County Hurdle Tips 2021 – Preview, Odds and Trends for the Cheltenham Festival Day 4, 2.10pm

The Randox Health County Handicap Hurdle is a race run just over two miles with eight hurdles and can be a stepping stone on to the Champion Hurdle.

Saint Roi was sublime in last year’s renewal, jockey Barry Geraghty held his mount mid-division for most of the race but the horse quickened superbly to take the victory.

In the last six years, this race has only been won by two different trainers, both Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins have three victories each in this time.

Skelton won the race in back-to-back years with Mohaayed in 2018 and Ch’tibello in 2019.

 

County Hurdle Odds

Horse	Odds	Bookies
Sadlier	11/1	bet365
Damalisque	12/1	bet365
Drop the Anchor	14/1	bet365
You Raised Me Up	16/1	bet365
Dreal Deal	16/1	William Hill
Blue Lord	16/1	William Hill
Cadzand	16/1	bet365
Pipesmoker	16/1	William Hill
Buzz	20/1	bet365

 

County Hurdle Preview

• Drop the Anchor
• Cadzand
• Irascible
• Master McShee
• Buzz
• Miranda

 

Drop The Anchor

The Irish challenge could be provided by trainer Patrick Fahy and Drop The Anchor, a seven-year-old owned by J P McManus.

Drop The Anchor won the Ladbrokes Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend, narrowly beating Champagne Gold in a large and competitive field.

The horse earned an RPR of 144 for this performance and this was his second win in four races this season, adding to his victory in a handicap hurdle at Listowel in September.

Drop The Anchor may have had a better chance in Fairyhouse too but a faller caused a distraction, but Fahy will be pleased with his horse’s progress and his victory at Leopardstown, amongst a host of superstar performances, must not be overlooked.

 

Cadzand

Skelton could have a fourth win in seven years if Cadzand is to go in the County Hurdle. Cadzand won at Kempton over the Christmas period in the Watch Racing Free Online At Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle.

The horse beat Christopher Wood who has since earned an RPR of 152 after an impressive win at Musselburgh.

This six-year-old, who has won on both soft and good-to-soft ground, has two wins, two seconds and one third in all five of his appearances under rules.

Skelton has entered Cadzand in the Supreme Novice’s Hurdle too, but the horse would have a great chance if the top trainer opted for the County Hurdle as well.

 

Irascible

Irascible is a very lightly-run six-year-old, the horse has only made three course appearances but nonetheless has shown encouragement.

Trained by Henry De Bromhead, Irascible has been beaten nine lengths by Appreciate It in consecutive races.

However, over the festive period at Leopardstown in the first of these defeats, Irascible finished six lengths in front of Ballyadam, the top up-and-coming hurdler owned by Cheveley Park.

The horse won at Clonmel on its first start under rules in October, beating Decimation who has since won at Down Royal by 10 lengths. Irascible could still have much to offer and we could see another winner at Cheltenham for his Gigginstown owners.

 

Master McShee

Master McShee has provided one of the stories of the season with trainer Paddy Corkery and jockey Ian Power.

Although the horse couldn’t quite perform in Grade One company at the Dublin Racing Festival, his two wins before that this season have shown great encouragement.

He won the Paddy Power “Maybe I Like The Misery” Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas by five lengths, and blew away a last-time-out winner in Winner Takes Ital.

This performance earned a rating of 146 and this showed Master McShee’s capabilities. The horse can learn from his first Grade One experience and Cheltenham could be an exciting next stop.

 

Buzz

It is not certain where Buzz will be entered at the Cheltenham Festival, however, trainer Nicky Henderson would have a great chance of landing the County Hurdle if this was the preferred option.

The horse landed the odds at Ascot in November in the Coral ‘Fail To Finish’ Free Bet Handicap Hurdle and came a close second to Not So Sleepy at the same course in December.

Buzz also finished only three lengths behind Sceau Royal in the Welsh Champion Hurdle so the seven-year-old has shown that it can compete with impressive and proven hurdlers.

Henderson has entered the horse in the Champion Hurdle but the County Hurdle could be another good option for a horse that has shown plenty of ability this season.

 

Miranda

Paul Nicholls could earn his first win in the County Hurdle since 2014 if he chooses to send Miranda there in March.

This six-year-old earned an RPR of 146 when winning the Grade Two Thoroughbred Marketing Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle at Doncaster.

The horse ran on well to beat two impressive Henderson horses in Floressa and Marie’s Rock to add to her win at Ludlow earlier in the season.

Miranda loves soft ground and shares the same sire as Group One flat winner Russian Camelot and Sir Dragonet, for 20/1 Miranda could be a good each-way option if Nicholls chooses the County Hurdle.

 

County Hurdle Betting Tip

Dan Skelton has a fantastic record in this race in recent years, so favouritism is for Cadzand should the horse run in this race.

The horse has two wins in three runs this season and with his from franked by Christopher Wood’s run at Musselburgh, Cadzand could be the one to beat here at 16/1 currently.

EACH-WAY TIP – CADZAND – 16/1 with bet365.

 

County Hurdle Trends

• Age – 9 of the last 12 winners have been aged 5 or 6.
• Price – 1 of the last 12 winners have been favourites/joint favourites, 3/12 winners were in the top 3 in the betting.
• Weight – 9/12 winners weighed 11st 1lb or less.
• Last Run – 3/12 winners won on their last run before the County Hurdle, 8/12 winners ran within the last 72 days.
• Previous Course Form – 8/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Cheltenham, 1/12 winners had a previous win at Cheltenham.
• Previous Distance Form – 11/12 winners had at least 3 previous runs over 15-17 furlongs, 12/12 winners had at least 1 win over 15-17 furlongs.
• Previous Hurdle Form – 9/12 winners had at least 5 previous runs over hurdles, 12/12 winners had at least 1 previous win over hurdles.
• Rating – 12/12 winners were rated 134 or higher.
• Season Form – 11/12 winners had at least 2 runs that season, 8/12 winners had at least 1 win that season.

 

County Hurdle Recent Winners

Year	Horse	Jockey	Trainer
2009	American Trilogy	Ruby Walsh	Paul Nicholls
2010	Thousand Stars	Katy Walsh	Willie Mullins
2011	Final Approach	Ruby Walsh	Willie Mullins
2012	Alderwood	A P McCoy	Thomas Mullins
2013	Ted Veale	Bryan Cooper	A J Martin
2014	Lac Fontana	Daryl Jacob	Paul Nicholls
2015	Wicklow Brave	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins
2016	Superb Story	Harry Skelton	Dan Skelton
2017	Arctic Fire	Paul Townend	Willie Mullins
2018	Mohaayed	Bridget Andrews	Dan Skelton
2019	Ch’tibello	Harry Skelton	Dan Skelton
2020	Saint Roi	Barry Geraghty	Willie Mullins

 

County Hurdle Result 2020

1st – Saint Roi (11/2)

2nd – Aramon (8/1)

3rd – Embittered (14/1)

4th – Buildmeupbuttercup (16/1)

 

Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Tips

The last day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival includes the Gold Cup on Friday 19th March 2021.

Time	Race	Current Odds
1.20pm	JCB Triumph Hurdle	10/1
1.55pm	County Hurdle	16/1
2.30pm	Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle	25/1
3.05pm	Cheltenham Gold Cup	7/2
3.40pm	Foxhunter Steeplechase	10/3
4.15pm	Mares Steeplechase	10/1
4.50pm	Martin Pipe Handicap	11/1