The Betfair Hurdle may offer clues for the Cheltenham Festival opener.
Although no horse has completed the Betfair Hurdle and Supreme double in the last 15 years, that’s not to say that it serves as no such trial for Cheltenham’s opener.
Indeed, Get Me Out Of Here (2010), My Tent Or Yours (2013) and Kalashnikov (2018) all followed up their wins at Newbury with close second place finishes in Cheltenham’s opener.
In recent years, this competitive 2 mile handicap hurdle has also seen many horses run well in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, with last year’s 2nd Filey Bay subsequently finishing 3rd at the Cheltenham Festival behind winner Faivoir, a horse who had also contested the Betfair Hurdle a month earlier.
Both First Street and Edwardstone are horses who have filled the frame in both races recently too. Therefore, although the race is unlikely to unearth Champion Hurdle horses, it still offers important Festival clues for punters.
Betfair Hurdle Entries
It is unsurprising that a JP McManus horse is the favourite for another Saturday handicap with Nicky Henderson’s Iberico Lord leading the betting at a best priced 7/1. The son of Cokoriko is also prominent in the betting for both the Coral Cup (16/1 on William Hill) and as the 12/1 ante post favourite for the County Hurdle.
Next in the betting is Neil King’s Lookaway at a best priced 9/1. He was tipped on Week 4 of my Road to Cheltenham series for next month’s Ballymore Novice Hurdle at a price of 33/1, a price that is still available now.
Harry Fry’s Altobelli is next in the betting at 10/1 and will be hoping to advertise his claims for next month’s County Hurdle as well, a race for which he is a best priced 16/1.
Finally, Tellherthename is entered for the in-form Ben Pauling team (27% strike rate). Owned by the Megsons, who had a weekend double at Sandown with Harpers Brook and Sixmilebridge, he holds a Supreme entry next month and can be backed for the race at a best priced 33/1 on BetMGM UK.
Betfair Hurdle Date & Start Time
This year’s Betfair Hurdle is due to be run on Saturday 10th February at Newbury Racecourse at 3.15pm. It is scheduled to be broadcast live on ITV.
Betfair Hurdle Newbury 2024 Tips
After Noble Yeats was successful in the Cleeve and Kargese won the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown, I’m Lookaway can bring up a hat trick of Monday winners for me.
Indeed, having tipped Neil King’s horse for next month’s Ballymore, it is rather unsurprising that he is this week’s selection (9/1 on bet365). Although a winner of the 2022 Aintree Bumper, it is his form this season that has most impressed me.
He was first seen at Cheltenham’s showcase meeting where he ran away with the rearranged Sharp Novices Hurdle where he beat subsequent Grade 2 winner Kamsinas. He returned to Prestbury Park for the November meeting’s Greatwood Hurdle where he finished an admirable 2nd behind the reopposing Iberico Lord.
Giving him 6lb that day, that concession will be halved come Saturday, and it must be noted that the rain preceding November’s race was not suited, so much so that it was rumoured he may be withdrawn.
The form has been well advertised too with three of the next four horses in behind him (Luccia, Sonigino, Go Dante), all winning competitive handicap hurdles on their next start with the remaining horse, Neamon Lion only going down by a length in Kempton’s Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.
The Greatwood has seen horses go close in the race too, with the late I Like To Move It successful in it before finishing a short head 2nd in Newbury’s showdown.
On top of that, Lookaway finished 2nd in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at the track to bring some course form to the table. With a finishing speed of 92.29%, the gruelling test of stamina in heavy ground would not have suited, and I expect Saturday’s demands to be far more suitable.
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