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Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
Race Conditions
The Conditionals’ Hurdle Handicap (4:40pm) is the latest addition to the Cheltenham Festival and is run over 2 miles and about 4½ furlongs. The total prize fund is £50,000.
Cheltenham’s Director of Racing, Simon Claisse, said: "We have long held the view that a race for the potential champion jockeys of the future would be a great addition to the Festival and a handicap for Conditional Jockeys was one of the races that was under close consideration when we first extended the meeting to four days.
"This will also be an opportunity for some of the large number of horses which are eliminated from the Coral Cup each year to have a run at the Festival."
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Recent Winners
| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Andytown | 6 | N J Henderson | 25/1 |
Key Trends
At the last 15 Festivals over 50% (26-50) of Handicap Hurdle winners also won last time out, from just less than 20% overall representation.2010 Conditionals' Hurdle Preview
The second running of this race, held in honour of one of the greatest trainers of them all, and Martin’s son David will be desperate to claim the prize this time around having missed out last year.
Unsurprisingly, he has a host of entries and Ashkazar could prove the pick of them. He has lost his way since winning the Imperial Cup in 2008 and narrowly failing to land the Fred Winter at the Festival a few days later. As a result, his handicap mark has come crashing down and a return to his best would make him very hard to beat.
At this stage, with over a hundred horse still entered, it is probably worth ignoring entries fifty onwards as they are unlikely to get a run, which effectively rules out some leading fancies such as Qaspal, Red Harbour and Dorset Square.
There will be no such problem for Peveril, Takeroc, Silverburn and Pause For Clause, who are all safely in the top twenty five entries.
Nicky Henderson won this last year and Peveril has won his last three starts, improving nicely with each success. He stays well, battles hard and likes all types of ground, so should have a major chance here.
Takeroc was top class over fences a few seasons back, but then lost his way and had injury problems. He has been on the comeback trail this season and although still not back to his very best he does at least remain dangerously well handicapped.
Silverburn, a full brother to Denman, also threatened to go to the top over fences, but ultimately proved disappointing and has now switched yards from Paul Nicholls to Evan Williams. Judging by a more encouraging effort at Exeter last time, the move may have done the trick. He loves good ground.
Pause For Clause was third in last season’s Coral Cup. He’s had an aborted career over fences since, but proved his wellbeing by running well for a long way last time out in the Rendlesham before his stamina gave way. The drop back in trip will suit, and this looks easier, but he does have a big weight.
Saticon is another to consider, but he holds alternative engagements at the Festival. This is his time of year and he seems to have improved again this season for stepping up to this trip.
Assuming Racing Demon and Fredo also run elsewhere at the Festival, the JP McManus pair of City Theatre and Born Again are others to consider as they are both lightly raced and capable of showing further improvement again on this better ground.
CONCLUSION: With so many doubts about the likely makeup of the final line up, this is a minefield for ante post punters. PEVERIL is the selection as this at least seems to be his Festival target. Silverburn could be an interesting outsider if his new trainer has been able to sweeten him up sufficiently.
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2009 Conditionals' Hurdle Review
The first running of the race for conditional jockeys named in honour of Martin Pipe fell to another legendary trainer, Nicky Henderson, as ANDYTOWN bounded clear up the hill for a comfortable success.
He had previously been an easy winner of a similar contest at the November Open meeting, and so clearly relishes this track. A hike in the weights looks sure to follow, so he may struggle to win as easily again in the near future.
The winner was chased home by a 100-1 shot Midnight Chase. He clearly enjoys a decent surface and looks scopey enough to make an impression over fences in time.
Big Earned Fran was favourite for the contest following a fine win in the EBF Final at Sandown on Saturday. His exertions in that race must have taken some sort of toll and so this was another fine effort. He got tired in the closing stages having looked the likely winner turning for home. He finished best of the seven runners David Pipe threw at the contest in an effort to win his father’s race.
Font won the Jewson Final here in the autumn, but has struggled since. Freshened up for this contest, he stayed the trip well on a course that clearly suits him. He also shows all his best form on decent ground.
Previous course form seemed to be the order of the day here as Presenting Copper, who won at the January meeting, was fifth and Oscatello, winner of the 2007 Coral Cup, was eighth.
Sandwiched in between was Leamington Lad, who ran well for a long way considering he had been turned out 72 hours earlier in the Supreme Novices’.
Martin Pipe
It was announced in January 2009 that this race would be named in honour of Martin Pipe, the most successful National Hunt trainer of all time. Pipe trained 34 winners at the Festival, including the Champion Hurdle twice, with Granville Again (1993) and Make A Stand (1997), though victory in the Gold Cup eluded him (Rushing Wild came second in 1993).
Cheltenham's Managing Director, Edward Gillespie, said: "Martin Pipe is, quite simply, a legend. From humble beginnings he re-wrote both the record books and the racehorse training manual.
"His thirst for knowledge and appetite for innovation produced spectacular results over his 32-year training career. His exploits at Cheltenham, particularly at The Festival and November's Open Meeting were stunning and I'm delighted that his name will sit alongside other great trainers at The Festival."
Pipe added: "This is a huge honour. Cheltenham has always been my favourite course and most of the best moments of my career were there. To be celebrated at The Festival alongside the likes of Vincent O'Brien, Fulke Walwyn, Fred Winter and David Nicholson is an amazing accolade, not only for me, but for all of my family and the magnificent team of people who made Pond House tick for 32 years."