Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

Nowadays, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle has the distinction of being the very last race of the four-day, 28-race betting extravaganza that is the Cheltenham Festival or, in other words, the ‘Getting Out Stakes’. The eponymous Martin Pipe, who retired at the end of the 2005/06 National Hunt season, dominated the sport for 20 years and won the trainers’ title a record 15 times.

Run over two miles and four and a half furlongs on the New Course, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle is open to horses aged four years and upwards, but is restricted to conditional jockeys or, in other words, young professionals who have yet to ride 75 winners. However, following a review by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), in an effort to encourage trainers to book the most experienced conditional jockeys available, from 2019 onwards all weight allowances were abolished.

A typical Festival handicap, with a safety limit of 24, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle has failed to produce a winning favourite in the past decade, but two second-favourites and two third-favourites have won in that period. Willie Mullins is the leading trainer with five wins, courtesy of Sir Des Champs (2011), Don Poli (2014), Killultagh Vic (2015) andGalopin Des Champs (2021), but Ireland narrowly lead Great Britain 9-7 overall. The race is open to horses officially rated 0-145, but a rating of 135 or higher has been a pre-requisite for victory in recent years.