William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Cheltenham

14:00

Date 2025-03-14

Distance 2m179y

Class Class 1

Going Good To Soft

Type Hurdle

Surface Turf

Age Band 5yo+

Prize £61,897

Winning Time 4m 5.57s (slow by 8.57s)

Result

Pos	Horse	SP	Btn
1st	Kargese (FR) Paul Townend · W P Mullins	3/1F	Won
2nd	Ndaawi (GB) Jack Kennedy · Gordon Elliott	25/1	1.5
3rd	Absurde (FR) Danny Mullins · W P Mullins	5/1	1.5
4th	Ethical Diamond (IRE) Mr P W Mullins · W P Mullins	16/1	.75
5th	Spirit d'Aunou (FR) Freddie Mitchell · Gary & Josh Moore	25/1	0.05
6th	Our Champ (IRE) Freddie Gordon · Chris Gordon	14/1	.5
7th	Cracking Rhapsody (IRE) Craig Nichol · Ewan Whillans	20/1	.75
8th	Pinot Gris (IRE) Keith Donoghue · Gavin Cromwell	14/1	0.1
9th	Daddy Long Legs (FR) Sean O'Keeffe · W P Mullins	14/1	1.25
10th	Irish Panther (GB) Cian Cullinan · Eddie & Patrick Harty	12/1	.5
11th	Norman Fletcher (GB) Sam Twiston-Davies · Nigel Twiston-Davies	40/1	.75
12th	Fils d'Oudairies (FR) Danny Gilligan · Gordon Elliott	80/1	.75
13th	Hansard (IRE) Niall Houlihan · Gary & Josh Moore	16/1	0.2
14th	Lark In The Mornin (GER) J J Slevin · Joseph Patrick O'Brien	11/2	1.25
15th	Valgrand (FR) Harry Skelton · Dan Skelton	8/1	0.1
16th	McLaurey (IRE) Mark Walsh · Emmet Mullins	17/2	13

Runners (16)

EW Terms: 4 places, ¼ odds (standard bookmaker terms — may vary)

#	Horse	Jockey / Trainer	Wt	Gear	Form	OR	RPR	TS	Last	Crs	Dst	Val	Scr	EW	Odds
7	Kargese Bay J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins	157	h	122-12	141	152	135	55d	—	—	+7	29.4	0.75/1	3/1 25%
Last season's Triumph H'dle runner-up; may have needed comeback run; could be on good mark
13	Lark In The Mornin Bay J:J J Slevin T:Joseph Patrick O'Brien	J:J J Slevin T:Joseph Patrick O'Brien	148	—	631-57	132	148	120	77d	—	—	+11	24.5	1.25/1	5/1 17%
Last year's Fred Winter winner; no threat on either run since but remains of interest
2	Absurde Bay J:Danny Mullins T:W P Mullins	J:Danny Mullins T:W P Mullins	162	—	16P41-	146	151	112	—	—	—	+25	39.3	1.38/1	11/2 15%
Won this 12 months ago; should still have mileage in his mark judged on classy Flat form
10	McLaurey Bay J:Mark Walsh T:Emmet Mullins	J:Mark Walsh T:Emmet Mullins	152	—	0-2311	136	149	116	40d	—	—	+14	24.4	1.88/1	15/2 12%
Won warm race on handicap debut at Leopardstown and could have lots more left in the tank
12	Valgrand Bay J:Harry Skelton T:Dan Skelton	J:Harry Skelton T:Dan Skelton	150	—	111207	134	156	133	77d	—	—	+22	31.2	2.00/1	8/1 11%
Hasn't kicked on since Grade 2 novice win here but trainer has excellent record in race
1	Daddy Long Legs Chestnut J:Sean O'Keeffe T:W P Mullins	J:Sean O'Keeffe T:W P Mullins	168	—	501352	152	150	125	40d	—	—	+30	36.9	3.50/1	14/1 7%
Mixed form since impressive handicap win at Punchestown last April, but in with a chance
4	Ethical Diamond Bay J:Mr P W Mullins T:W P Mullins	J:Mr P W Mullins T:W P Mullins	159	h	060-01	143	150	125	39d	—	—	+19	24.9	3.50/1	14/1 7%
Easy maiden win at Punchestown; tough task back in handicap but could have more to offer
5	Pinot Gris Grey J:Keith Donoghue T:Gavin Cromwell	J:Keith Donoghue T:Gavin Cromwell	159	tb	31-212	143	146	108	77d	—	—	+19	24.9	4.00/1	16/1 6%
Improved form in these blinkers the last twice, going close at Leopardstown when last seen
14	Irish Panther Bay J:Cian Cullinan(7) T:Eddie & Patrick Harty	J:Cian Cullinan(7) T:Eddie & Patrick Harty	144	ht	3-2833	128	153	112	40d	—	—	+18	23	4.00/1	16/1 6%
Third at Leopardstown this winter in first two handicaps and each-way claims once more
11	Our Champ Bay J:Freddie Gordon(3) T:Chris Gordon	J:Freddie Gordon(3) T:Chris Gordon	151	t	-61358	135	151	147	34d	—	—	+23	27	5.50/1	22/1 4%
Front-runner; excuses last twice; has run well on both his visits here; interesting
6	Hansard Bay J:Niall Houlihan T:Gary & Josh Moore	J:Niall Houlihan T:Gary & Josh Moore	158	p	15-483	142	156	106	27d	—	—	+19	24.4	4.00/1	16/1 6%
Ran well in Grade 2 Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton last month and he's a possible player
9	Cracking Rhapsody Bay J:Craig Nichol T:Ewan Whillans	J:Craig Nichol T:Ewan Whillans	153	—	-40101	137	151	132	13d	—	—	+34	37.7	8.25/1	33/1 3%
Won the Morebattle a fortnight ago but loves Kelso; down the field on sole visit here
15	Spirit d'Aunou Bay J:Freddie Mitchell(5) T:Gary & Josh Moore	J:Freddie Mitchell(5) T:Gary & Josh Moore	143	p	5-F643	127	155	137	49d	—	—	+17	20	10.00/1	40/1 2%
Has dropped down the weights but hasn't really shone this term; others make greater appeal
8	Ndaawi Bay J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	J:Jack Kennedy T:Gordon Elliott	156	—	3136-2	140	147	132	—	—	—	+25	28.3	7.00/1	28/1 3%
Placed in two big h'caps last year; back from a break but could be an each-way contender
16	Norman Fletcher Chestnut J:Sam Twiston-Davies T:Nigel Twiston-Davies	J:Sam Twiston-Davies T:Nigel Twiston-Davies	143	—	-213P9	127	150	118	41d	—	—	+22	24.4	16.50/1	66/1 1%
In good form towards end of last year (including here) but two lesser runs have followed
3	Fils d'Oudairies Bay J:Danny Gilligan T:Gordon Elliott	J:Danny Gilligan T:Gordon Elliott	161	—	4-4P44	145	151	111	40d	—	—	+23	24.1	25.00/1	100/1 1%
10yo who hasn't been at his best this season following an absence and others appeal more

Horse	bet365	William Hill	Boyle Sports	Ladbrokes	Unibet
Kargese	3/1	3/1	3/1	11/4	3/1
Lark In The Mornin	9/2	9/2	9/2	9/2	5/1
Absurde	5/1	9/2	5/1	9/2	11/2
McLaurey	7/1	7/1	7/1	7/1	15/2
Valgrand	8/1	8/1	8/1	7/1	7/1
Daddy Long Legs	14/1	12/1	14/1	14/1	14/1
Ethical Diamond	14/1	14/1	14/1	12/1	12/1
Pinot Gris	16/1	16/1	16/1	16/1	14/1
Irish Panther	16/1	14/1	16/1	14/1	14/1
Our Champ	22/1	22/1	22/1	22/1	20/1
Hansard	16/1	14/1	16/1	14/1	16/1
Cracking Rhapsody	28/1	28/1	28/1	33/1	28/1
Spirit d'Aunou	40/1	33/1	40/1	40/1	40/1
Ndaawi	28/1	28/1	28/1	25/1	28/1
Norman Fletcher	50/1	50/1	50/1	66/1	40/1
Fils d'Oudairies	100/1	100/1	100/1	100/1	80/1

Predictor

Scored on Official Rating (max 30), Recent Form (max 25), and Market Odds (max 20). Max score: 75.

1st

Absurde

39.3

OR: 24 Form: 11.3 Odds: 4

11/2

2nd

Cracking Rhapsody

37.7

OR: 21.8 Form: 15 Odds: 1

33/1

3rd

Daddy Long Legs

36.9

OR: 25.5 Form: 9.5 Odds: 1.9

14/1

Valgrand

31.2

OR: 21 Form: 7.5 Odds: 2.7

8/1

Kargese

29.4

OR: 22.8 Form: 0 Odds: 6.7

3/1

Ndaawi

28.3

OR: 22.5 Form: 5 Odds: 0.8

28/1

Our Champ

OR: 21.3 Form: 4.5 Odds: 1.2

22/1

Ethical Diamond

24.9

OR: 23.3 Form: 0 Odds: 1.6

14/1

Pinot Gris

24.9

OR: 23.3 Form: 0 Odds: 1.6

16/1

Lark In The Mornin

24.5

OR: 20.5 Form: 0 Odds: 4

5/1

McLaurey

24.4

OR: 21.5 Form: 0 Odds: 2.9

15/2

Hansard

24.4

OR: 23 Form: 0 Odds: 1.4

16/1

Norman Fletcher

24.4

OR: 19.3 Form: 4.5 Odds: 0.7

66/1

Fils d'Oudairies

24.1

OR: 23.8 Form: 0 Odds: 0.4

100/1

Irish Panther

OR: 19.5 Form: 2.1 Odds: 1.4

16/1

Spirit d'Aunou

OR: 19.3 Form: 0 Odds: 0.7

40/1

Ratings

Horse	OR	RPR	TS
Daddy Long Legs	152	150	125
Absurde	146	151	112
Fils d'Oudairies	145	151	111
Ethical Diamond	143	150	125
Pinot Gris	143	146	108
Hansard	142	156	106
Kargese	141	152	135
Ndaawi	140	147	132
Cracking Rhapsody	137	151	132
McLaurey	136	149	116
Our Champ	135	151	147
Valgrand	134	156	133
Lark In The Mornin	132	148	120
Irish Panther	128	153	112
Spirit d'Aunou	127	155	137
Norman Fletcher	127	150	118

Last Run

Horse	Last Run	Status
Cracking Rhapsody	13d ago	Quick return
Hansard	27d ago	Fit
Our Champ	34d ago	Fit
Ethical Diamond	39d ago	Fit
McLaurey	40d ago	Fit
Daddy Long Legs	40d ago	Fit
Irish Panther	40d ago	Fit
Fils d'Oudairies	40d ago	Fit
Norman Fletcher	41d ago	Fit
Spirit d'Aunou	49d ago	Fresh
Kargese	55d ago	Fresh
Lark In The Mornin	77d ago	Fresh
Valgrand	77d ago	Fresh
Pinot Gris	77d ago	Fresh
Absurde	—	—
Ndaawi	—	—