Boodles Juvenile Hurdle Betting & Odds 2023

The Boodles Juvenile Hurdle is a two-mile race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, and it is limited to four-year-olds. Previously, it was referred to as the Fred Winter, named after one of the National Hunt racing’s great figures. Winter earned 17 festival wins as a jockey and 28 as a trainer, including victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle.

This race is one of the toughest challenges for punters at the Cheltenham Festival. Over the past 12 years, only Band of Outlaws in 2019 has won as the favourite, with last year’s short-priced favourite Gaelic Warrior finishing runner-up. Recent shock winners include Jeff Kidder in 2021 at 80/1 and Une Artiste’s 40/1 triumph in 2012.

Irish-trained horses have an excellent recent record in the Boodles, winning six of the last runnings, and they are strongly represented again in 2023.

Latest Boodles Juvenile Hurdle Betting Odds *

*Best prices correct at time of writing

Tekao 4/1

Byker 5/1

Bad 7/1

Sir Allen 10/1

Risk Belle 10/1

Perseus Way 12/1

Jazzy Matty 14/1

Punta Del Este 14/1

Sundial 14/1

Metamorpheus 18/1

Samuel Spade 18/1

Afadil 20/1

Morning Soldier 25/1

Ludus 28/1

Mighty Mo Missouri 33/1

Fils De Roi 33/1

Mr Freedom 33/1

Romancero Le Dun 40/1

Shared 40/1

Action Motion 50/1

McTigue 50/1

Gordons Aura 50/1

Boodles Juvenile Hurdle Odds and Entries 2023

The Boodles Juvenile Hurdle was introduced to provide an opportunity at the Cheltenham Festival for juveniles that fell short of Triumph Hurdle standard. The handicapper has the unenviable task of assessing four-year-olds with very little form to go on and the punter has found it equally taxing.

Despite Willie Mullins’ domination at the Cheltenham Festival, he has yet to train the winner of the Boodles. However, that could change this year, as Tekao is the current favourite to win, having finished 3rd in the Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out.

The best hope of a UK winner could lie with the Gary Moore-trained Perseus Way. He’s had plenty of experience this season, including running 2nd at Cheltenham in the Triumph Hurdle Trial in November. He ticks many boxes and is bound to be a popular each-way bet, with several bookmakers paying extra places on the Boodles.

Charles Byrne is always a trainer to be feared, and he’s set to saddle Byker, who looks well-treated on a mark of 128. He’s shown solid form this season, including when 3rd in the Rated Hurdle at Naas, which has produced three of the last four winners of the Boodles.

Betting on the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle

The Fred Winter, also known as the Cheltenham Boodles Juvenile Hurdle, is one of the most difficult races to predict at the Cheltenham Festival. It was introduced in 2005 as a valuable handicap alternative for juveniles who fell short of Triumph Hurdle standard and was upgraded to Grade 3 status in 2009.

With little form to go on and a maximum field virtually guaranteed, this race has proved to be a minefield for punters. That did not deter supporters of Gaelic Warrior from backing the Willie Mullins-trained gelding down to 13-8 last year. He was caught on the line by 10-1 chance Brazil, leaving Band Of Outlaws (2019) as the only winning favourite in the last twelve renewals.

Une Artiste was a shock 40-1 winner in 2012 while Hawk High (2014), Flying Tiger (2017) and Veneer Of Charm (2018) all returned at 33-1. Jeff Kidder produced the biggest shock in the history of the race by winning at 80-1 in 2021.

The Rated Novice Hurdle at Naas in February has an extraordinary recent record in this race. Band Of Outlaws (2019), Aramax (2020) and Brazil (2022) all won that race before winning the Fred Winter. This year’s renewal was won by Sir Allen, trained by Andrew Slattery.

Boodles Juvenile Hurdle News

Being a handicap, trainers have become increasingly shrewd over the years at seeing their horses being allocated a low mark for the Boodles, meaning the race can be a minefield for punters. And this year’s race looks like another conundrum for punters with a mix of improving horses and horses that have already tasted success this season.

Brazil won last year’s race for trainer Padraig Roche, and he is set to be represented by Sundial this year, which has attracted market support over the last few days. Many punters will look to back a couple of horses each way in the Boodles at a bigger price, with the race having been a graveyard for favourites in recent years.

If doing so, make sure to shop around before placing a bet, as most bookmakers will be offering additional places on what’s a red-hot handicap.