County Handicap Hurdle Race Card

The McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle - or the ‘County Cap Hurdle’ or ‘County Handicap Hurdle’ as it’s more commonly known - is one of the most competitive and exciting races of the Cheltenham Festival. Find out more about this particular handicap fixture on our informative race card page.

McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) Runners And Entries: 2024

Below you can find the runners and entries for the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle for this year's Cheltenham Festival.

This is a full list of entries, but there are further declarations five days before the race, and then final declarations 48 hours before. So be sure to check back with this page for updates on the County Cap Hurdle runners and riders.

BetMGM County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

1st
Paul Townend

Absurde

Age: 6
Weight: 10.7
OR: 138
J:
 
Paul Townend
T:
 
W P Mullins
held up in last, still plenty to do but going easily when mistake 2 out, good headway but not fluent when went third last, ran on well to lead towards finish, cosily
2nd
Harry Skelton

L'Eau Du Sud

Age: 6
Weight: 10.5
OR: 135
J:
 
Harry Skelton
T:
 
Dan Skelton
held up in rear, midfield 3rd, went third 2 out, led narrowly but not fluent last, kept on run-in, headed towards finish
3rd
Danny Gilligan

Pied Piper

Age: 6
Weight: 12.0
OR: 156
J:
 
Danny Gilligan
T:
 
Gordon Elliott
held up in rear, headway after 2 out, kept on well run-in, went third final strides

County Handicap Hurdle Tips

If you’re looking for some County Cap Hurdle tips, below you’ll find our latest selections and insights as soon as they become available:

Chelmsford (AW) - March 29 2024
Chelmsford (AW) 14:50
11(5)
Jamie Spencer

Cloud King

J: Jamie Spencer
T: Robert Cowell
Jamie Spencer

Cloud King

bet365
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betfair
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betfred
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betuk
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
midnite
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
skybet
£10.00 Returns £18.33
5/6
betway
£10.00 Returns £18.00
4/5
coral
£10.00 Returns £18.00
4/5
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £18.00
4/5
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £18.00
4/5
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £17.27
8/11
5/6
Age: 3
Weight: 9-6
OR: 61
Days: 3
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
26/03/24STH5St9-101
19/09/23YAR6GS9-48
23/08/23BAT5Gd9-46
01/08/23GOO6GS9-28
Lingfield (AW) - March 29 2024
Lingfield (AW) 14:05
9(6)
James Doyle

Inspiritus

J: James Doyle
T: Roger Varian
James Doyle

Inspiritus

betfair
£10.00 Returns £90.00
8/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £90.00
8/1
bet365
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £80.00
7/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £75.00
13/2
coral
£10.00 Returns £70.00
6/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £70.00
6/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £70.00
6/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £70.00
6/1
8/1
Age: 4
Weight: 9-4
OR: 85
Days: 28
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
01/03/24LIN10St9-82
01/02/24CFD10St9-112
05/01/24WOL9.5St9-41
15/11/23NCS8St9-72
16/10/23WDR8Sft9-72
Newcastle (AW) - March 29 2024
Newcastle (AW) 16:10
10(9)
David Probert

Storm Catcher

J: David Probert
T: Simon Pearce
David Probert

Storm Catcher

betMGM
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
bet365
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £100.00
9/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £95.00
17/2
10/1
Age: 6
Weight: 9-3
OR: 99
Days: 55
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
03/02/24WOL9.5St9-91
01/01/24NCS10St9-32
14/12/23CFD10St10-22
18/11/23LIN10St9-91
09/11/23CFD10St/Slw9-24
Newcastle (AW) 13:53
11(5)
George Rooke

Palace Boy

J: George Rooke
T: Ralph J Smith
George Rooke

Palace Boy

bet365
£10.00 Returns £65.00
11/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betfred
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betway
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
midnite
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
coral
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
11/2
Age: 7
Weight: 8-3
OR: 85
Days: 34
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
24/02/24STH16.5St9-92
19/01/24WOL14St9-61
27/12/23WOL14St9-111
14/03/23CHL16.5Sft11-713
12/02/23EXE16.5Gd11-52
Newcastle (AW) 16:40
8(11)
David Probert

Final Voyage

J: David Probert
T: J P Murtagh
David Probert

Final Voyage

coral
£10.00 Returns £150.00
14/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £150.00
14/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £150.00
14/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betuk
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £130.00
12/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £120.00
11/1
bet365
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
skybet
£10.00 Returns £110.00
10/1
14/1
Age: 6
Weight: 8-10
OR: 94
Days: 20
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
09/03/24WOL8.5St9-02
23/02/24DUN8St9-81
31/01/24DUN7St10-05
15/12/23DUN6St10-29
05/06/23GOW7Gd9-28
Newcastle (AW) 15:00
1(4)
Jack Enright

Nine Tenths

J: Jack Enright
T: William Haggas
Jack Enright

Nine Tenths

bet365
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betfair
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £30.00
2/1
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
betuk
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
skybet
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £28.75
15/8
2/1
Age: 4
Weight: 9-12
OR: 100
Days: 20
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
09/03/24WOL7St9-01
04/02/24LIN8St8-112
01/01/24NCS7St9-122
16/12/23WOL7St9-21
07/10/23ASC7Gd9-08
Newcastle (AW) 15:35
12(9)
Clifford Lee

Batal Dubai

J: Clifford Lee
T: Harry Charlton
Clifford Lee

Batal Dubai

coral
£10.00 Returns £65.00
11/2
betfair
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betfred
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betvictor
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betway
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £60.00
5/1
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
skybet
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £55.00
9/2
bet365
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
11/2
Age: 4
Weight: 8-9
OR: 93
Days: 28
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
01/03/24LIN6St8-123
14/02/24KEM6St/Slw8-112
01/01/24NCS6St8-123
19/10/23CFD6St9-131
07/10/23WOL6St9-104
Newcastle (AW) 14:25
6(10)
Oisin Murphy

Fire Demon

J: Oisin Murphy
T: Andrew Balding
Oisin Murphy

Fire Demon

betvictor
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
coral
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
ladbrokes
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
midnite
£10.00 Returns £50.00
4/1
bet365
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
betfred
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
betMGM
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
betuk
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
grosvenor
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
skybet
£10.00 Returns £45.00
7/2
betway
£10.00 Returns £43.33
100/30
betfair
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
paddy_power
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
william_hill
£10.00 Returns £40.00
3/1
4/1
Age: 3
Weight: 8-12
OR: 87
Days: 40
DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
18/02/24KEM6St/Slw9-71
20/01/24LIN6St9-75
06/01/24KEM6St/Slw9-01
08/09/23KEM7St/Slw9-73
19/08/23NBY7GS9-72

About the County Handicap Hurdle

A hugely popular event, the County Cap Hurdle is the second race on Gold Cup day - the fourth and final day of the Festival. It is also the first of the handicaps on the day itself and it’s run on the New Course at Cheltenham. It has sizable prize money too, which as of 2024, sees up to £100,000 to be won. The race also has Premier Handicap which some still refer to as ‘Grade 3’ status.

The race itself is over two miles and one furlong, with eight hurdles for the runners. It’s only for horses that are aged five and older and the required handicap mark to make the final field often changes year on year.

History of the County Handicap Hurdle

The ‘County Hurdle’ as it was, is one of the older races of the Cheltenham Festival and it was first run in 1920 and won by Trespasser. Originally, the County Cap Hurdle was traditionally the closing race of the Cheltenham Festival, but in 2009 it was rescheduled to be the second race on Gold Cup day.

In 1995, the title of the race was changed in tribute to the great trainer, Vincent O’Brien, with the race being named the ‘Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle’, following his retirement in 1994. However, as the official full title now suggests, the race is currently named after McCoy Contractors who become the sponsors in 2021.

County Cap Hurdle Winners From Recent Years and Notable Stats

Here are the most recent winners, jockeys and trainers of the County Cap Hurdle:


Year Winner Jockey Trainer
2023 Faivoir Bridget Andrews Dan Skelton
2022 State Man Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2021 Belfast Banter Kevin Sexton Peter Fahey
2020 Saint Roi Barry Geraghty Willie Mullins
2019 Ch'tibello Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
2018 Mohaayed Bridget Andrews Dan Skelton
2017 Arctic Fire Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2016 Superb Story Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
2015 Wicklow Brave Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2014 Lac Fontana Daryl Jacob Paul Nicholls
2013 Ted Veale Bryan Cooper Tony Martin

With such a long and prestigious history, there are also plenty of interesting stats about this particular race. Here are a few examples:

  • Willie Mullins has the most wins as a trainer (6) - Thousand Stars (2010), Final Approach (2011), Wicklow Brave (2015), Arctic Fire (2017), Saint Roi (2020), State Man (2022).
  • Ruby Walsh has the most wins as a jockey (4) - Sporazene (2004), Desert Quest (2006), American Trilogy (2009), Final Approach (2011)

County Handicap Hurdle FAQs