17:20 Cheltenham Tips: De Bromhead to finish off with Martin Pipe glory

The meeting finale is now the domain of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle, the race that brings down the curtain on the Cheltenham Festival. 

Just over two-and-a-half-miles awaits the field of 24 runners and one of the most eagerly anticipated contenders of the entire meeting is set to turn up here for Willie Mullins. Enda has his Runners Guide prepared for us along with his Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle Tips...

Betfred's special offer for this one is this race will have an Super Extra Place Boost. That means we are paying out six places instead of four. You can check out all the Ts and Cs for our Super Extra Place Races boosts this Cheltenham Festival over on our main promo page (linked to at the bottom of the article). and you can double-check all the latest prices over on our main site with up-to-date Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle Odds...

We are also paying back up to £10 in cash if your selected horse finishes second in this race.

Betfred's Cheltenham Offer for New Customers 2025

New customers only. Register (excl 05/04/25), deposit with Debit Card, and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility exclusions & T&Cs Apply.

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle Runners Guide

Tounsivator (Willie Mullins/Kieran Callaghan) 40/1 

Caused a shock when winning the Grade 2 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse, with the Supreme Novices' third Romeo Coolio behind in third, but he needs more to defy his current mark. 

Wodhooh (Gordon Elliott/Danny Gilligan) 7/2 

This mare has won all six starts over timber since leaving Sir Michael Stoute to join Gordon Elliott, including beating subsequent Newbury scorer Joyeuse over C&D December. That form is strong and she should go well despite being 11lb higher in the ratings. 

No Ordinary Joe (Nicky Henderson/Freddie Gingell) 11/1 

Second in this contest in 2023 when Iroko scored and finished seventh last year on heavy ground. He's rated 2lb lower now and had a first-time tongue tie on. 

No Questions Asked (Ben Pauling/Callum Pritchard) 20/1 

Making a splash in novice hurdles this season, with wins at Carlisle, Hereford and Ludlow from five starts. Opening handicap mark looks about right, for all this is a tougher environment. 

Minella Sixo (Gordon Elliott/Jake Coen) 14/1 

Second here behind Potters Charm in October over 2m4f and flanked that with wins at Fairyhouse and Thurles (2m/2m7f). Took a fall at Haydock last month when contending, but previous form gained him respect. 

The Enabler (Gordon Elliott/James Smith) 14/1 

Came up short in Listed company at Cork over 3m in November but a consistent season otherwise, including a 2m4f Leopardstown maiden win at Christmas. More to do off this mark after last month's DRF handicap debut defeat. 

Uncle Bert (Nigel Twiston-Davies/James Turner) 33/1 

Five-time hurdles winner, including over extended three-miles at Haydock in January. Fifth since back there in a Pertemps qualifier. A bit more needed to defy this mark but not written off. 

Kopeck De Mee (Willie Mullins/Aidan Kelly) 5/2 

The most talked-about horse in the Festival handicaps, this French import has plenty experience and seemingly has been handed a nice mark on first start for Willie Mullins and JP McManus. Trainer has won this four times and jockey won in 2023. 

Taponthego (Henry de Bromhead/Mikey O'Connor) 8/1 

Tipperary maiden winner over this trip in November, beating subsequent DRF winner McLaurey by nine lengths, he has run well in all three starts since and was third behind Supreme Novices' silver-medallist William Munny last month in a Listed race. Lots to like on handicap bow. 

Karafon (Willie Mullins/Tiernan Power Roche) 10/1 

Clonmel maiden winner over 2m3½f in December after arriving from France. He has twice come up short in Grade 1s since but could have more to offer now sent handicapping for top connections. 

Push The Button (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Finn Lambert) 50/1 

Promising last season as a novice over hurdles with wins at Warwick and Worcester. He's been in-and-out this term, but was narrowly denied at Windsor (3m) in January off 4lb lower and a stiff test here could suit. 

Act Of Authority (Olly Murphy/Lewis Saunders) 28/1 

Wins at Sandown and Wetherby earlier in the season over this sort of trip, he likes to be held up so will need some breaks in the run, but he's on a fair mark. 

Nurse Susan (Dan Skelton/Tristan Durrell) 25/1 

C&D winner in December 2023 and followed up at Lingfield (2m7f) soon after, but has been off well over a year leading to this. Rated 4lb higher now. 

Doyen Quest (Dan Skelton/Harry Atkins) 40/1 

Winner here over 3m at the November Meeting, but this sort of mark has since proved problematic and will need the first-time cheekpieces to spark better. 

Electric Mason (Chris Gordon/Caoilin Quinn) 25/1 

Twice tackled The New Lion at Newbury before Christmas (third/fifth) and comes here after winning a Fontwell novice over 2m3f in January. Opening mark looks fair. 

Park Of Kings (Paul Nolan/Conor Stone-Walsh) 12/1 

Twice finished second in Listed handicaps at Naas and Leopardstown over this sort of trip before the turn of the year and kept fresh since. Handicapper hasn't missed him, has to be considered a player. 

Raglan Road (Henry De Bromhead/Gavin Brouder) 33/1 

Winner of a Naas handicap 12 months ago and seen only twice since. Entitled to come on for the January reappearance run at Navan. 

Flash Collonges (Sophie Leech/Jack Hogan) 50/1 

Best known for his chasing exploits under the tutelage of Paul Nicholls, his career has been interrupted by setbacks and he was out of sorts before leaving Ditcheat. Returns from an 11-month break. 

Punctuation (Nicky Henderson/Freddie Mitchell) 40/1 

Dual-purpose performer with some solid Flat/hurdles form on the board. Ran a fair race last time at Kempton and has won around here before. 

Stormbreaker (Willie Mullins/Sean Cleary-Farrell) 40/1 

Maiden winner at Listowel in September and ran well when second on handicap bow at Punchestown on New Year's Eve, but disappointed since at the Dublin Racing Festival last month. More needed. 

Mordor (Gordon Elliott/Tom Harney) 66/1 

A consistent performer with a couple of hurdles wins, was back from a break when down the field at the DRF last month, but has to find more off this rating. 

East India Express (Nicky Henderson/Freddie Gordon) 10/1 

Very much on the up, now 3-6 over hurdles following wins at Ascot and Kempton at around 2m5f in six days around Christmas. Only 6lb higher now and represents a top trainer. 

Harsh (Gordon Elliott/Finn Brickley) 50/1 

The best of last year's form might give him a squeak but much less convincing most recently and he isn't the most appealing of the Elliott contingent. 

Wilde About Oscar (Sophie Leech/Dylan Johnston) 80/1 

Smart hurdler for Dan Skelton in 2020/21, with a peak rating of 150, but lost his way with Rebecca Menzies and is now starting out for new handler after 633 days on the easy list. 

Verdict 

Taponthego @ 8/1 & East India Express @ 10/1 

Wodhooh is on quite the sequence of success and her December win here came in a hot race. 

The handicapper applies pressure now. Even the dogs on the street are aware that Kopeck De Mee looks well treated on his stable bow, but he's very short in the betting now. 

That pair run for trainers Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins respectively and both have interesting contenders at longer odds via Minella Sixo and Stormbreaker. 

TAPONTHEGO for Henry de Bromhead has some formlines that now stack up rather well and he can thrive upped in trip once more. 

Nicky Henderson also has a decent trio and his EAST INDIA EXPRESS is progressive over hurdles and very much the sort to give a good account under a lightweight Freddie Gordon.