Greatwood Hurdle 2019

2019 Greatwood Hurdle Top Tips

As always this is a fascinating race, one that often produces Champion Hurdle candidates. The reason however that in terms of picking the winner of this race we cannot afford to look at such candidates as that this is a handicap, and as such the winner can and often does come from lower in the weights.

Quel Destin

With the ground now also a major factor, the likes of Paul Nicholls’ Quel Destin have come right into the equation and it would be no surprise to see this horse go on to success at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He undoubtedly has great potential so whatever happens in this race, keep an eye on him, though he is a young horse and hasn’t quite reached his full potential yet which may or may not affect his chances in this particular race.

Gumball

Philip Hobbs’ Gumball did well to win in Listed company last time out at Ascot, but of course that means he has been handicapped appropriately and he is uncertain to really relish this heavy ground, which leaves us with one solid option at a good value price.

Benny’s Bridge

Cheltenham-based trainer Fergal O’Brien hasn’t yet won this race but knows exactly what it takes to win around Prestbury Park, something personified by his likeable candidate Benny’s Bridge. The improving 6-year-old landed a huge gamble in a handicap at the Showcase Meeting in October and a browse through his profile suggests he definitely saves his best work for this track. Given that he’s still well handicapped and priced tantalisingly, he rates as the best contender for us.

Greatwood Hurdle Bet: BENNY’S BRIDGE

Antepost Tips

As always this is a fascinating race, one that often produces Champion Hurdle candidates. The reason however that in terms of picking the winner of this race we cannot afford to look at such candidates as that this is a handicap, and as such the winner can and often does come from lower in the weights.

Humble Hero

Attempting at this stage to narrow the field down and come up with a value advance wager is tough, but in the case of Humble Hero we know of a horse climbing the ranks rather rapidly. Dan Skelton’s gelding had some good handicap form last season and was expected to win his reappearance run easily at Ludlow but for falling, though he wasn’t going that well at the time.

The race would have done him some good however and he’s certainly not out of this, much like Sebastopol. Vying for early favouritism, Tom Lacey’s 5-year-old is race fit after a good win at Wincanton and should go on and up from there, but probably only if the ground is decent which can be far from guaranteed in November.

Red Force One

Paul Nicholls’ Red Force One is another with the benefit of recent experience having won easily at Fakenham before just being nudged out by Gumball at Ascot. He’s going the right way and probably won’t mind whatever ground conditions face him, though he wouldn’t be the classiest individual in the field despite coming from a celebrated yard.

Benny’s Bridge

Cheltenham-based trainer Fergal O’Brien hasn’t yet won this race but knows exactly what it takes to win around Prestbury Park, something personified by his likeable candidate Benny’s Bridge. The improving 6-year-old landed a huge gamble in a handicap at the Showcase Meeting in October and a browse through his profile suggests he definitely saves his best work for this track. Given that he’s still well handicapped and priced tantalisingly, he rates as the best early value at this stage.

Ante Post Bet: BENNY’S BRIDGE

Greatwood Hurdle Stats & Trends

The key thing to remember is that this is a handicap hurdle, so while the above list will show that for the majority of the better horses this is used as a Champion Hurdle trial, it can in fact be won by a horse lower in the weights who will not be aimed very high at the Festival.

Those aged 4-5 have won 15 of the last 19 runnings of the Greatwood, showing that the younger horses have fared best. This again could be because of the handicap scenario; i.e. younger horses are still improving and so therefore are often well handicapped.

The race has invariably been won by a top trainer/jockey combo, so stay away from those representing smaller yards even when their form looks decent.

In these 19 renewals, only three favourites at 11/8, 6/5 and 10/3 have won while two genuine outsiders at 33/1 and 20/1 have also scored. The other 14 winners were at prices ranging from 5/1 to 12/1 with an average SP of around 8/1, so it seems looking at those fancied runners just outside the head of the market is the way to go.