Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Tips 2022
The Boodles Juvenile Hurdle has been moved to day 1, this is the race formerly known as the Fred Winter.
Since the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle was added to the Festival programme in 2005, trainers Gordon Elliott and Paul Nicholls have both saddled three winners apiece, so it is no surprise that Duffle Coat (16/1) and Hacker Des Places (16/1) feature prominently in the ante-post lists.
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Tips
Run over 2 miles and 87 yards on the Old Course at Cheltenham, the Grade Three Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, sponsored by Boodles, is often described as a ‘consolation’ race for the Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle.
As such, the race traditionally attracts a maximum field of lightly-raced, unexposed four-year-olds, many of whom are making their handicap debut, and presents a thorny puzzle for punters to solve.
Indeed, the last ten runnings have produced winners at 40/1, 33/1 (three times) and 25/1 (twice), suggesting we need not be afraid to look beyond the market leaders for a likely winner.
Another tough handicap that has had big priced winners recently (80/1 winner in Jeff Kidder last year) and only 1 favourite (Band of Outlaws 7/2 2019) in the last 10 years.
The talking horse over the last month or so for a Cheltenham handicap has been GAELIC WARRIOR and he is the one I’m going to side with here. Ever since he was entered (not declared) in a race at Cheltenham on trials day and the English handicapper gave him a mark of 129, this has been the plan.
He is yet to run for the Ricci/Mullins connections and that is mainly down to what is thought of as a lenient handicap mark. He had his 3 runs in the spring/summer last year as a 3yo and although he hasn’t won, some of the form has stacked up.
Britzka and The Tide Turns have fair chances too and they would be the 2 I fear the most. Both trained by Gordon Elliott, they have both been campaigned with 1 eye on getting qualified and well handicapped for this race. To be honest I was surprised The Tide Turns only got given a 2lb rise from the British handicapper which makes him run off a rating of 137 which is fair. Whether he can give Gaelic Warrior 8lb though is another matter.
I believe his 129 rating will look silly come this race. The Mullins team think this horse is a graded animal and I’m convinced we are going to see this here. This could be the 1 and only time Gaelic Warrior runs in a handicap.
Selection: GAELIC WARRIOR (11/4 with bet365)
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Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Trends
- Age – Race is for 4yo’s only.
- Price – 2 of the last 12 favourites/joint favourites have won, 4/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting.
- Weight – 9/12 winners weighed between 10st-6lb and 11st-5lb.
- Last Run – 5/12 winners won on their last run before the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle, 10/12 winners had their last run within the last 32 days.
- Previous Distance Form – 10/12 winners had at least 2 runs over 15-17 furlongs, 9/12 winners had at least 1 previous win over 15-17 furlongs.
- Previous Hurdle Form – 12/12 winners had at least 3 previous runs over hurdles, 10/12 winners had at least 1 win over hurdles.
- Rating – 9/12 winners were rated between 125 and 134.
- Season Form – 10/12 winners had at least 3 runs that season, 10/12 winners had at least 1 win that season
Boodles Juvenile Hurdle Past Winners
Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
2009 | Silk Affair | Tom O’Brien | Michael Quinlan |
2010 | Sanctuaire | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
2011 | What A Charm | Paul Townend | A L T Moore |
2012 | Une Artiste | Jeremiah McGrath | Nicky Henderson |
2013 | Flaxen Flare | Davy Condon | Gordon Elliott |
2014 | Hawk HIgh | Brian Hughes | Tim Easterby |
2015 | Qualando | Nick Scholfield | Paul Nicholls |
2016 | Diego Du Charmil | Sam Twiston-Davies | Paul Nicholls |
2017 | Flying Tiger | Richard Johnson | Nick Williams |
2018 | Veneer Of Charm | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
2019 | Band Of Outlaws | J J Slevin | Joseph O’Brien |
2020 | Aramax | Mark Walsh | Gordon Elliott |