 14/1.

Willie Mullins has trained three of the previous four victors so no doubt his runners will be well-backed for this one. Read on for my Turners Novices' Hurdle Tips.

Our in-house Horse Racing tipster Owen McMahon has gone through the card for Wednesday's Races and made a selection for every race. Read who he's backing and why with our Cheltenham Day 2 Tips. Add to that former Jockey Katie Walsh has passed on her Cheltenham Wednesday Tips to us here at Betfred.

Turners Novices' Hurdle Odds

No Drama This End @ 9/2

Paul Nicholls has described NO DRAMA THIS END as his best shot of the week at the Festival. This is a bold statement considering Nicholls is yet to saddle a champion in this race, but a horse like this would make you confident.

After seven years of Irish dominance in the Turners, Skelton's The New Lion bucked the trend a year ago and No Drama This End will look to emulate the 2025 winner. The New Lion claimed the Grade 1 Challow Novices' hurdle at Newbury on his last appearance before his Festival triumph 12 months ago.

No Drama This End won the very same race on his most recent outing in December. Could history be set to repeat itself?

The six-year-old gelding has won on his past three starts, including a C&D triumph here in November. He has the perfect blend of speed and stamina to make him a huge threat to his rivals in this field.

Harry Cobden has been entrusted with all of No Drama This End's rides since the latter joined Nicholls' yard in 2024. I think this consistency in the saddle can go a long way on Wednesday for the bookies' favourite.

King Rasko Grey @ 5/1

Next up in the betting is KING RASKO GREY at 5/1. Irish trainers have dominated this race over the past decade and Closutton's Mullins has racked up four victories in that time.

He was on a hot streak of three before The New Lion came along, so he will be hoping to get back on track in 2026. Mullins has six entries in this race but King Rasko Grey looks to be his best chance of success as Paul Townend has been tasked with this ride.

The three-time Festival top jockey was on board for each of Mullins' last three winners in the Turners and this has to be considered ahead of selections for Wednesday.

King Rasko Grey is yet to contest a trip of 2m5f, so this will be a huge test of his endurance. Mullins' record in this race in recent years, as well as the fact that Townend is on board, shows that the yard are confident he can handle the step up at Prestbury Park.

The longest distance he has covered so far is 2m3f at Punchestown in May, where he finished second of 22. He was third just behind Gordon Elliott's Ballyfad (third in the betting) on his last appearance at Leopardstown in February, which came after his debut hurdle success at Limerick in December.

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