Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Preview - Cheltenham Festival
Published on: 16/03/2018
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Preview - Cheltenham Festival
March 16, 2018 16:50pm - Cheltenham
Distance: 2m 4f 56y
Grade: Conditional
Runners: 24
Winner: £43,792
Going: Soft (heavy in places)
In the penultimate race of the Festival, Melrose Boy catches the eye. He won here back in November and was not disgraced when coming third behind Coral Cup competitor Topofthegame at Sandown last time out. For a horse that seems to be on an upward trajectory, 18/1 seems like a very generous price.
No one knows what it takes to win this race better than three-time winner Willie Mullins. His hopes lie with 9/1 shot Deal D`Estruval who enjoyed a comfortable win in a maiden hurdle at the start of the year before finishing second of a strong field in the Coral Hurdle at Leopardstown a month later. That race will have provided great preparation for Fridays ultra-competitive challenge.
Both of those will need to see off the challenge of Flawless Escape. The Gordon Elliott-trained novice finished an admirable third behind Total Recall at Leopardstown in February and will be a front runner if he can bring that form to the shorter distance here.
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Winners - past four years:
2014: Don Poli (5) - Mikey Fogarty (Williams Mullins)
2015: Killultagh (6) - Luke Dempsey (Williams Mullins)
2016: Ibis du Rheu (5) - Jack Sherwood (Paul Nicholls)
2017: Champagne Classic (6) - James Slevin (Gordon Elliott)
Latest Betting odds:
Flawless Escape 15/2
Deal D`estruval 15/2
Diese Des Bieffes 8/1
Early Doors 10/1
Sire de Berlais 10/1
Blow by Blow 14/1
Carter McKay 14/1
Melrose Boy 18/1
Burrows Saint 18/1
Mr Big Shot 20/1
25/1 bar
You can back Melrose Boy (E/W) at 18/1 and Flawless Escape to win at 15/2.
By Neil Morris
Published on: 16/03/2018
Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (16/03/2018 12:02:20) but are subject to change.
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