Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Odds: Open renewal of the Fred Winter

| March 11 |

4 mins read

A maximum field is set to go to post in what looks like a competitive renewal of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (registered as the Fred Winter).

Run a shade over two miles, this four-year-old contest was first run in 2005, and there have been more than nine winners priced over 20/1 during that time!

We’ve looked at the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle odds before Tuesday's race (16:50), where Betfred are paying FIVE places instead of four, AND a FREE BET if your horse finishes second. Check the Betfred Cheltenham promotions page for details.

The Favourites

The money has come for the Joseph O’Brien-trained Lark In The Mornin, an 11/2 favourite at the time of writing. Last time out, he was third in a Punchestown Maiden hurdle, beaten four and a half lengths by Highwind, who lines up in Friday’s Triumph Hurdle.

Battling for favouritism is Milan Tino at 6/1, who has also been backed in since the declarations on Sunday. Connections know a thing or two about winning a big Cheltenham handicap, and this will be his third run at the course, finishing third behind Triumph Hurdle favourite Sir Gino last time out.

Batman Girac runs for Willie Mullins. A winner in France before switching to County Carlow, he's a 7/1 chance on Tuesday. Fourth in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, he’s officially the third highest-rated horse in the field and will carry 11-11. Daryl Jacob rides.

It's a common theme, but Irish-trained horses dominate the sharp end of the market, and Gordon Elliott saddles 8/1 chance Ndaawi. Jack Kennedy rides the juvenile here, a winner of a Maiden last time out at Naas.

The top-rated horse in the race is Liari, 9/1 with Betfred. Paul Nicholls saddles the four-year-old who has won on all three starts this season, including two Listed contests. Last time out he put five lengths between him and the second-place horse, Roaring Legend, who also lines up here. He must carry top-weight to land the spoils in the Fred Winter.

Next Best

Further down the betting, Ose Partir is an 11/1 chance running for trainer Martin Brassil from Ireland. Four runs this season, none of which would have pegged him as a Cheltenham Festival winner, but beware the Irish Euro!

The filly Miss Manzor is available to back at 12/1 for Willie Mullins. She has three career wins, including most recently at Fairyhouse in January. Danny Mullins takes the ride.

14/1 chance Nara will run for trainer Henry de Bromhead. Fourth in a Grade 3 on debut for the Irishman, he finished fourth from five in his most recent outing at Naas.

The horse who beat him that day was Eagle Fang, who is a smidge higher in the betting at 16/1 for Tuesday’s contest. It was a comfortable win that day, in receipt of half a stone to Nara, whom he beat by 13 and a half lengths.

Each Way Squeaks

As stated, nine winners have been priced 20/1 or bigger of the Boodles, so ignore these at your peril!

The aforementioned Roaring Legend, trained by Olly Murphy, hasn’t been out of the top three in his three starts. Palamon has seen some support in the lead-up to the race. Trained in Ireland by Paul Nolan, the gelding has winning form on the flat at York. He was third in a Maiden at Naas last time out. The pair are both priced up at 20/1.

There are a trio of horses at 25/1.

Karia Des Blaises was a winner on the flat in France before moving to Willie Mullins last year and finished second behind stablemate Miss Manzor last time out.

Bright Legend is well down the weights and the Irish-trained horse is winless in his three starts this season, beaten into second place last time out by Eagle Fang.

Finally, Teorie could be the bottom weight if they all line up on Tuesday. The Fergal O’Brien-trained gelding ran on the flat for Jim Bolger before making the switch last year and has picked up two wins at Southwell and Catterick.

Bar

An Bradan Feasa @ 33/1

Pigeon House @ 33/1

Les Loyautes @ 33/1

Harsh @ 33/1

Latin Verse @ 33/1

Eagles Reign @ 40/1

Balboa @ 40/1

Mordor @ 66/1