Juvenile Handicap Hurdle

The Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap race that is the penultimate race of the day on the opening day of racing at the Cheltenham Festival. The race was one of several new races that were introduced to the Festival when the schedule was expanded to a fourth day back in 2005. It was originally classed as a Listed level race before being upgraded to Grade 3 status in 2009 before being re-classified as a Premier Handicap by the British Horseracing Authority in 2023.

Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Overview

The Juvenile Handicap Hurdle is registered as the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle although is currently known by its sponsor’s name of the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and is run over the minimum trip of 2 miles and 87 yards on the old course.

There are eight hurdles to jump during its running which takes place on day one of the fixture. The first-place prize money is likely to be in the region of £45,000.

Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Betting Trends and Statistics

• French bred horses have a good record in the race with 10 of the 20 winners (50%) beginning their career in France. Last year’s winner Lark In The Morning was bred in Germany.
• Horses that have contested a Grade 1 or Grade 2 race earlier in the season are respected with 6 of the past 14 winners fitting those criteria.
• A big weight is no hindrance to success as 13 of the 20 winners carried 11 stone or more.
• Irish trainer Gordon Elliot has won four of the last twelve renewals and is a trainer to follow in the race in stark contrast to his compatriot Willie Mullins whose record in the race now reads 0-22.
• This is a race where it may be wise to avoid the front of the market as only one favourite has won in the last 11 years with winners returning at odds of 18/1, 25/1, 33/1 (three times) and even 80/1.
• Ireland trained horses appear to be dominating in recent years and have scored in the last seven renewals.

Juvenile Handicap Hurdle History

The race is one of the newest at the meeting having only been added in 2005 when a fourth day was introduced. This event is named in memory of Fred Winter, who was one of the greatest National Hunt trainers of the last century as well as being a successful jockey. He rode seventeen winners as a jockey and trained twenty-eight as a trainer at the Festival.

Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Winners