Tag: National Hunt

Cheltenham Festival 2020

Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post: Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

2m½f Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – Wednesday 11th March 2020

The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (better known as the Fred Winter) is run over two-miles on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival, and is the last Hurdles race of the week ran on the Old Course. The race is for four-year-old Horses only, and serves the purpose of taking lower rated Horses out of the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle. Despite some seemingly less talented Juveniles running in the race, it is usually extremely competitive due to the nature of improving young Horses. The race has been won by some nice types in the past, with the likes of Sanctuaire, Diego Du Charmil and more recently Band Of Outlaws victorious. French recruits have an extremely good record in the race, but the last two winners have come off the Flat – including Joseph O’Brien’s 8/1 winner for this blog last year.

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Cheltenham Festival 2020

Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post: Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle

3m Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – Thursday 12th March 2020

The Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle is run over three-miles on Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival, culminating a 16 race long Qualifying series. Qualifiers for the Pertemps Final begin at Cheltenham way back in October of the current season, with races taking place across the UK from Exeter to Musselburgh, as well as Leopardstown and Punchestown in Ireland. In order to Qualify for the race a Horse must finish in the first six places of a Qualifier, which means that Horses with Handicap marks high enough to get into the race would usually rather finish sixth than first! This caveat means the Pertemps Final has a completely different dynamic to that of an ordinary Cheltenham Festival race, as it’s not all about finding a Horse with the best recent form. One factor that does remain constant in regard to finding a Festival Handicap winner however is that you need a Horse who is ahead of their mark, be that through careful plotting by connections, or untapped potential.
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Cheltenham Festival 2020

Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post: Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle

2m5f Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) – Tuesday 11th March 2020

The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle is the first Handicap on Day 2 of the Cheltenham Festival, run over two-and-a-half miles. The race will inevitably have a bit of cross-over with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle as they are run over the same distance, but the Coral Cup is aimed at Horses higher up in the Handicap. Last year William Henry saw off the top weight and much missed Wicklow Brave in a thrilling finish. Recently the Coral Cup has been contested by subsequent Grade 1 performers Whisper, Supasundae and Topofthegame.
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National Hunt Racing

Leopardstown – Dublin Racing Festival Day 1

The Dublin Racing Festival has been a fantastic initiative so far, with two fantastic days of National Hunt Racing at Leopardstown, featuring 8 Grade 1 events. The first of those two days is all about speed, with six races ran over two-miles including the Grade 1 Dublin Chase and Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle. Below are my selections for an extremely competitive card. Best of luck!

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National Hunt Racing

Cheltenham – Trials Day 2020

Cheltenham Trials Day is always one of my favourite National Hunt meetings to attend, with anticipation building for the main event starting in just over a months time. Last season we were treated to three winners going on to land Festival success; Siruh Du Lac (Stable Plate Handicap Chase), Frodon (Ryanair Chase) and Paisley Park (Stayers Hurdle). This season the card looks as competitive as ever, with Paisley Park bidding to retain his Cleeve Hurdle crown, and Bristol De Mai taking dead aim on the Cotswold Chase. I’ll be attending the Prestbury Park meeting as usual, and will provide live updates from the track on Twitter @JakePriceRacing. Be sure to give me a follow to keep up to date with daily selections, Horses to Follow, and 2020 Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Previews.

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