The Boodles Juvenile Hurdle is a race for horses deemed not quite good enough for the Triumph Hurdle.
This is a handicap, although we often see little between the top and bottom weights, such is the competitive nature.
Those who bet on Cheltenham see this race as a puzzle to solve, with a big field and only minimum form available.
We usually see a competitive betting market for this race. This means big odds will be available on most runners for those who wish to use Cheltenham free bets.
A typically competitive renewal with many stand outs but Saint Sam from the Willie Mullins yard is the horse that is the most interesting.
He’s plenty of hurdles experience, six races in total, which is more than most of his rivals will have. Three of those runs have been for Mullins in Ireland, where he has chased home some of the best juveniles in training.
He’s not quite good enough to take them on in the Triumph, and will head here as on of the class acts in this race, and we fancy him to go very close.
Saint Sam heads the betting market at 5/1, but this race looks wide open.
From a betting point of view, this will be one of the most wide open contests of the meeting, so look out for big each way odds and enhanced placed terms.
Houx Gris, Busselton and Riviere Detel are all behind Saint Sam in the betting, and all currently at single figures.
Then we have a long list of runners in behind for those looking to bet each way, all at double figures and with potential enhanced place terms with selected bookmakers, this could be where many people think the value is.