County Handicap Hurdle

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The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt race, part of the annual Cheltenham Festival, taking place on the fourth and final day of the event. In 2020, the race turned a 100-years-old, with the inaugural County Handicap Hurdle dating back to 1920.

The race used to be the closer on the third and then-final day of the festival. Things changed in 2009 though, when a fourth day was added to the race card. The County Hurdle was moved to the second slot of the Festival’s fourth day, where it remains to this day.

The County Handicap Hurdle: Tips and Predictions

Note: the predictions below refer to the 2021 running of this race – preview will be updated closer to the beginning of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

The minefield that is the County Hurdle. Ganapathi and Third Time Lucki head the betting for Willie Mullins and Dan Skelton – trainers that have shared the last six renewals of this race between them. Betfair Hurdle second Fifty Ball is respected for Gary Moore, while the likes Petit Mouchoir and Mengli Khan have back-catalogues of form at this Festival that mean they cannot be discounted.

GOWEL ROAD continues to improve with each start for Nigel Twiston-Davies and the manner in which he gave weight and a beating to a useful rival at Newbury last time bodes well. He can thrive in first-time cheekpieces and pocket this prize for the nearby Naunton handler.

Enda McElhinney’s Selection: Gowel Road

2021 Winner: Belfast Banter (KC Sexton) 33/1

County Handicap Hurdle: Betting Odds

Betting odds for the 2022 event will be added closer to the event.

The County Handicap Hurdle: Recent Winners