2019 Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle Preview

2020 Race Preview Due March 2nd 2020

The final race of the Cheltenham Festival this season is the Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle. The race carries the name of the legendary trainer Martin Pipe and his son David has been trying to train the winner without success since its inception back in 2009.

Irish trainer Willie Mullins has won it three times and the last two renewals have gone to Gordon Elliott, which tells you the Irish are the ones to look out for in this race without doubt.

The two trainers already mentioned dominate the market and it’s the Gordon Elliott trained Dallas Des Pictons that has attracted the most attention. The 6yo has only had four starts over hurdles but has improved with each outing.

He won a maiden by 10 lengths at Punchestown in January and then stepped up in trip to win a handicap over three miles last time out.

Those victories have seen him rise to a mark of 140 and with more improvement to come he has a right chance here.

Cartwright another Elliott contender has been a bit disappointing this season but this is a race that could suit the former Mark Prescott inmate.

His 6th at Navan over this trip in January reads quite well and if he can come back to that sort of form he will be thereabouts.

Willie Mullins saddles Getareason, who has struggled to land a blow since winning his first two starts over hurdles. He has often ran well without threatening in graded company so maybe handicaps will be his game.

He gets in here off 140 and that could be a pound or two light and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go close for owner Jared Sullivan. Mullins also runs Acapella Bourgeois, the 9yo has not been seen for 425 days and it would be a terrific effort if he could get involved here.

Paul Nicholls leads the home challenge and has won this race twice in the last six years.

His 7yo mare If You Say Run ran well at Haydock last time out behind Jester Jet and that form reads well here. She has 3 victories and five runner up finishes in her ten races so is one we can rely on.

This race was first run in 2009 and won by Andytown trained by Nicky Henderson. Th Seven Barrows handler has always supported this race well and at the entry stage has no less than 12 runners included.

He's ended up with two runners and the first is Style De Garde the mount of Ned Curtis. He was second at Ludlow last time out and while the horse is not straight forward he certanly has ability. His other runner is Pym, he was second here in a novice hurdle in November and then last time out won at Kempton in a close finish with The Cashel Man. He can improve now handicapping and will be the mount of Richard Patrick.

One horse that has been improving at a rate of knots is Big Time Dancer trained by Jennie Candlish. His first sign of form was at Wetherby in November when he was a decent second in a Class 3 handicap.

He was only rated 114 at that time. He then went to Doncaster and won by 10 lengths which put him up to 125.

His last run was his most impressive when he landed the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton under young rider Jonjo O’Neill and now gets in here off 134. It’s a fairy-tale for the connections and the 6yo certainly deserves his place in the line-up.

Top weight Early Doors is trained by Joseph O'Brien and will be ridden by Jonjo O'Neill Jnr. That looks a lethal combination and the horse will find this a lot easier than chasing home Apple's Jade which he did in the Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown last time. The 6yo owned by J.P.McManus has been highly tried all year and looks to have found a decent opportunity.