William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race).
Cheltenham · Friday, 13 Mar · 18:00
· 2m 179y
· Class 1
· TURF
WEIGHEDIN
Status
14:00
Off time
23
Runners
Good to Soft (Soft in places)
Going
🎯 Tipster's 1·2·3
Sporting Life pick
Betting forecast
Market prediction · 24 runners · sorted by price
01 · 🏆 FAV
5
4/1
02 · 🥈 2nd
5.50
9/2
03 · 🥉 3rd
7.50
13/2
04 · —
11
10/1
05 · —
12
11/1
06 · —
13
12/1
07 · —
15
14/1
08 · —
15
14/1
09 · —
17
16/1
10 · —
17
16/1
11 · —
19
18/1
12 · —
26
25/1
13 · —
26
25/1
14 · —
34
33/1
15 · —
34
33/1
16 · —
34
33/1
17 · —
41
40/1
18 · —
41
40/1
19 · —
41
40/1
20 · —
41
40/1
21 · —
51
50/1
22 · —
51
50/1
23 · —
101
100/1
24 · —
101
100/1
Sporting Life forecast prices — published the night before the race. Top 3 highlighted as market favourites.
Runners
| Pos | No. | Dr | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Wgt | Best decimal odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14th | 1 | — |
Ndaawi (G)
[P]
Very solid record in top-end handicaps, runner-up in Galway Hurdle and this race in 2024/25, prior to a career-best performance when awarded latest renewal of former race in July. Encouraging spin on Flat last month will put him spot on fo…
|
Josh Williamson | G Elliott | 6 | 76.2 kg |
41
40/1
|
| 20th | 2 | — |
Absurde (G)
Won with race in 2024 (third last year) and proved better than ever when very smart winner of Sussex Champion Hurdle in April. Unable to better previous efforts in Melbourne Cup when eighth in 2025 renewal but looks sure to be in the shake…
|
Mr P W Mullins | W P Mullins | 8 | 75.7 kg |
17
16/1
|
| 13th | 3 | — |
Bowensonfire (G)
[H]
Thoroughly likeable type who is thriving on racing, finding marked improvement to win back-to-back handicaps at Leopardstown, latterly when knuckling down well to see off gambled-on I Started A Joke. Cannot be discounted in his bid for a h…
|
Jack Kennedy | G Elliott | 6 | 74.8 kg |
15
14/1
|
| 6th | 4 | — |
Karbau (G)
FAV
Lightly-raced 6-y-o whose only blip came in last year's Supreme, and he was seemingly better than ever when runner-up in Grade 2 Limestone Lad at Naas on seasonal reappearance. That was a near-smart effort and given he's the pick of Paul T…
|
Paul Townend | W P Mullins | 6 | 73.5 kg |
5
4/1
|
| 10th | 5 | — |
Hello Neighbour (G)
[H]
Progressive as a juvenile, sixth in the Triumph prior to finishing third in Grade 1 Champion 4-Y-O at Punchestown in May. Didn't come on for his reappearance when seventh in listed handicap last time, and while this has likely been the lon…
|
Keith Donoghue | G P Cromwell | 5 | 72.6 kg |
17
16/1
|
| 1st | 6 | — |
Wilful (G)
As good as ever this season, finishing ahead of Alexei/Mondo Man when successful in a race run to suit at Ascot in December and ran at least as well to finish runner-up in another valuable handicap at Windsor the following month. The form …
|
Jonjo O'Neill Jr. | J & A O'Neill | 7 | 70.8 kg |
15
14/1
|
| 16th | 7 | — |
Pinot Gris (G)
[BT]
Had been off for 11 weeks prior to finishing eighth in this race for Gavin Cromwell last year (effort flattened out) and while he should be cherry ripe this time (had a pipe-opener at Leopardstown last month), minor honours likely beckon a…
|
Darragh O'Keeffe | H De Bromhead | 6 | 70.3 kg |
41
40/1
|
| 15th | 8 | — |
Murcia (M)
[T]
Much-improved winner of Aintree Grade 1 as a juvenile and following a highly creditable reappearance behind Talk The Talk, wasn't seen to best effect when fourth in listed handicap at Leopardstown last month. Likely player for connections …
|
Danny Mullins | W P Mullins | 5 | 69.9 kg |
7.50
13/2
|
| 8th | 9 | — |
Tripoli Flyer (G)
[P]
Very useful bumper/novice hurdler who was back to his best when runner-up over longer trip on handicap bow at Ascot in January. Disappointing run on the Flat behind Constitution Hill since and while on a fair mark, he needs plenty to fall …
|
Fern O'Brien | F O'Brien | 7 | 69.9 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 11th | 10 | — |
Helvic Dream (G)
[T]
One-time very smart Flat performer who seemed hard done by when demoted in last year's Galway Hurdle, having beaten Ndaawi a head to finish first past the post. That was a career best and it's safe to assume this has been the target follow…
|
Donagh Meyler | N Meade | 9 | 69.4 kg |
34
33/1
|
| 17th | 11 | — |
Sixandahalf (M)
Powered through the race when collared late in Dawn Run over C&D last season but hasn't hit those heights since, finding less than looked likely over 2½m at Leopardstown in December. Makes first start in a big-field handicap now, though, a…
|
Conor Stone-Walsh | G P Cromwell | 6 | 68.5 kg |
11
10/1
|
| — | 12 | — |
Jubilee Alpha (M)
Capped fine 2024/25 season with success in mares' listed novice over this course, and while second-best in three of 4 starts this campaign (again seemingly outstayed over 2½m at Warwick last time), a big-field handicap should suit her stro…
|
H Cobden | P F Nicholls | 7 | 68.5 kg |
26
25/1
|
| 18th | 13 | — |
Williethebuilder (G)
Perhaps surprisingly, has looked an improved model since leaving Dan Skelton, winning back-to-back 2m handicaps at Kempton and running at least as well in defeat when fourth in 'Scottish County' in late-January. Pitched into much deeper wa…
|
Jack Tudor | Christian Williams | 7 | 68 kg |
41
40/1
|
| 2nd | 14 | — |
Sticktotheplan (G)
[T1]
Off since finishing well held on handicap bow at Ascot in December and while subsequent breathing operation (also wears tongue strap) suggests all wasn't right that day, his handicap mark probably still overstates the value of his Persian …
|
S Bowen | O Murphy | 6 | 68 kg |
26
25/1
|
| 4th | 15 | — |
Cracking Rhapsody (G)
Gave his running when seventh in the 2025 County, though doesn't arrive on the back of a Morebattle success this time around, only sixth when bidding for a hat-trick in the race at Kelso last time. Hard to envisage him playing a leading ro…
|
Craig Nichol | Ewan Whillans | 7 | 67.1 kg |
51
50/1
|
| 3rd | 16 | — |
Joyeuse (M)
Impressive winner of William Hill Hurdle at Newbury last year and while disappointing over fences this season, confirmed she's very much working her way back to form in Grade 2 at Ascot last time. Could be in the mix if building on that pe…
|
N de Boinville | N J Henderson | 7 | 66.7 kg |
13
12/1
|
| 7th | 17 | — |
Gibbs Island (G)
[H]
Last season's Victor Ludorum winner hasn't kicked on from a successful reappearance at Chepstow in October and has plenty to prove in top-end handicap.
|
Stan Sheppard | T Lacey | 5 | 66.2 kg |
51
50/1
|
| — | 18 | — |
Hamlet's Night (G)
Ran a blinder behind Rubaud in Grade 2 Elite at Wincanton and having again displayed his speed when successful on all-weather, there's plenty of mitigation for his Morebattle run in soft conditions. Handicap mark looks on the stiff side, t…
|
James Bowen | James Owen | 5 | 66.2 kg |
34
33/1
|
| — | 19 | — |
Balko D'ange (G)
Useful hurdler who has chased home thriving Bowensfire on previous two completed starts, though he was beaten a lot further by that rival at Leopardstown last month and it's hard to see him featuring prominently in an even deeper handicap.
|
Brian Hayes | P Fenton | 6 | 66.2 kg |
101
100/1
|
| 21th | 20 | — |
Bowmore (G)
Back to his useful-best returned to front running tactics this season, beating a subsequent winner at Newbury before creditable third (behind Williethebuilder) at Doncaster in December. Subsequent absence isn't a concern given his record w…
|
Daire James McConville | C E Longsdon | 8 | 66.2 kg |
101
100/1
|
| 12th | 21 | — |
Tellherthename (G)
Promising novice for Ben Pauling in 2023/24 but has clearly had his problems since, found to have bled when turned over on chase debut/final start for O'Neill stable in October. New yard more than capable of reviving one, however, and he's…
|
Kielan Woods | D Skelton | 7 | 65.8 kg |
19
18/1
|
| 5th | 22 | — |
Sinnatra (G)
Impressive bumper winner who finished runner-up in a strong maiden on hurdle/stable debut and while his two wins since have been simple tasks, he's also shaped well behind promising Act of Innocence. No surprise to see this lightly-raced, …
|
Harry Skelton | D Skelton | 6 | 65.8 kg |
5.50
9/2
|
| 19th | 23 | — |
Secret Squirrel (G)
Rock-solid form in top-end handicaps last season, in the frame when falling either side of a hands-and-heels victory over now-improved Kabral Du Mathan at Windsor in December 2024. Shaped as if retaining all ability on reappearance in King…
|
J J Burke | H Morrison | 7 | 65.8 kg |
12
11/1
|
| 9th | 24 | — |
Ooh Betty (M)
[T]
Likeable type has been a credit to connections, showing a very willing attitude when landing valuable Grade 2 mares' hurdle at Ascot in January, though she's typically found life tougher in top-quality handicaps.
|
Ben Jones | Ben Clarke | 8 | 65.3 kg |
41
40/1
|
Betting forecast: Karbau (4/1), Sinnatra (9/2), Murcia (13/2), Sixandahalf (10/1), Secret Squirrel (11/1), Joyeuse (12/1), Wilful (14/1), Bowensonfire (14/1), Hello Neighbour (16/1), Absurde (16/1), Tellherthename (18/1), Sticktotheplan (25/1), Jubilee Alpha (25/1), Tripoli Flyer (33/1), Helvic Dream (33/1), Hamlet's Night (33/1), Ooh Betty (40/1), Ndaawi (40/1), Pinot Gris (40/1), Williethebuilder (40/1), Cracking Rhapsody (50/1), Gibbs Island (50/1), Bowmore (100/1), Balko D'ange (100/1)
Prize money
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| P1 | 61897.0 GBP |
| P2 | 23320.0 GBP |
| P3 | 11671.0 GBP |
| P4 | 5830.0 GBP |
| P5 | 2926.0 GBP |
| P6 | 1463.0 GBP |
| P7 | 726.0 GBP |
| P8 | 374.0 GBP |