Greatwood Hurdle Betting Tips, Odds and Offers

We have another fantastic race in store for us at the Cheltenham November meeting this weekend as the highly anticipated Greatwood Hurdle makes its much awaited return.

The November Meeting (formerly the Cheltenham Open) well and truly marks the start of the National Hunt season and the road to the Cheltenham Festival.

As is often the case, this two mile 87 yard race has attracted a top class field, with many well-known horses, jockeys and trainers on the racecard. With so much talent on show, this year’s Greatwood Hurdle will surely go right down to the final few furlongs in what promises to be a thrilling race.

Here we take a look at the best odds and offers and provide our betting tips for the Greatwood Hurdle which takes centre stage on the meeting’s closing day. This Grade 3 handicap hurdle contest was first run at Cheltenham in 1988 over this trip of 2m87y. Open to hurdlers aged four and above, the contest now offers £100,000 in total prize money.

So read on as we take a closer look at this great race. Alternatively check out our betting tips for the BetVictor Gold Cup.

Greatwood Hurdle Tips and Betting Offers, 3:00, 17th November 2019

The Greatwood Hurdle is one of the star races on the final day of the November Meeting at Cheltenham. The Grade 3, 2 mile ½ a furlong races is usually a very open contest and the betting for this year’s renewal suggests a typically competitive run. The heavy rain that’s brought about soft ground at Cheltenham has seen a few of those well fancied runners in the ante post betting being pulled from the running, but a good number of the 19 set to head to post have a genuine chance of victory.

Quel Destin to Keep Moving Forwards

Lizzie Kelly’s return from injury ahead of the November Meeting is very good news. The popular jockey has a real chance of returning to work with some big wins including in the Greatwood Hurdle.

Kelly rides Monsieur Lecoq, the favourite at a general price of 9/2. The five-year-old gelding did his strength in the betting the power of good with victory in the Welsh Champion Hurdle on his return to action last month. He’ll surely be a big player but you’d have to be incredibly sweet about the favourite’s chances given the quality of the competition.

Quel Destin is one of those who has a real chance of getting the favourite beaten. Paul Nicholls has had some success in this race before with a couple of winners and hopes are high at Ditcheat that Quel Destin can add to that tally.

The four-year-old did some very good work indeed last season but wasn’t seen since finishing a credible fifth in the Triumph Hurdle. In order to get him fit and firing for this race and the other big contests in the coming months, Nicholls has wasted no time putting Quel Destin to work in the early part of this season. He ran well enough on his first run at Bath before getting back to winning ways on heavy ground at Cheltenham. That run could be the template for his run in the Greatwood Hurdle so the 10/1 that Paddy Power are quoting is more than fair.

Harambe Can Roar at Cheltenham

In the lead up to the November Meeting, Alan King raised doubts about whether Harambe would get a run in the Greatwood Hurdle. Thankfully it appears that all is good and the six-year-old will get a chance. That could be very good news for savvy punters with 16/1 available on his chances with Coral.

There was nothing eye catching about his run at Chepstow last month but that was designed for him to rediscover his fitness for the bigger challenges ahead. Winning almost became a habit for Harambe last season who just missed out on a hat-trick to go into the winter. Off a decent handicap mark, he might just rediscover that winning feeling at a tempting price.

Betting Predictions

The Greatwood Hurdle is shaping up to be one of the most exciting races of the November Meeting. There is certainly some excellent value in the betting which is perhaps best provided by Quel Destin (10/1 with Paddy Power) and Harambe (16/1 with Coral) even if the latter is best supported with an each way bet.

Greatwood Hurdle Previous Winners

  • 2018 – Nietszche – jockey Danny McManamin, trainer Brian Ellison
  • 2017 – Elgin – jockey Wayne Hutchinson, trainer Alan King
  • 2016 – North Hill Harvey – jockey Harry Skelton, trainer Dan Skelton
  • 2015 – Old Guard – jockey Harry Cobden, trainer Paul Nicholls
  • 2014 – Garde La Victoire – jockey Richard Johnson, trainer Philip Hobbs
  • 2013 – Dell’ Arca – jockey Tom Scudamore, trainer David Pipe
  • 2012 – Olofi – jockey Paddy Brennan, trainer Tom George
  • 2011 – Brampour – jockey Harry Derham, trainer Paul Nicholls
  • 2010 – Menorah – jockey Richard Johnson, trainer Philip Hobbs
  • 2009 – Khyber Kim – jockey Paddy Brennan, trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies
  • 2008 – Numide – jockey Jamie Moore, trainer Gary Moore
  • 2007 – Sizing Europe – jockey Timmy Murphy, trainer Henry De Bromhead
  • 2006 – Detroit City – jockey Richard Johnson, trainer Philip Hobbs

Greatwood Hurdle History

Inaugurated in 1988, the Greatwood of the races title refers to a charity devoted to the welfare of our equine heroes upon their retirement. Greatwood first lent their name to the race in 2003, with Whitbread, Murphy’s, The Racing Post and Stan James also appearing as sponsors over the years.

Initially a Listed class contest, the event was finally granted Grade 3 status in 2004 and has thrown up a number of high quality winners, particularly since the turn of the century.

The contest proved to be particularly fruitful for owner Terry Warner as both Triumph Hurdle champ Detroit City and Champion Hurdle winner, Rooster Booster carried his yellow and black silks to victory here. Coming to the game a little later than some, it is Rooster Booster who is the oldest winner of the race as of 2015, having been eight years old at the time of his triumph.

There is no doubting the most talented horse to ever come home in front though. That honour belongs to Henry De Bromhead’s irrepressible hurdler/chaser, Sizing Europe. In a long and illustrious career the popular bay won an Irish Champion Hurdle, The Arkle, The Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Gowran Park Champion Chase a remarkable four times.

Richard Johnson may have some way to go to match Sir Tony McCoy’s 20 jockey’s championships, but he does match him here. Johnson, McCoy and Jamie Osborne share the lead in the jockeys table with three wins apiece.

The combination of Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson have enjoyed many big days over the years, and it was the Somerset handler who provided Johnson with each of his three wins in this race. Having taken the prize four times in all, Hobbs sits atop the trainers pile with one of McCoy’s chief partners in crime, Martin Pipe, on four wins.