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Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
17:20 Cheltenham Festival
2025-03-14
Winner: £39,022.5
Runners: 24
Going: Good To Soft
No. of hurdles: 10
Distance: 2m4f56y
The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle is the final race of the Cheltenham Festival, taking place at 5.20pm on day four. It was established in 2009 and is named in honour of Martin Pipe, a 15-time champion trainer who retired in 2006 with 34 victories at the festival. As the title suggests, it is open only to conditional jockeys - professional riders who are still at the start of their careers. Check the Martin Pipe runners and riders ahead of the big race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.
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24(0)
P60/6-
Wilde About Oscar
-
J: Dylan Johnston
T: Sophie Leech
10
10-7
126
Useful for Dan Skelton early in career but became largely disappointing and has been absent since a heavy defeat in France for Rebecca Menzies in June 2023; sold for £20,000 that August; cheekpieces reapplied; best watched.
18(0)
F/0PP-
Flash Collonges
-
J: Jack Hogan
T: Sophie Leech
10
10-12
131
Completely lost his form over fences last season and was sold out of Paul Nicholls' yard for £14,000 in July; not seen over hurdles since winning at Kelso (2m5f) four years ago; on a handy mark but has enough to prove on belated reappearance.
19(0)
855-43
Punctuation
-
J: Freddie Mitchell
T: Nicky Henderson
8
10-12
131
148
Respectable strike-rate (Flat/hurdles) during his spell with Fergal O'Brien; encouraging placed effort at Kempton (2m5f; second run for new yard) most recently; won a race of this nature at Aintree (2m, soft; off 2lb lower) two years ago.
3(0)
37-574
No Ordinary Joe
-
J: Freddie Gingell
T: Nicky Henderson
9
11-5
138
151
On a ten-race losing sequence that goes back to December 2022; however, he ran well (second off 1lb higher) in this race in 2023 and had an excuse (stable under a big cloud) when only seventh last year; tongue-tie now fitted; capable of being involved.
13(0)
4/711-
Nurse Susan
-
J: Tristan Durrell
T: Dan Skelton
8
11-0
133
150
Lightly raced 8yo mare whose record of 2-2 since handicapping includes a C&D success in December 2023 (followed up at Lingfield); looked open to further progress but has been absent for 14 months; heed the market signals.
20(0)
21620
Stormbreaker
-
J: Sean Cleary-Farrell
T: W P Mullins
6
10-11
130
143
Flat winner for previous yard and has scored over hurdles (2m2f) since joining Willie Mullins; however, lacked fluency and ran poorly in Dublin Racing Festival handicap (2m) last time; needs improvement back up in trip.
12(0)
-91143
Act Of Authority
-
J: Lewis Saunders
T: Olly Murphy
7
11-1
134
145
Solid record under Lewis Saunders comprises two Class 3 wins (at about 2m4f) in November and a creditable third last time; however, remains on career-high mark and faces a tougher assignment in this hot race.
14(0)
-21467
Doyen Quest
-
J: Harry Atkins
T: Dan Skelton
7
11-0
133
149
Productive spell featured wins at Cheltenham (2m4f/3m, good) last April/November; no further progress since, including here, and disappointing favourite at Kempton most recently; headgear now applied; difficult task off current mark.
4(0)
-13121
No Questions Asked
-
J: Callum Pritchard
T: Ben Pauling
7
11-5
138
146
Record of 4-7 under rules, all wins at about 2m; close second in 2m3f Listed contest at Huntingdon (good to soft) on penultimate start but a 14lb rise for that effort could prove harsh and this is a stiffer test all round.
16(0)
061022
Park Of Kings
-
J: Conor Stone-Walsh
T: Paul Nolan
7
10-13
132
136
Record of 3-17 over hurdles, the most recent win in October; good second in Listed handicaps kept to 2m4f the last twice, finishing strongly at Leopardstown (good to yielding) in December latest; should go well, provided the form is sustained.
7(0)
3P2315
Uncle Bert
-
J: James Turner
T: Nigel Twiston-Davies
8
11-3
136
143
Record of 3-7 under James Turner, the wins over 2m3f last season and 3m on penultimate outing (all on soft ground); ran creditably over the latter trip last time; remains on career-high mark and others are likely to prove better handicapped.
1(0)
215197
Tounsivator
-
J: Kieran Callaghan
T: W P Mullins
6
11-12
145
142
Interesting on the bare form of his 2m Grade 2 novice win at Fairyhouse (turned over Romeo Coolio) in December; weighted accordingly, however, and failed to convince with stamina over 2m4f on penultimate start; something to prove.
23(0)
094600
Harsh
-
J: Finn Brickley
T: Gordon Elliott
5
10-9
128
143
Form for previous stable featured a good fourth in the 4yo handicap at this meeting 12 months ago and success at Punchestown (2m3f); inconsistent for new yard and failed to beat a rival the last twice (2m7f); others preferred.
21(0)
212120
Mordor
-
J: Tom Harney
T: Gordon Elliott
5
10-11
130
145
Soundly beaten over 3m (first attempt beyond 2m2f) last month on return from a break; may have a better chance of staying this trip but the form of his summer wins is a world away from Cheltenham Festival standard.
2(0)
1111-1
Wodhooh
-
J: Danny Gilligan
T: Gordon Elliott
5
11-8
141
140
Successful in useful mares' handicap over C&D (good to soft; first go beyond 2m1f; ridden by Danny Gilligan) in sole start this term, taking hurdles record to 6-6, and the form has worked out very well (next three home have won notable prizes since); much respected even though she's up 11lb.
17(0)
451P-5
Raglan Road
-
J: Gavin Brouder
T: Henry De Bromhead
7
10-12
131
142
Has raced on only soft/heavy; encouraging form in two handicaps at this sort of distance, winning at Naas 12 months ago and keeping-on fifth in big field at Navan in sole outing this term (wore tongue-tie, absent today); still unexposed over 2m4f and could go well.
11(0)
1-5P20
Push The Button
-
J: Finn Lambert
T: Nigel Twiston-Davies
6
11-2
135
146
Ran well at Cheltenham (fifth over 2m4f) in October and Windsor (close second over 3m) in January; inconsistent otherwise this term and this looks a stiffer task; however, it's worth nothing that he is 2-2 under Finn Lambert.
10(0)
35-147
Karafon
-
J: Tiernan Power Roche
T: W P Mullins
5
11-2
135
140
Scored comfortably over 2m3f at Clonmel (yielding) on second run for Willie Mullins; subsequent 2m Grade 1 efforts suggest he's not up to that standard and this handicap target is more suitable; may show progress back up in distance; one to consider.
22(0)
42-U11
East India Express
-
J: Freddie Gordon
T: Nicky Henderson
6
10-10
129
147
Two from two since switched to handicap level, namely a quickfire 2m5f double under Freddie Gordon at Ascot (good to soft) and Kempton (good) in December; those wins took his overall record to 4-7; open to further improvement and is one for the shortlist.
15(0)
-21351
Electric Mason
-
J: Caoilin Quinn
T: Chris Gordon
6
10-13
132
149
Straightforward task at Fontwell (2m3f) last time; raised a total of 15lb for two Newbury efforts that may not be entirely solid, so has something to prove off this mark in a warm contest on handicap debut.
6(0)
-2P210
The Enabler
-
J: James Smith
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-3
136
139
Campaigned mostly at 2m; won 2m4f maiden at Leopardstown (good to yielding) penultimate outing but was all out and just held on; back up in trip, he may succumb to stronger finishers up the hill in this much deeper contest.
8(0)
3211-1
Kopeck De Mee
-
J: Aidan Kelly
T: W P Mullins
5
11-3
136
139
Progressive hurdles form in France culminated in a hat-trick last spring, the final leg in Listed event at Auteuil (2m2f, very soft; won going away); potentially on a lenient opening mark and, in keeping with the ante-post betting, looks very interesting on debut for Willie Mullins.
9(0)
21233
Taponthego
-
J: Mike O'Connor
T: Henry De Bromhead
6
11-2
135
146
Last two efforts (2m; latest under Mike O'Connor) suggest he'll relish this step back up in distance; solid form in two attempts over 2m4f, winning Tipperary maiden (soft) then good second in Leopardstown handicap (good to yielding); interesting, with a resumption of progress on the cards.
5(0)
12123F
Minella Sixo
-
J: Jake Coen
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-4
137
144
Niggled along but still in touch when falling three out at Haydock (3m) last time; consistent (12123) otherwise over hurdles and has Graded form; solid second behind notable rival in sole Cheltenham start (good), which was also his only attempt over 2m4f; firmly in calculations.
RACING POST TIP
Taponthego
This year's Martin Pipe partly revolves around whether Kopeck De Mee, who could be very well treated, lives up to expectations on his debut for Willie Mullins. That progressive ex-French runner has to be feared, while unbeaten hurdler Wodhooh is another highly obvious player, as the early betting reflects. There are several plausible alternatives among the remainder, most notably TAPONTHEGO who has solid 2m4f form and looks very interesting returned to this distance with further improvement still possible. Second choice is Minella Sixo, who ran well behind a subsequent Grade 1 winner in his sole Cheltenham outing. East India Express, who has made a great start to his handicap career, looks the pick of the British contenders.
Cheltenham Free Bets
MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2024 | Better Days Ahead | 0-F142 | 6 | 5/1 | Gordon Elliott | Danny Gilligan |
| 2023 | Iroko | 4-11 | 5 | 6-1 | Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero | Aidan Kelly |
| 2022 | Banbridge | 114-71 | 6 | 12-1 | Joseph O’Brien | Mark McDonagh |
| 2021 | Galopin Des Champs | 1-2PU6 | 5 | 8-1 | Willie Mullins | S O’Keefe |
| 2020 | Indefatigable | 52231 | 7 | 25-1 | Paul Webber | Rex Dingle |
| 2019 | Early Doors | 930-52 | 6 | 5-1 | Joseph O’Brien | Jonjo O’Neill jnr |
| 2018 | Blow By Blow | 32161 | 7 | 11-1 | Gordon Elliott | Donagh Meyler |
| 2017 | Champagne Classic | 23213 | 6 | 12-1 | Gordon Elliott | JJ Slevin |
| 2016 | Ibis Du Rheu | 64-235 | 5 | 14-1 | Paul Nicholls | Jack Sherwood |
| 2015 | Kilultagh Vic | 65-123 | 6 | 7-1 | Willie Mullins | Luke Dempsey |
MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
-
Top-three finish in at least one of last two starts, 9/10
-
No more than eight hurdle runs, 9/10
-
Officially rated 137-144, 7/10
-
Aged five or six, 8/10
-
Had won that season, 8/10
-
Rated within 6lb of RPR top-rated, 7/10
Other factors
-
Gordon Elliott (three), Willie Mullins and Joseph O’Brien (two each) account for the seven Irish-trained winners.
-
The six winners from 2012 to 2017 carried between 11st 1lb and 11st 7lb. Four of the last seven shouldered 11st 9lb or 11st 10lb.
-
Willie Mullins trained the last two winners rated lower than 137 (Killultagh Vic in 2015 and Sir Des Champs in 2011).
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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP 2024
On a day which truly belonged to Ireland, they capped off their brilliant Cheltenham Festival when Better Days Ahead scored. He also made it a final-day double for Gordon Elliott under Danny Gilligan following Stellar Story’s win in the Albert Bartlett earlier on the card. In a familiar theme throughout the week, the finish was dominated by the Irish. The first six were all trained there, including the 100-30 favourite Waterford Whispers in second and Quai De Bourbon in third.