The Betfair Hurdle is a Grade 3 Handicap run over a distance of approximately 2m. It is normally run at Newbury but, after last week’s equine flu shutdown, has been rearranged as part of a mammoth card this weekend at Ascot. The race, worth more than £87,000 to the winner, is considered among the most prestigious races of its type in the UK racing calendar. It’s certainly one of the most valuable and always attracts a big field with the average number of runners taking part since the turn of the century around 20 – this year matches the average.
Betfair Hurdle History and Trends
The Betfair Hurdle was first run in 1963, originally at Aintree. The race was first sponsored by drinks maker Schweppes and was known as the Schweppes Gold Trophy. Ryan Price won the first two runnings with Rosyth and trained four of the first five winners of the race.
Schweppes’ sponsorship continued until 1986 when it was taken over by Tote Bookmakers (later known as totesport). The race was renamed the Tote Gold Trophy from 1987 to 2004, and the totesport Trophy from 2005 to 2011. Since 2012 the race has been sponsored by Betfair and has assumed its current title. Two winners of the race — Persian War and Make a Stand — subsequently achieved victory in the following month’s Champion Hurdle.
- Lightly-raced five and six year-olds, in their first or second season jumping, have dominated this prize with that age group responsible for the last 12 winners.
- All had had no more than 10 career starts over hurdles with five having had no more than four, but three outings over timber is probably the minimum requirement.
- Only one finished outside the first three in its previous start.
- Gary Moore has trained three of the last 11 winners.
Betfair Hurdle Recent Winners
| Season Form | ||||||||||
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer | Age | Weight | Price | Rating | R | W | |
| 2007 | Heathcote | Jamie Moore | Gary Moore | 5 | 10-6 | 50/1 | 126 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2008 | Wingman | Jamie Moore | Gary Moore | 6 | 10-0 | 14/1 | 124 | 2 | 1 | |
| 2009 | Abandoned | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |
| 2010 | Get Me Out Of Here | A P McCoy | Jonjo O’Neill | 6 | 10-6 | 6/1 2F | 135 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2011 | Recession Proof | Dougie Costello | John Quinn | 5 | 10-8 | 12/1 | 134 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2012 | Zarkandar | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls | 5 | 11-1 | 11/4 F | 151 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2013 | My Tent Or Yours | A P McCoy | Nicky Henderson | 6 | 11-2 | 5/1 F | 149 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2014 | Splash Of Ginge | Ryan Hatch | Nigel Twiston-Davies | 6 | 10-3 | 33/1 | 134 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2015 | Violet Dancer | Joshua Moore | Gary Moore | 5 | 10-9 | 20/1 | 132 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2016 | Agrapart | Lizzie Kelly | Nick Williams | 5 | 10-5 | 16/1 | 137 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2017 | Ballyandy |
Sam Twiston-Davies
|
Nigel Twiston-Davies | 6 | 11-1 | 3/1 F | 135 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2018 | Kalashnikov | Jack Quinlan | Amy Murphy | 5 | 11-5 | 8/1 JF | 141 | 3 | 2 | |
Ballyandy (a general 12/1), the 2017 winner, hasn’t raced over the 2m trip in almost two years and is 11lb higher so it’s no surprise that Sam Twiston-Davies prefers stablemate Al Dancer, who is a fast-improving six-year-old .
There is no longer much value in his odds (a best 10/3 with Betfred), but he was so impressive at Cheltenham on his handicap debut that he is probably several steps ahead of the handicapper, despite a 12lb rise.
Gary Moore’s love affair with this race is well documented and the veteran Sussex trainer has two runners this year. Ar Mest runs under a penalty but the general 20/1 is a good each-way price.
Getaway Trump has been well supported and is joint favourite at 10/3 but his stable companion at the Paul Nicholls yard, MONT DES AVALOIRS, may offer more value on his close second to Global Citizen at Newbury at the start of December. He is 5lb better off with runner-up Lisp and the winner won a Grade 2 at Haydock last month. Lorcan Williams takes off 5lb and his mount is 11/1 with Betfred. Magic Dancer has been a little disappointing this season but is well handicapped as a result.
