County Handicap Hurdle

The County Handicap Hurdle is the second race on the fourth day of the Cheltenham Festival. It is a Grade 3 handicap hurdle, open to horses aged five years and older. Run over a distance of approximately 2 miles and 1 furlong, there are a total of eight hurdles to be jumped.

The race is fully known as the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle, in honour of the Irish trainer who retired back in 1994. O’Brien tasted success twenty-three times at the Cheltenham Festival and the County Hurdle was named after him from 1995. O’Brien trained several brilliant horses, including three-time Gold Cup winner Cottage Rake, and three-time Champion Hurdle winner Hatton’s Grace. He also trained the winner of the Grand National three times in succession. He also boasts a sensational record for flat horses when he moved to that sphere. A huge list of honours includes three victories in the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe.

The County hurdle used to be the last race of the festival but was rearranged prior to the 2009 event. Trainer Paul Nicholls holds a great record in the event over recent years, taking victory in 2004, 2006 and 2009. Jockey Ruby Walsh has ridden all three winners for Nicholls, and also won the race for Willie Mullins last year, taking his tally in the race to four from ten. Trainers Philip Hobbs and Jessica Harrington have also won the race in recent years, suggesting the high profile trainers must be considered and respected if having a runner.

County Hurdle – Spotting The 2012 Winner

Willie Mullins has taken the race in the past two years with Thousand Stars winning in 2010 before Final Approach took glory last year. Thousand Years has subsequently gone on to be a high class Grade 1 winning horse, while Final Approach looks like picking up plenty of good races if not quite at the top level. Being a handicap, however, we can’t just keep the focus on the quality performers. Unexposed types of a lenient mark will be a threat. Last year’s result showed just with Final Approach just getting the better of Get Me Out Of Here with a much lighter weight. Unlike many of the races, previous Cheltenham form doesn’t stand out as being essential for any challengers hoping to win.

Once agan we have to keep an eye on the market and wait until it becomes more clear who will be running. The market is currently headed by the Paul Nicholls duo Prospect Wells and Rock On Ruby, who I would expect both of them to tackle higher grade races. A horse who does look like running for Nicholls is Empire Levant, with Nicholls confirming the race to be his target. Magnifique Etoile looks another possible contender, and he will most certainly prefer the conditions at Cheltenham. He has a nice progressive profile, winning three times on the bounce before a third place finish in the Grade 1 Tolworth, where conditions won’t have been ideal. There is likely to be a whole host of useful and progressive horses taking their chance, and we can assess the contenders once we know if they will be taking part in the County Hurdle.

Final Approach Sneaks Up On the Line

Last year’s Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle was an absolute thriller with a whole host of horses battling it out in the stretch home. There was little over five lengths separating the leading ten and in the end it came down to a battle between Tony McCoy and Ruby Walsh, arguably the two best jump jockeys around. McCoy was on board Get Me Out Of Here, who progressed through the field two out and hit the lead under a typically strong McCoy ride. It was, however, a mesmeric ride from Ruby Walsh who took Final Approach from way back to come through with a late rattle and steal victory by the shortest of margins.

The race has worked out nicely this season, with several winners coming from the field. Blackstairmountain, who was back in seventh, has contested some top class races since and won the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase last time out at Leopardstown. He beat Notus De La Tour, who has won twice this season, and was fourteenth behind Final Approach at Cheltenham. Hopefully this year’s County Hurdle will produce some other smart horses for the future.