Key pointers and quotes for the fiercely competitive County Hurdle

2.10 CheltenhamRandox Health County Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m1f | 5yo+ | ITV1/RUK

Master Mullins the punters' friend

Like so often at the Cheltenham Festival it is best to have Willie Mullins as an ally when it comes to the battle with the bookies that is the Randox Health County Hurdle.

Mullins has already plundered plenty of prizes this week and has carried the County Hurdle back to Ireland in four of the last ten years. Numerically he has the best chance of doing so again with five runners representing his powerful stable: Bleu Et Rouge, Lagostovegas, Meri Devie, Sandsend and Whiskey Sour.

Bleu Et Rouge and Whiskey Sour received boosts to their form this week. Bleu Et Rouge chased home Supreme Novices' Hurdle second Kalashnikov in the Betfair Hurdle, while Whiskey Sour was among those left in the wake of Ballymore Novices' Hurdle winner Samcro in last month's Deloitte.

Folly to follow favourites

If you are thinking of siding with the favourite, be warned - no market leader has won the race since 2006 and only three have done so since Blowing Wind pulled off the Imperial Cup-County Hurdle double in 1998.

In fact, this is a race that has often rewarded those punters prepared to take a chance on something at longer odds, with only 2016 winner Superb Story returning a single-figure price since that victory for favourite Desert Quest 12 years ago.

Fantastic five hold the upper hand

Trainers will be hoping they have managed to get their County Hurdle runners into the race with a bit up their sleeve in terms of handicap mark to give them the best chance.

And to that end, the success of five-year-olds in five of the previous ten runnings of this race would suggest the handicapper has less of an idea of how good these horses may turn out to be than some of the older, more experienced runners.

Three of the leading contenders - Sandsend, Flying Tiger and Duca De Thaix - are five and it would come as no surprise if that age group triumphed again.

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Jenkins
He's in good form and just ran a bit too keen in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time.

Ben Pauling, trainer of A Hare Breath
He's in absolutely brilliant form and this has been his aim for a long time. I'm not sure the ground’s going to be ideal for him, which is a bit of a shame, but he'll take his chance as he couldn't be any better.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Sternrubin
He's been in good form all year. He's run well in this race before and I'd like to think he'd have a decent chance.

David Pipe, trainer of Moon Racer
He's come on a lot for his run at Newbury in the Betfair Hurdle. We hope he's got a good each-way chance.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Brelade, Ben Dundee and Duca De Thaix
We decided to switch Brelade back from fences and he's in good form. We're just hoping he runs well. Ben Dundee shouldn't mind the ground and has run well in handicaps before. He should go well. This race has been Duca De Thaix's target for some time, although he was a bit disappointing last time. He's in good order and we're hoping for better.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Bleu Et Rouge, Lagostovegas, Meri Devie, Sandsend and Whiskey Sour
Bleu Et Rouge will like the ground and his second in the Betfair Hurdle got a boost when Kalashnikov went close in the Supreme on Tuesday. Sandsend is an improver and has a good chance and the same applies to Meri Devie, who won well at Punchestown last time and who we think is on an upward curve. Whiskey Sour isn't a big horse and the ground won't be ideal, but he does jump well. The ground is a concern for our other runner, Lagostovegas.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Divin Bere and Brahms De Clermont
Both would prefer better ground but what can you do? Both have run okay on it but Divin Bere especially wouldn't want it heavy. Let's hope it dries.

Nick Williams, trainer of Flying Tiger
It’s going to be extremely difficult for him on the ground. In these competitive handicaps you need every box ticked and his form on heavy ground is there for everyone to see. He's a speed horse and it just doesn't help him.

Robert Walford, trainer of Smaoineamh Alainn
We're a bit worried about the ground. She's won on soft but prefers it better and you need everything in your favour for Cheltenham. I'm really happy with her and we'll give it a go.

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