Pulse Racing
Fred Winter

Detailed race analysis for The McCoys Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival
* note all data is from 2016 unless otherwise stated.

RACE SUMMARY

First run in 2005, the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle was introduced when the Cheltenham Festival expanded to four days.

The race is named in honour of legendary jockey and trainer Fred Winter, it is a Premier Handicap hurdle for four-year-old juvenile hurdlers.

Run on the Old Course over 2 miles competitors jump eight hurdles. As a handicap for four-year-olds only, the Fred Winter provides an alternative Festival target to the Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle on the Friday.

WINNING PROFILE

AVERAGE AGE

*restricted to 4

131

AVERAGE OFFICIAL RATING

AVERAGE HURDLE RUNS PRIOR

3.2

PATH TO CHELTENHAM

The following races have produced the most Juvenile Handicap Hurdle winners since 2016:

(5) Kill GAA Rated Novice Hurdle (Naas, February)
(2) Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (G2) ( Leopardstown, December)
(2) 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle (Leopardstown, December)

Number of horses that ran in these races and went on to win at Cheltenham that season in brackets.

TRAINER WINS

TRAINER S/R

WINS BY COUNTRY

PULSE STOPPER

British-trained horses have a poor record with just two winners: 2/130 | 1.5% with the last winner in 2017.

Big trainers like W P Mullins and Dan Skelton are 0/17 and 0/11 respectively.

Nine of the eleven winners had no aids and Runners wearing hood, visor, blinkers or cheekpieces are 1/71 | 1.4%

PULSE INSIGHT

Irish trainers have 9/11 winners from fewer runners than Britain — 9/104 | 8.7% versus 2/130 | 1.5%.

The race does not require a winning prep. Of the last ten winners only three won last time (Band Of Outlaws, Aramax, Brazil). Four of the last five were beaten on their last prep run.

The key prep race is the Kill GAA Novice Hurdle at Naas in February which has provided four winners since 2020.

A small sample size but note there have been only seven German-bred runners from which there were two winners (Gaelic Warrior was 2nd). Backing all German-bred would have returned a profit of £11.50 to £1 level stakes.

Mark Walsh on Irish-trained runners is: 4/7 | 57.1%. Note that the retained jockey for JP McManus, the owner of all four Walsh winners, is now Harry Cobden.

JP McManus has has ten runners since 2020 with four winners. If backing all his horses this would have returned a £30 profit to £1 level stakes.

Looking at trainers, O’Brien/Roche axis is a yard angle: J P O’Brien 3/14 | 21.4%, P Roche 2/3 | 66.7%, combined 5/17 | 29.4%. Gordon Elliott has a strong record also with 3/27 | 11.1% though has a relatively poor Festival record in recent years.

PULSE EDGE

PULSE SUMMARY

Irish Angle

No british trained horse has won since 2017 with the Irish trainers dominating.

The Kill GAA Novice at Naas in February a well-galloped path for the race itself.

JP McManus has four of the last seven winners in his colours from only ten entries with previously retained jockey Mark Walsh winning all four.

PULSE VERDICT

Pulse Rate

Look out for prep races and note horses not necessarily winning as a final prep to protect their handicap mark

Pulse Stopper

Headgear is a strong negative at 1/71 | 1.4%

Pulse Insight

Prep race at Naas, Kill GAA Novice Hurdle has produced 4/7 winners | 57%

Pulse Edge

JP McManus since 2020 is 4/10 | 40% | £30 to £1 level stakes

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ALL DATA FROM 2016 UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED

LAST UPDATED SEPT 2026

Pulse Racing Fred Winter

Detailed race analysis for The McCoys Contractors Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival * note all data is from 2016 unless otherwise stated.