2024 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Tips - Key trends and tips for the Festival finale

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 08 Mar 2024

Jon Vine 08 Mar 2024

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Free guide to the 2024 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle
This handicap takes place on day four of the Cheltenham Festival on Friday 15th March
Waterford Whispers features in our verdict

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Cheltenham hurdle. (Getty)

The Cheltenham Festival comes to a close with the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle. This two-and-a-half miles handicap hurdle is open only to horses rated 145 or lower, and only amateur and conditional riders are allowed to take part.

Here's our free guide to the 2024 Martin Pipe, which includes some key ten-year trends and our best betting tips in the verdict.

2024 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Key Ten-Year Trends

10 of the last 10 winners were rated above 135
8 of the last 10 winners had run in no more than two handicap hurdles
8 of the last 10 winners had run no more than five times over hurdles
8 of the last 10 winners had won or placed on their previous start

2024 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Tips

After Sa Majeste was handed a lenient mark of 140, I was fully expecting Willie Mullins' six-year-old to get smashed into short-priced favouritism for the Martin Pipe. However, Sa Majeste remains strong at the head of the Coral Cup market and it's his stablemate, Quai De Bourbon who's made the Martin Pipe move.

Having run twice over hurdles in France, Quai De Bourbon has since won two novice hurdles in Ireland, beating stablemate Westport Cove on his most recent outing at Clonmel. Michael O'Sullivan said during a Cheltenham preview that he'd been sounded out about riding Quai De Bourbon in the Martin Pipe and he'd be one of the best-claiming jockeys around.

With Sa Majeste seemingly Coral Cup bound, JP McManus will be represented by No Ordinary Joe, who was narrowly beaten by Iroko in this race 12 months ago off a one-pound lower mark. JP's colours will also be carried into this contest by Waterford Whispers, who's been laid out for Cheltenham since an encouraging handicap debut at Leopardstown over Christmas.

My first port of call for the Martin Pipe is usually Gordon Elliott, who usually targets this race with one of his better novices. Better Days Ahead looks likely to represent Elliott in this year's renewal and he was only beaten five lengths behind Slade Steel in Grade Two company earlier in the season.

I've backed Doddiethegreat for the Coral Cup, but he looks more likely to get in here. Dan Skelton's Nurse Susan has some good Cheltenham form to her name. Paul Nicholls' has confirmed that Freddie Gingell will ride Sonigino, who won a handicap at Aintree off 12-00 back in December.

Answer To Kayf is a little older than your typical Martin Pipe winner, but Terence O'Brien's novice brings some strong Irish form into this handicap. Course winner, Encanto Bruno looks set to represent Gavin Cromwell. Yeats Star and Jigoro are also possible runners for Gordon Elliott on day four of the Cheltenham Festival.

Cuthbert Dibble is an improving young hurdler that I've got my eye on for Cheltenham, but we don't yet know which race he'll be pointed at. Idy Wood is another British novice who I think is progressive, but I highly doubt whether he'll get a run in this contest off a mark of just 125.

Verdict

Martin Pipe 2024

The only horse I've backed so far for the Martin Pipe is Waterford Whispers. Henry De Bromhead's six-year-old beat decent rivals like Answer To Kayf and Ataboycharlie in his first couple of novice outings this season and ran a decent enough race when second on his handicap debut at Leopardstown in December.

As is his want, De Bromhead has chosen to keep Waterford Whispers off the track since that run and prepare him for Cheltenham at home. I love the way this six-year-old travels and sees out his races and I do not doubt that there are bundles of improvement to come. If he gets in, Waterford Whispers should have a good chance.

Doddiethegreat is another who makes it onto my shortlist and I'll probably back him here if he doesn't get in the Coral Cup.

Waterford Whispers

2024 Martin Pipe Tip 1

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