The County Hurdle is a Grade 3 handicap hurdle race over the two miles and half a furlong where only the best-rated horses qualify for their place in the line-up.
It was traditionally the Festival finale until 2009, when it moved to its new slot as the second race on Cheltenham Gold Cup day.
Run on the New Course, runners face eight hurdles, and the pace is usually fast and furious throughout - read on for County Hurdle betting odds, tips, and free bets.
| Race Details | |
|---|---|
| When: | Friday, March 15th - 2:10pm |
| Winner’s Prize: | £56,270 |
| Distance: | Two-miles & half-a-furlong |
| Race Type: | Grade 3 Hurdle |
| Age: | 5-Years+ |
| Course: | New Course |
| Weights: | Handicap |
| Where to Watch? | ITV Racing, Racing TV, Bookmaker Streams |
County Hurdle Betting Offers & Free Bets
County Hurdle Tips
A tricky, tight handicap to try and solve ran at a furious pace, and because of that, the race usually contains a few hard luck stories.
Check out Alan Kelly’s 66/1 tip for the County Hurdle below!
Alan Kelly - Mr Freedom (Each-Way)
Plenty of horses appear to have been laid out for this 23-runner Premier Handicap, in particular Gordon Elliott’s King Of Kingsfield, L’Eau Du Sud from the Dan Skelton stable and Willie Mullins’ Absurde, who will attempt to give the Closutton handler a record seventh win in the race. With most bookmakers offering 6 or even 7 places on this 2m 1f handicap, the 66/1 available about Sheena West’s ultra-consistent Mr Freedom makes plenty of each-way appeal.
Marc Goldstein’s mount simply doesn’t know how to run a bad race, doing us a favour when winning under top weight at Plumpton recently. An unlucky fifth in last year’s Boodles after encountering all kinds of trouble in running, the Sixties Icon gelding gets in off bottom weight with a 5lb penalty and is fancied to outrun his huge odds. Six places and 66/1 is available with several bookmakers.
County Hurdle Betting Odds
A race that often attracts a gamble from somewhere, and we saw plenty in 2022, including on the winner State Man., while last year saw a shock 33/1 winner for trainer Dan Skelton.
And with Skelton amongst the winners this week, could we see gambles develop on his two runners - last year’s winner Favoir and L’Eau Du Sud?
What Happened Last Year?
Dan Skelton saddled the favourite for the 2023 County Hurdle, Pembroke, but stablemate Faivoir pulled off a 33/1 shock win under jockey Bridget Andrews.
In a thrilling finish, Faivoir took the lead over the final fence and held on from the Gordon Elliott-trained Pied Piper.
County Hurdle Key Stats
- Nine of the previous 12 winners were priced 10/1 or bigger
- 11 of the last 12 winners were rated 134 or higher
- 11 of the previous 12 winners had at least two runs that season
Previous Winners of the County Hurdle
We’ve listed the last five winners of the County Hurdle in the table below.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Faivoir |
| 2022 | State Man |
| 2021 | Belfast Banter |
| 2020 | Saint Roi |
| 2019 | Ch’tibello |
FAQs
When is the County Hurdle?
The County Hurdle is on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, which in 2024, will be on Friday, March 15th, with a start time of 2:10pm.
Who won the County Hurdle in 2023?
The 2023 County Hurdle race was won by the Dan Skelton trained Faivoir at odds of 50/1.
Who is the leading jockey in the County Hurdle?
Ruby Walsh rode the winner of the County Hurdle on four occasions - Sporazene in 2004, Desert Quest in 2006, American Trilogy in 2009, and Final Approach in 2011.
More Cheltenham Tips
Check out our tips for all the other Cheltenham Day 4 races:
