Fred Winter Hurdle

The last race on day one of the Cheltenham Festival is a bookie friendly handicap race for four-year-old hurdlers run over 2m 110 yards.

Fred Winter Hurdle Trends

7/7	did not win until their third start over hurdles or later
6/7	were rated between 124 and 133
6/7	were by a Group One winning sire on the flat
5/7	won last time out
5/7	were set to carry a weight of at least 11-2
4/7	were won by French bred horses

Fred Winter Analysis

The most interesting of the above stats is the fact that None of the seven winners of this race had won until at least their third race over hurdles.

Failing to win until their third start meant that their original handicap mark gave plenty of scope for improvement.

The general call for this race we should be looking for a juvenile that took a while to hit form but comes into the race on the back of a win or an eye-catching run.

Fred Winter Hurdle Last Seven Winners

Table below shows the last seven winners of the race.

Year	Horse	Wgt	Trainer	Jockey	Price
2011	What A Charm	10-6	A Moore	P Townend	9/1
2010	Sanctuaire	11-9	P Nicholls	R Walsh	4/1F
2009	Silk Affair	10-4	M Quinlan	T OBrien	11/1
2008	Crack Away Jack	11-10	Miss E Lavelle	P Carberry	14/1
2007	Gaspara	10-11	D Pipe	A Glassonbury	9/2JF
2006	Shamayoun	11-3	C Egerton	P Brennan	40/1
2005	Dabiroun	11-4	P Nolan	Miss N Carberry	20/1

Fred Winter Hurdle Preview

It's well documented that Alan King does well with his juvenile hurdlers and whilst he is yet to win this race his runners remain of great interest.

King saddled the second, third and fifth from his three runners in 2011 and has placed four times form his sixteen starts since this race was introduced. A good return but the most eye-catching stat from those horses were their SPs; 50/1, 20/1, 16/1 and 33/1.

So, keep a close eye on whatever Alan King runs in this race in 2012, particularly if his runners are an attractive price.

Fred Winter Hurdle Tips

Plenty here that appeal but the main one to catch the eye is Gorgeous Sixty.

Good enough to run in Listed and Group Three races on the level, current trainer Willie Mullins has apparently been keen on this fillies' chance at some of the Festival Preview nights.

Added to that was the eye-catching run she made on her last outing, showing up for a long way in the Grade One won by Hisaabaat at Leopardstown.

Fillies have a great record in this race winning three of the seven renewals and with Gorgeous Sixty likely to improve considerably for the good ground, she makes plenty of appeal at the current odds of 20/1. (odds available at time of writing)

Fred Winter Odds

Full list of the runners and the best odds for the Fred Winter.