Conditionals Hurdle

This race was run at the Festival for the first time in 2009 and is run over two and a half miles and, as the title suggests, is only open to Conditional Jockeys.

We came close to a big payday when tipping First Point each-way at 25/1 in this race last year. He finished third in the end and secured the place money but it looked like he was going to go two places better for a long while. Why not take a chance on a big priced runner in this race in 2012?

Martin Pipe Conditionals Hurdle Last Three Winners

Year	Horse	Age/Wgt	Trainer	Jockey	Price
2011	Sir Des Champs	5-11-3	W Mullins	E Mullins	9/2F
2010	Pause And Clause	6-11-10	Miss E Lavelle	J Farrelly	14/1
2009	Andytown	6-11-2	N Henderson	F De Giles	25/1

Martin Pipe Conditionals Hurdle Trends

With only three winners so far it is too early to draw too many conclusions especially as the lower weights seemed to be in favour in 2009 but the higher weighted horses held sway in 2010 and 2011

Martin Pipe Conditionals Hurdle Analysis

One thing is certain - David Pipe is going to be trying his damndest to win this race named in honour of his father and ended up with SEVEN runners in 2009 but could fare no better than third. In 2010 the Pipe team placed all their efforts in one horse, Ashkazar, who was the well backed favourite but could finish only seventh. In 2011 they again just focused on one runner, Shoegazer, who could finish only ninth. A better return must surely be on the cards very soon.

Philip Hobbs has a great record in the handicap hurdles at Cheltenham with wins in the Coral Cup and County Hurdle in recent years and he had two representatives in the top eight home in this race in 2009 and finished third with Clova Island in 2010.

The Hobbs stable regularly find excellent young jockeys and winning a race such as this would be a suitable reward for all their hard work.
Representatives from the Hobbs yard will definitely be worth considering in this race in 2012.

However, the stable with the best return so far from this race belongs to Nicky Henderson.
With a winnner at 25/1 in 2009, 2nd and 4th in 2010 and 3rd in 2011 it seems the master of Seven Barrows likes to have a tilt at the Martin Pipe race and Henderson's runners in 2012 will warrant very close inspection once again.

Martin Pipe Conditionals Hurdle Tips

Donald McCain's Bourne was our long range fancy for the Coral Cup but connections appear to have elected to target this race instead - so we will definitely follow suit.

Bourne won a competitive handicap last time out and has not been unduly treated by the handicapper.

With only four runs over hurdles at present he has the potential for plenty of further improvement and he has already proved he can deal with the hustle and bustle of these races when winning a big handicap hurdle at Ascot.

Bourne is taken to prove his supremacy here for the McCains with yet another winner in an excellent week for the yard.

Martin Pipe Conditionals Hurdle Odds