Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
17:30 Cheltenham Festival
2025-03-14
The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle is the final race of the Cheltenham Festival, taking place at 5.30pm on day four. It was established in 2009 and is named in honour of Martin Pipe, a 15-time champion trainer who retired in 2006 with 34 victories at the festival. As the title suggests, it is open only to conditional jockeys - professional riders who are still at the start of their careers. Check the Martin Pipe runners and riders ahead of the big race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.
No runners
MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2023 | Iroko | 4-11 | 5 | 6/1 | Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero | Aidan Kelly |
| 2022 | Banbridge | 114-71 | 6 | 12/1 | Joseph O’Brien | Mark McDonagh |
| 2021 | Galopin Des Champs | 1-2PU6 | 5 | 8-1 | Willie Mullins | S O’Keefe |
| 2020 | Indefatigable | 52231 | 7 | 25-1 | Paul Webber | Rex Dingle |
| 2019 | Early Doors | 930-52 | 6 | 5-1 | Joseph O’Brien | Jonjo O’Neill jnr |
| 2018 | Blow By Blow | 32161 | 7 | 11-1 | Gordon Elliott | Donagh Meyler |
| 2017 | Champagne Classic | 23213 | 6 | 12-1 | Gordon Elliott | JJ Slevin |
| 2016 | Ibis Du Rheu | 64-235 | 5 | 14-1 | Paul Nicholls | Jack Sherwood |
| 2015 | Kilultagh Vic | 65-123 | 6 | 7/1 | Willie Mullins | Luke Dempsey |
| 2014 | Don Poli | 2-211 | 5 | 12-1 | Willie Mullins | Mikey Fogarty |
MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Top-three finish in at least one of last two starts, 9/10
- No more than eight hurdle runs, 9/10
- Officially rated 137-145, 9/10
- Aged five or six, 8/10
- Had won that season, 8/10
- Rated within 5lb of RPR top-rated, 7/10
Other factors
- Willie Mullins (three) Gordon Elliott (two) and Joseph O’Brien account for the seven Irish-trained winners, three of whom were owned by Gigginstown.
- The six winners from 2012 to 2017 carried between 11st 1lb and 11st 7lb. Four of the last six shouldered 11st 9lb or 11st 10lb.
- Willie Mullins trained the last two winners rated lower than 137 (Killultagh Vic in 2015 and Sir Des Champs in 2011)
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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP 2023
IROKO looked in big trouble when losing his pitch coming down the hill, but he rallied turning in, and found another gear on the run-in to take his record this season to 3-3. No Ordinary Joe did little wrong in defeat, looking likely to collect at the last, but was run down by a better-handicapped rival and stronger stayer. Buddy One ran a fine race off a mark 22lb higher than when second on his handicap debut at Limerick in January. Might I came home in fourth and showed his progression continued into handicaps this season having run behind Constitution Hill and Jonbon, giving this form some considerable substance.