Two miles of cut-and-thrust handicap hurdling awaits in the County Hurdle on Friday 19 March, day four of the 2027 Cheltenham Festival, and it remains one of the toughest puzzles of the week for punters. Follow the latest County Hurdle odds for next year’s renewal here.

County Hurdle Odds 2027

2026 County Hurdle Result

Jonjo and AJ O’Neill’s Wilful took the 2026 County Hurdle at 14/1, with 25/1 shot Sticktotheplan second for Olly Murphy, while Joyeuse and 50/1 outsider Cracking Rhapsody completed the first four. Willie Mullins’ Karbau, the 4/1 favourite, finished sixth in last year’s racecard below.

14:00 Cheltenham

William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

• Going Soft
• Distance 2m 0f 179y
• Class Class 1
• Race Type Hurdle Turf
• Surface Turf
• Runners 23
• Win Time 4m 6s

GG Edge Standard Compact

Win% is implied from the betting forecast

1st 6 Wilful W: 11st 2lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

14/1
(Won)

J: Jonjo O’Neill Jr T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

OR: — RPR: — Form: 1-2312

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

2nd 14 Sticktotheplan W: 10st 10lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

25/1

J: Sean Bowen T: Olly Murphy

OR: — RPR: — Form: 121130

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

3rd 16 1 tip Joyeuse W: 10st 7lb Age: 7 yo Mare

12/1

J: Nico de Boinville T: Nicky Henderson

OR: — RPR: — Form: 9-2294

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

4th 15 Cracking Rhapsody W: 10st 8lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

50/1

J: Craig Nichol T: Ewan Whillans

OR: — RPR: — Form: 1-0666

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

5th 22 3 tips Sinnatra W: 10st 5lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

9/2

J: Harry Skelton T: Dan Skelton

OR: — RPR: — Form: -22131

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

6th 4 3 tips Karbau OUR TIP W: 11st 8lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

4/1F

J: Paul Townend T: W P Mullins

OR: — RPR: — Form: 103-32

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

7th 17 Gibbs Island W: 10st 6lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

50/1

J: Stan Sheppard T: Tom Lacey

OR: — RPR: — Form: 8-1057

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

8th 9 1 tip Tripoli Flyer W: 11st 0lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

33/1

J: Fern O’Brien T: Fergal O’Brien

OR: — RPR: — Form: -3U452

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

9th 24 Ooh Betty W: 10st 4lb Age: 8 yo Filly

40/1

J: Ben Jones T: Ben Clarke

OR: — RPR: — Form: 3-0001

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

10th 5 Hello Neighbour W: 11st 6lb Age: 5 yo Gelding

16/1

J: Keith Donoghue T: Gavin Cromwell

OR: — RPR: — Form: 16-357

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

11th 10 Helvic Dream W: 10st 13lb Age: 9 yo Gelding

33/1

J: Donagh Meyler T: Noel Meade

OR: — RPR: — Form: 252-52

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

12th 21 Tellherthename W: 10st 5lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

18/1

J: Kielan Woods T: Dan Skelton

OR: — RPR: — Form: /4P5-3

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

13th 3 Bowensonfire W: 11st 11lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

14/1

J: Jack Kennedy T: Gordon Elliott

OR: — RPR: — Form: 333211

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

14th 1 Ndaawi W: 12st 0lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Mr J H Williamson T: Gordon Elliott

OR: — RPR: — Form: /22-13

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

15th 8 2 tips Murcia W: 11st 0lb Age: 5 yo Filly

13/2

J: Danny Mullins T: W P Mullins

OR: — RPR: — Form: 81-434

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

16th 7 Pinot Gris W: 11st 1lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Darragh O’Keeffe T: Henry De Bromhead

OR: — RPR: — Form: 1287-0

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

17th 11 1 tip Sixandahalf W: 10st 11lb Age: 6 yo Mare

10/1

J: Conor Stone-Walsh T: Gavin Cromwell

OR: — RPR: — Form: 12-324

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

18th 13 Williethebuilder W: 10st 10lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Jack Tudor T: Christian Williams

OR: — RPR: — Form: 632114

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

19th 23 1 tip Secret Squirrel W: 10st 5lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

11/1

J: Jonathan Burke T: Hughie Morrison

OR: — RPR: — Form: 3F1F-3

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

20th 2 Absurde W: 11st 13lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

16/1

J: Mr P W Mullins T: W P Mullins

OR: — RPR: — Form: 41/31-

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

21st 20 Bowmore W: 10st 6lb Age: 8 yo Gelding

100/1

J: Daire McConville T: Charlie Longsdon

OR: — RPR: — Form: 33-213

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

PU 12 2 tips Jubilee Alpha W: 10st 11lb Age: 7 yo Mare

25/1

J: Harry Cobden T: Paul Nicholls

OR: — RPR: — Form: 1-2522

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

F 19 Balko DAnge W: 10st 6lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

100/1

J: Brian Hayes T: Philip Fenton

OR: — RPR: — Form: 4513F6

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

25 Captain Ryan Matt W: 10st 4lb Age: 6 yo Gelding

40/1

J: Mike O’Connor T: Henry De Bromhead

OR: — RPR: — Form: -15631

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

26 Wellington Arch W: 10st 4lb Age: 7 yo Gelding

28/1

T: Jonjo & A J O’Neill

OR: — RPR: — Form: 21-392

GG Racing Score — Ability — Draw — Jockey — Trainer — Course — Distance —

Non-runners

Hamlets Night

+o+e Betting Returns

	Payout
Exacta	£337.10
Straight Forecast	£345.00
Tricast	£4332.66
Trifecta	£4903.20

Selections

RP RATINGS:

Sinnatra

SPOTLIGHT:

Karbau

Daily Mail:

Murcia

TOPSPEED:

Jubilee Alpha

The Times:

Sixandahalf

LAMBOURN:

Joyeuse

POSTDATA:

Tripoli Flyer

The Guardian:

Secret Squirrel

Daily Mirror:

Sinnatra

Daily Record:

Sinnatra

D Express:

Karbau

The Sun:

Karbau

The Star:

Murcia

Telegraph:

Jubilee Alpha

County Hurdle Betting News

The 2027 County Hurdle market is still to take shape, but last year’s principals offer a few early clues. Wilful can expect a rise in the weights after his success, while Sticktotheplan and Nicky Henderson’s Joyeuse both ran with credit in second and third and could be lined up for another go.

Favourite Karbau could return to make amends, though Dan Skelton’s Sinnatra, fifth at 9/2, has since appeared in the Arkle betting and may be heading down the chasing route instead.

Betting on the County Hurdle

With 20+ runners heading to the 2m start, the County Hurdle is one of the betting heats of the entire Cheltenham Festival. Huge competitive fields doing battle around Prestbury Park is the recipe for punting joy, and the bookmakers are certainly out to offer value to the punters.

With so many lining up then the bookmakers can often offer extra places and money back specials on the County Hurdle. The wide open nature of the County Hurdle odds means that there’s some eye-catching each-way value on offer for punters looking to find a big-priced winner or placed selection.