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The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle
TO CLOSE BY NOON ON FEBRUARY 18th
CHELTENHAM Tuesday, March 11th
THE BOODLES JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1)
(Registered as the Fred Winter) (Premier Hcap)
TOTAL RACE VALUE GBP 80,000
Distributed in accordance with Stakes and Prize Money Code
GBP 45,016 to the winning horse
The second to receive GBP 16,960,
the third GBP 8,488,
the fourth GBP 4,240,
the fifth GBP 2,128,
the sixth GBP 1,064,
the seventh GBP 528 and
the eighth GBP 272
for juvenile four yrs old
TWO MILES ABOUT HALF A FURLONG (2m 87yds)
Enter by noon, February 18th and pay GBP 100 stake
Confirm by noon, March 5th, and pay GBP 300
Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 9th
Weights published on.........February 25th
Lowest weight...........10st 2lb
Highest Weight..........11st 12lb
Penalties, after February 23rd, 2025,
a winner of a hurdle race.......... 5lb
(No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb)
PLEASE NOTE: A novice or juvenile horse shall only be qualified to run in this race if it has run a minimum of three times in Hurdle Races in Great Britain, Ireland or France in accordance with paragraph 15 of the Weights and Handicapping Code
CHELTENHAM Tuesday, March 11th
THE BOODLES JUVENILE HANDICAP HURDLE RACE (CLASS 1)
(Registered as the Fred Winter) (Premier Hcap)
TOTAL RACE VALUE GBP 80,000
Distributed in accordance with Stakes and Prize Money Code
GBP 45,016 to the winning horse
The second to receive GBP 16,960,
the third GBP 8,488,
the fourth GBP 4,240,
the fifth GBP 2,128,
the sixth GBP 1,064,
the seventh GBP 528 and
the eighth GBP 272
for juvenile four yrs old
TWO MILES ABOUT HALF A FURLONG (2m 87yds)
Enter by noon, February 18th and pay GBP 100 stake
Confirm by noon, March 5th, and pay GBP 300
Declare by 10.00 a.m. March 9th
Weights published on.........February 25th
Lowest weight...........10st 2lb
Highest Weight..........11st 12lb
Penalties, after February 23rd, 2025,
a winner of a hurdle race.......... 5lb
(No penalty to increase a horse’s weight above 11st 12lb)
PLEASE NOTE: A novice or juvenile horse shall only be qualified to run in this race if it has run a minimum of three times in Hurdle Races in Great Britain, Ireland or France in accordance with paragraph 15 of the Weights and Handicapping Code
2024. Lark In The Mornin 4-11-0 9/1 Joseph O'Brien - JJ Slevin (OR 122)
2023. Jazzy Matty 4-10-6 18/1 Gordon Elliott - M. O'Sullivan RPR 126 (OR 125)
2022. Brazil 4-11-9 10/1 P. Roche - Mark Walsh RPR 139 (OR 137)
2021. Jeff Kidder 4-10-8 80/1 Noel Meade - Sean Flanagan RPR 131 (OR 125)
2020. Aramax 4-10-12 5/1F Gordon Elliott - Barry Geraghty RPR 138 (OR 138)
2019. Band Of Outlaws 4-11-8 7/2F Joseph O'Brien - J J Slevin RPR 147 (OR 139)
2018. Veneer Of Charm 4-11-0 33/1 Gordon Elliott - Jack Kennedy RPR 135 (OR 129)
2017. Flying Tiger 4-11-5 33/1 Nick Williams - Richard Johnson RPR 137 (OR 134)
2016. Diego du Charmil 4-11-1 13/2 Paul Nicholls - Sam Twiston-Davies RPR 137 (OR 133)
2015. Qualando 4-11-0 25/1 Paul Nicholls - Nick Scholfield RPR 133 (OR 131)
2014. Hawk High 4-11-1 33/1 Tim Easterby - Brian Hughes RPR 130 (OR 130)
2013. Flaxen Flare 4-10-7 25/1 Gordon Elliott - Davy Condon RPR 140 (OR 127)
2024. 1st OR 122, 2nd OR 123, 3rd OR 134, 4th OR 121 (Highest OR 134, Lowest OR 120) 22 ran
2023. 1st OR 125, 2nd OR 128, 3rd OR 127, 4th OR 120 (Highest OR 142, Lowest OR 119) 21 ran
2022. 1st OR 137, 2nd OR 129, 3rd OR 130, 4th OR 131 (Highest OR 137, Lowest OR 124) 21 ran
2021. 1st OR 125, 2nd OR 139, 3rd OR 124, 4th OR 128 (Highest OR 141, Lowest OR 123) 22 ran
2020. 1st OR 138, 2nd OR 133, 3rd OR 133, 4th OR 132 (Highest OR 140, Lowest OR 129) 22 ran
2019. 1st OR 139, 2nd OR 134, 3rd OR 132, 4th OR 129 (Highest OR 141, Lowest OR 129) 21 ran
2018. 1st OR 129, 2nd OR 137, 3rd OR 135, 4th OR 132 (Highest OR 139, Lowest OR 129) 22 ran
2017. 1st OR 134, 2nd OR 139, 3rd OR 130, 4th OR 138 (Highest OR 139, Lowest OR 124) 22 ran
2016. 1st OR 133, 2nd OR 136, 3rd OR 132, 4th OR 132 (Highest OR 142, Lowest OR 128) 22 ran
2015. 1st OR 131, 2nd OR 136, 3rd OR 133, 4th OR 136 (Highest OR 141, Lowest OR 129) 22 ran
2014. 1st OR 130, 2nd OR 130, 3rd OR 127, 4th OR 128 (Highest OR 139, Lowest OR 128) 24 ran
17 French breds in the first 3 over 9 years, is a big indicator that since the weight range was lifted that trainers are able to source into France to meet the requirements of this race, and buy better horses to run in it.
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….2025 TREND ANALYSIS added for reference;
1) AVOID FAVOURITES?
The Fred Winter has been no stranger to big-priced winners since its inception in 2013. That is reflected by the trend of there only being one winning favourite in the last 12 renewals. Meanwhile, only four of the victors since 2013 have been found in the top three in the betting.
Lark In The Mornin was a 9/1 shot when winning the race in 2024, becoming the shortest-priced winner of the race since 2020. Since 2020, Jeff Kidder won at odds of 80/1 in 2021, and Jazzy Matty was an 18/1 winner in 2023.
2) WEIGHT;
As a handicap, there is an interesting trend in terms of the most likely preferred weight collocation for the Fred Winter. Nine of the last 12 winners have carried between 10st 6lb and 11st 5lb.
Brazil produced one of the best weight-carrying performances in 2022 when winning off 11-9. However, two of the last four winners of the race have carried less than 11st.
3) LAST TIME OUT WINNERS;
Heading to Cheltenham in winning form isn’t an essential for Fred Winter contenders. Only four of the last 12 winners have won on their previous start before travelling to the Festival. However, the timing of a recent run could be key, with nine of the last 12 winners having lined up within the last 53 days.
An interesting race of note is the Rated Novice Hurdle at Naas, four runners of the race have competed in that contest, with three winners having followed up at Cheltenham.
4) HURDLE EXPERIENCE
Experience over jumps is essential for runners in the Fred Winter. Ten of the victors of the Fred Winter had previous winning experience over obstacles.
That could bode well for Stencil from the Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm yard.
5) RATING;
The ratings also make for key reading before making a Fred Winter selection. Nine of the winners of the race since 2013 have been rated between 122 and 134.
The only exceptions to this rule were Brazil in 2022 off 137, Aramax off 138 in 2020, and Band of Outlaws in 2019 off 139.
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Early Entries in the Boodles Juvenile HcapH at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival:
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