Cheltenham Festival 202412 – 15 March 2024

Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle Betting Tips and Race Preview – Cheltenham 2023

Paul Townend and Arctic Fire during last year's County Handicap Hurdle race

The County Hurdle is an extremely tough race to win and it is also an extremely tough one for punters to solve. Many big yards will target a horse or maybe more towards this race, looking for one of their well handicapped hurdlers and aiming them for it. The race always attracts the maximum field, making it full of potentially well handicapped horses, who all will fancy their chances of winning. Let's see our County Hurdle tips and much more.

If you look back at the previous winners of this race you will notice that as well as horses who are well handicapped winning it, the Irish have had a great recent record in it. They have won seven out of the last ten running’s of the race and they are certainly worth watching when the entries for the 2023 edition come out. Four of those seven victories have been trained by Willie Mullins and he is certainly a trainer to keep on the right side of in your County Hurdle betting.

Currently, there is no information available regarding the 2023 Cheltenham County Handicap runners.

2023 County Handicap Hurdle Preview

Consul De Thaix during last year's County Hurdle

Last year we saw a great performance from Arctic Fire to take the County Hurdle Cheltenham, winning the race off top weight at 20/1. He is a class horse, but had to carry nearly 12 stone on his back, but was able to cross the line first despite that. He further enhanced the record of Willie Mullins in the race, and the Irish handler is certainly someone you need to keep an eye on while researching the County Hurdle 2023.

Going back further, three other recent winners, Superb Story, Lac Fontana and Ted Veale have all entered the race looking well handicapped and being targeted at the race by their trainers. Those three horses all won their respective events, and you cannot ignore a well handicapped horse in this race, if one has been targeted towards the race it is often worth following them.

When you are looking at the race, make sure you take note of the Irish runners, it is often the best place to start finding possible County Hurdle winners. They have won the race more times than British trainers recently, and they are known for having more well handicapped horses that they specifically aim at races like this one. Finding the winner in the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle is tough, but hopefully you can narrow the field using our stats.

Currently, there is no information available regarding the 2023 Cheltenham County Handicap runners.

County Handicap Hurdle Betting Odds

Cheltenham Festival

Odds will appear here…

Cheltenham County Handicap Hurdle Winners

There are two things to look out for when you are looking at your selections for the County Hurdle. The first is to find a well handicapped horse that has been campaigned with this race in mind and the second is to check out the Irish runners first. If you do that you should be able to narrow the field down for your Cheltenham County Hurdle betting list.

Last 10 winners

Year Horse Jockey Trainer
2018 Mohaayed Bridget Andrews D Skelton
2017 Arctic Fire P.Townend W.Mullins
2016 Superb Story H.Skelton D.Skelton
2015 Wicklow Brave P.Townend W.Mullins
2014 Lac Fontana D.Jacob P.Nicholls
2013 Ted Veale B.Cooper A.Martin
2012 Alderwood A.P.McCoy T.Mullins
2011 Final Approach R.Walsh W.Mullins
2010 Thousand Stars K.Walsh W.Mullins
2009 American Trilogy R.Walsh P.Nicholls

Leading Trainers

Wins Trainer Years
4 W.Mullins 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017
2 P.Nicholls 2009, 2014
2 D.Skelton 2016, 2018
1 A.Martin 2013
1 T.Mullins 2012

Leading Jockeys

Wins Jockey Years
2 P.Townend 2015, 2017
2 R.Walsh 2009, 2011
1 Bridget Andrews 2018
1 H.Skelton 2016
1 D.Jacob 2014
1 B.Cooper 2013
1 A.P.McCoy 2012
1 K.Walsh 2010

Cheltenham 2023 County Handicap Hurdle Race Conditions

Three horses jumping the fences at the Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle

It takes a very good horse to win the County Hurdle, they need to be very well handicapped, full of quality and exceptionally tough. With a big field running over two miles, jumping is very important and it is vital your horse can jump when travelling at speed, that will give them an advantage over the field.

The Vincent O Brien County Handicap Hurdle race is ran over the distance of two miles and one furlong and it is open for horses who are aged five or older. That gives chance for the young up and coming horses to compete in the race, as well as many old favourites.

Location Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham England
Race Type Handicap hurdle
Distance Two miles and one furlong (2M1F)
Age Five year and older
Surface Turf