Cheltenham Festival: County Handicap Hurdle Tips

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The County Hurdle has probably been the toughest race for me to cut through the form, other than maybe the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle. It was very tough for me to cross horses off, but I have done, as otherwise I’d be backing half of the field.

To kick things off, STATE MAN at the top of the market, is a clear favourite, and I can see why. I’m not going to lie, I was very tempted to back him, but his profile goes against what I believe in. I believe a horse with this experience (3 races under his belt) will more than likely struggle with the bumpy handicap race, which often favours horses who are rough and ready. We’ve seen a few of these horses who are unexposed entering the race, potentially looking ahead of the handicapper and Graded horses for the future, and they’ve been battered and finished nowhere. I’m not saying that this is going to happen with this lad, as his French form has started to work out very well, but at the current prices of around 9/2 I think you can find better alternatives.

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This race has been a very good memory for trainer, Dan Skelton. He has managed to win this race three times in recent years, winning it back-to-back in 2018 and 2019 with Mohaayed & Ch’tibello, as well as in 2016 with Superb Story. His main runner in this race is WEST CORK, who doesn’t have a chance in my eyes.

That might seem ridiculous with the history that Dan has in this race, but I don’t think he’s as good as what Dan thinks he is, and what many others think. I think he is much shorter priced in this race due to Dan’s record, and the fact he’s gone on record and said he’s his NAP of the week from his stable. He obviously runs well when fresh, but I don’t think he’s well handicapped off a mark of 141.

Dan has a few other runners with, FAIVOIR and STEPNEY CAUSEWAY. I think Faivoir could run better than West Cork, but the recent run does pose questions to his well-being and fitness.

We have an Imperial Cup winner in this race with SURPRISE PACKAGE quickly being turned around after winning last weekend at Sandown in the big prize handicap. He comes into this with a squeak, and it was always the plan to run him in that race and then come to Cheltenham, so if he has recovered well, he has an EW chance for the trainer who won this race last year.

Plenty of horses have chances in this, I wouldn’t stop anyone from backing 3 or maybe 4 in the race, it’s that competitive, but my two plays are: CASK MATE and ECLAIR DE BEAUFEU.

Firstly, Cask Mate has had a weird career to date. He looked like a quite smart novice a few years ago before getting injured. The job that Noel Meade has done with this lad is quite remarkable as he has returned in great style and looks like a horse who could win a nice pot. He has finished 2^nd in a Grade 1, runner-up to Ballyadam, and ran well back in October to finish 2^nd to Zanahiyr in a Grade 2 where he would’ve gotten closer if he didn’t make a few mistakes. He was then given a break, before running in the Liffey at Leopardstown, which a lot of horses in this race today have used as a springboard, and he ran well for a long way, travelling nicely, before looking very tired in the straight.

I think that was a nice prep run for this, and it’s interesting they’ve gone for this race when you consider his profile and how fragile he has been. A mark of 142 could be lenient, and the booking of Denis O’Regan suggests he’ll be ridden quietly, out the back and be delivered late, which can work in this race, due to the often-fast pace which is set.

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My second play in the race will come across like another stupid bet, and one which people will question, similar to a few I’ve put up throughout this week, but hear me out. This horse always shows up at the Cheltenham Festival, and his form goes up to another level every time they come here with him, and I expect no different today. He has ran twice in this race in the past, he fell at the last when looking likely to get a place and then he finished 4^th last year, 2.25L behind the winner.

He raced off 139 and 136 in those races, and he races today off 136, which is 133 with Jordan Gainford’s handy 3lbs. On his other attempt at Cheltenham, he finished runner-up in the Grand Annual off a mark of 149. Before he finished fourth in this race last year, he used the Liffey (as he did this year and back in 2019 when he fell in this race) as a prep run, running poorly, but it was clearly a prep run for this. On form he has to prove a lot, but at the prices and his form at the track, he is a definite EW player.

County Handicap Hurdle Tips

• Cask Mate  33/1 (Each Way) @ The Pools
• Eclair De Beaufeu  40/1 (Each Way) @ The Pools

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No

Silks

Runner

Jockey/Trainer

Odds

8

First Street
211513

J: Nico de Boinville
T: N J Henderson

1/6

---

15

State Man
2-F1

J: P Townend
T: W P Mullins

2/11

---

2

My Mate Mozzie
11-1124

J:
T: G P Cromwell

8/13

---

10

I Like To Move It
9-11152

J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: N A Twiston-Davies

4/5

---

28

Up For Parol
34163P

J: Reserve 2
T: Jamie Snowden

11/8

---

17

Suprise Package
P27291

J: K C Sexton
T: Peter Fahey

2/1

---

24

Broomfield Burg
112217

J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.
T: N J Henderson

9/4

---

11

Jesse Evans
743-149

J: S W Flanagan
T: N Meade

9/2

---

14

Irascible
5/1255-0

J: B J Cooper
T: H De Bromhead

11/2

---

13

West Cork
2112/15

J: Harry Skelton
T: D Skelton

11/2

---

4

Ballyadam
24-F250

J: Aidan Coleman
T: H De Bromhead

6/1

---

18

Top Bandit
4-13111

J: D N Russell
T: G Elliott

6/1

---

22

Tax For Max
26-22

J: S F O'Keeffe
T: W P Mullins

7/1

---

3

Tritonic
5-25140

J: Adrian Heskin
T: A King

7/1

---

12

Farout
112435

J: B Hayes
T: W P Mullins

8/1

---

7

Faivoir
412233

J: Bridget Andrews
T: D Skelton

9/1

---

27

Balko Saint
0-17150

J: Reserve 1
T: Mrs J Williams

14/1

---

16

Colonel Mustard
432-123

J: C J Orr
T: L Fowler

14/1

---

26

Tempo Chapter Two
2-21421

J: D E Mullins
T: W P Mullins

16/1

---

1

Call Me Lyreen
62-0001

J:
T: G Elliott

28/1

---

21

Eclair De Beaufeu
0-020P0

J:
T: G Elliott

40/1

---

6

Dysart Diamond
912173

J: J B Foley
T: W P Mullins

66/1

---

23

Bua Boy
39-2203

J: D G Hogan
T: D Hogan

NR

---

9

Cask Mate
1120-20

J: D F O'Regan
T: N Meade

NR

---

19

Cormier
0-24011

J: Sean Quinlan
T: B Ellison

NR

---

5

Felix Desjy
F-43557

J: J W Kennedy
T: G Elliott

NR

---

20

Gua Du Large
1504-P1

J: Rachael Blackmore
T: H De Bromhead

SP

---

25

Stepney Causeway
11-3253

J: Jack Andrews
T: D Skelton

NR

---