The Betfair Hurdle is a Grade 3 National Hunt handicap hurdle open to horses aged four years or older.

Run at Newbury over a distance of about 2 miles and 110 yards and scheduled to take place each year in February, this year’s race looks competitive given the generous odds widely available for the market leaders. 

With the wealth of information at our disposal, we analysed our horse race statistics since 1997 using our horse race software to profile each winner against this year’s runners and riders to see how they stack up against the key trends.

 

Trainers

Nicky Henderson has saddled 5 winners in this race (from a population of 42 runners), 97% above normal expectation.

Contrast this against the records of David Pipe and Philip Hobbs who between them are yet to taste success from their 32 runners.

Race qualifiers for this category are: Sign Of A Victory

 

Courses for Betfair Hurdle Horses

Horses that raced at Cheltenham (3), Sandown (3) and Newbury (2) in their race prior to the Betfair Hurdle are 8 from 15 renewals. Collectively an expectation which is 32% above normal.  

With an eye toward Cheltenham races, no winner of the Betfair Hurdle in recent years has gone on to win a race at the festival in March of the same year.

Race qualifiers for this category are: Calipto, Jolly's Cracked It, Amore Alato, Wicklow Brave, Bordoni, Balgarry, Lightentertainment

 

The Market View

The front three horses in the market have won 8 of the last 15 renewals, a performance 23% above normal and if backed blindly since 1997 are profitable to Betfair and Industry starting prices.

However be warned.

Last year’s winner Splash of Ginge ruined a few placepot perms at odds of 33/1 and if you include the 6 other winners of this race priced at double figure odds, from a punting perspective the Betfair Hurdle can be lucrative if you are on the winner.  

Race qualifiers for this category (first three in the market) are: Calipto, Actival, On Tour

 

Pace in Race

Our analysis determined no particular running style has the advantage in this race, but to help you visualise how the race could be run, you can identify horses with different running styles easily using our pace maps which can be found in our Proform racecards in addition to our horse ratings.

 

Recent Form

Statistically, this is one category we could exploit to whittle the number of win contenders down a tiny bit.

In the last 15 renewals, 13 winners of the Betfair Hurdle finished in the first three on their preceding start; of these, 7 were last time out winners.

This result is 31% above normal and combined horses matching this criteria are profitable to Betfair starting prices to a £1 stake (£30.57, 20.11% return on investment)

Race qualifiers for this category (last time out winners) are: Vasco Du Ronceray, Aso, Sleepy Haven, On Tour, Fascino Rustico, Chieftain's Choice, Lightentertainment

 

Free Proform Race Guide

Do you want more detailed information about this race? 

Click here to download our free Proform Race Guide for the Betfair Hurdle