The County Handicap Hurdle, sometimes called simply the County Hurdle, has been run at the Cheltenham Festival since way back in 1920. For many years this was the race that closed the Festival, but these days it is sandwiched between two Grade One races on Gold Cup Day: the JCB Triumph Hurdle and the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. The County Hurdle is a fine race in its own right, however, and here we have the latest betting tips, predictions and analysis to help you pick out a winner (as well as the latest live betting odds to make getting the best value that bit easier!).
When it comes to Cheltenham betting races, the County Hurdle is often a tough horse race to predict. Belfast Banter was the 2021 winner at Cheltenham odds of 33/1, while Mohaayed also won at the same betting odds in 2018. Some of the more shorter priced winners have included Ch’tibello and Saint Roi, although there are always big-priced horses who tend to feature in the places.
West Cork is the betting favourite with most of the 2023 Cheltenham betting sites, with Dan Skelton no stranger to success in this race. He won the County Hurdle with Superb Story before experiencing other wins with Mohaayed and Ch’tibello having also obliged for the handler and it would be no surprise to see him score again.
West Cork was the winner of the Unibet Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse and that was over a similar distance. However, the horse could only manage fifth place in the Betfair Exchange Trophy despite being sent off at betting odds of 7/2.
Echoes in Rain is a six-year-old who has been running against esteemed company this season and perhaps this is the best County Hurdle betting tip of them all. There was no shame in finding horses such as Sharjah and Saint Roi too good in the Matheson Hurdle, while the horse also ran against the former at Punchestown.
Adagio was second to West Cork when racing in the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle, with less than a length separating the two runners and this could be David Pipe’s best chance of securing a Cheltenham 2023 winner.