Boodles Handicap Hurdle 2023 Tips
The penultimate race on Champions Day at the Cheltenham Festival is the Boodles Handicap Hurdle. Four-year-olds who haven't quite made the grade for the Triumph Hurdle often run in this handicap, which always provides Tuesday's racegoers with a fantastic amount of excitement.
We won't be finalising any of our handicap tips until the final fields have been confirmed. In this article, you'll find the latest Boodles Handicap Hurdle odds, key recurring ten-year trends and our final selections.
Cheltenham 2023 Tips - Boodles Handicap Hurdle 2023 Guide
Boodles Handicap Hurdle 2023 Odds
Boodles Handicap Hurdle Key Trends
- 10 of the last 10 winners had never run at Cheltenham before
- 10 of the last 10 winners were making their handicap debuts
- 9 of the last 10 winners had won that season
- 8 of the last 10 winners carried 11-00 or more
- 8 of the last 10 winners were rated 129 or more
- 8 of the last 10 winners ran had run on or after January 20th
The last six editions of the Boodles have all been won by Irish horses. British runners have managed to place in that time period, but Irish raiders have been dominant and, given how strong the Irish juveniles have looked compared to their British counterparts this season, I can't envisage a home victory at this year's Festival.
Boodles Handicap Hurdle Tips Shortlist
Charles Byrnes travels over to Cheltenham with a small, select squad of talented hurdlers this year and he'll have high hopes for BYKER, who was rated 76 on the flat for Richard Hannon and has impressed in his three starts over hurdles in Ireland.
Having stayed on to place fifth from a horrible position on his hurdles debut at Limerick, Byker comfortably beat Mighty Mo Missouri on soft ground at Naas in January. Philip Enright's mount then carried a penalty into a Rated Novice Hurdle that's produced three of the last four winners of this handicap, and Byrnes' youngster ran a cracker to finish third. Philip Byrnes comes in to take the ride for his father, and he'll reduce Byker's mark by a further five pounds.
Dan Skelton has saddled top-six placers in six of the last eight renewals of the Boodles and the rain has arrived in time for his French import PUNTA DEL ESTE, who scooted home on heavy ground to win by seven lengths on her final start for David Cottin.
Harry Skelton held his mount up on her British debut at Haydock, where Punta Del Este didn't jump well early on, but warmed to her task and staying on gamely down the straight to finish third behind Bo Zenith. Like Byker, Punta Del Este has been handed what looks a kind opening mark by the British handicapper and she'll be my second selection at an each-way price.
