County Handicap Hurdle Odds
The County Hurdle is the second race on day four of the Cheltenham Festival and it takes place at 14:10 on Friday 15th March 2024. Read More
Check out the latest County Hurdle odds and racecard for the race nearer the off, while our in-house team will have some of their best Cheltenham tips on the day of the race. We also give you help and guidelines on how to place a bet on the race with some leading betting sites, and also have an FAQ section that can help you learn more about the race.
About the County Hurdle
The County Hurdle is a handicap hurdle race on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival, Gold Cup Day, run over two miles and 179 yards. The race was traditionally the final race of the festival, but was switched to the second race on the card in 2009.
The County Hurdle was established in 1920 and has built up a reputation of being a difficult puzzle for punters to solve, something shown by the fact that only one outright favourite has won the race this century. The race was named in honour of legendary trainer Vincent O’Brien between 1995-2016. Since 1992, the sponsors of the Imperial Cup have offered a bonus for any winner of the race who can follow up at the festival the following week, something which was won by the Martin Pipe-trained Blowing Wind in 1998.
Dan Skelton's Faivoir was a shock 33/1 winner of the County Hurdle as the outsider fended off Pied Piper in second, with Filey Bay back in third.
County Hurdle Key Trends
- Two favourites have won in the last 10 renewals
- Eight of the last 10 winners have been aged five or six years old
- Six of the last 10 winners have been trained in Ireland
- Six of the last 10 winners have carried less than 11st to victory
County Hurdle Tips
We display County Hurdle tips from our very own longshot specialist, Raceolly, plus the best and most respected tipsters from the Racing Post and national newspapers. These will be displayed on the above racecard from the evening before the race. In the meantime, visit our Cheltenham Tips section to view our latest antepost selections.
The Best Betting Sites To Bet On The County Hurdle
We take a look at some of the best betting sites to place a bet on the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Paddy Power have a new sign-up offer of Bet £20 & Get It Back As Cash If It Loses. T&Cs Apply.
- Paddy Power offer competitive prices in this day four race
- Paddy Power are offering SIX places in the each-way betting
- Paddy Power are only BOG from 8am on day of race
Bet365 bookmakers are offering new customers a sign-up deal of Bet £10 & Get £30 In Free Bets
- bet365 usually offer Best Odds Guaranteed once the final declarations are in for the Cheltenham Festival races
- bet365 are offering SIX places in the each-way betting for the County Hurdle
- bet365 can restrict winning punters
William Hill have have a new sign-up offer of Bet £10 Get £30 In Free Bets, which can be used on the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
- William Hill are offering SIX places in the each-way betting
- William Hill are usually Best Odds Guaranteed on the day of the race after 10am
Boylesports are offering new customers a sign-up deal of Bet £10 Get £20 + £10 Casino Bonus, which can be used when placing a bet at the Cheltenham Festival.
- Boylesports are offering competitive prices on the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival
- Boylesports are only offering five places in the each-way betting
How to bet on the County Hurdle
Here at HorseRacing.net we give you all the information on how to place at bet on the County Hurdle
Previous Winners Of The County Hurdle
| Year | Winner | Winning Jockey | Winning Trainer | Starting Price | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Faivoir | Bridget Andrews | Dan Skelton | 33/1 | 10-7 |
| 2022 | State Man | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 11/4 Fav | 11-1 |
| 2021 | Belfast Banter | Kevin Sexton | Peter Fahey | 33/1 | 10-0 |
| 2020 | Saint Roi | Barry Geraghty | Willie Mullins | 11/2 Fav | 10-13 |
| 2019 | Ch'tibello | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton | 12/1 | 11-5 |
| 2018 | Mohaayed | Bridget Andrews | Dan Skelton | 33/1 | 10-8 |
| 2017 | Arctic Fire | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 20/1 | 11-12 |
| 2016 | Superb Story | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton | 8/1 | 10-12 |
| 2015 | Wicklow Brave | Paul Townend | Willie Mullins | 25/1 | 11-4 |
| 2014 | Lac Fontana | Daryl Jacob | Paul Nicholls | 11/1 | 10-11 |
| 2013 | Ted Veale | Bryan Cooper | Tony Martin | 10/1 | 10-6 |
Frequently Asked Questions About The County Hurdle
When is the County Hurdle?
The race takes place at 14:10 on Friday 17th March 2023.
Where can I watch the County Hurdle
Watch the race live on ITV1 and Racing TV which also offer options to stream the race via their streaming services.
Alternatively, most bookmakers offer a free live horse racing stream allowing you to watch the race after you've placed a bet.
Who is the most iconic winner of the County Hurdle?
A particularly memorable winner of the County Hurdle was the Philip Hobbs-trained Rooster Booster, who won the race back in 2002. Although he was a regular in some of the top handicap hurdle races, Rooster Booster was something of a late bloomer, making the breakthrough on the big stage when winning the County as an eight-year-old. Having held his own in Grade 1 company when fourth in the Aintree Hurdle on his next start, Rooster Booster continued on an upward trajectory the following season, winning his first five starts of the campaign, culminating in the 2003 Champion Hurdle. Rooster Booster went close to sealing back-to-back wins in the Champion Hurdle, finishing second in the 2004 renewal, and his final start came when finishing down the field in the 2005 Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham - before being given a well-deserved retirement.
Are there any trials for the County Hurdle?
There are no specific trial races for the County Hurdle, though there are some regular routes which contenders take to the race, with the most obvious being the previous week’s Imperial Cup at Sandown - with a bonus available for any horse able to win both races. It is also useful to keep an eye on valuable handicap hurdle races throughout the season, such as the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Who is the most successful jockey in the County Hurdle?
The most successful jockey in the County Hurdle (since 1946) is Ruby Walsh, who has ridden the winner of the race on four occasions, courtesy of Sporazene (2004), Desert Quest (2006), American Trilogy (2009), and Final Approach (2011).
Who is the most successful trainer in the County Hurdle?
The most successful trainer in the County Hurdle (since 1946) is Willie Mullins, with six wins each. Mullins’ four wins in the race came courtesy of Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), Saint Roi (2020) and State Man (2022).