 As with any event over three miles, the Handicap Hurdle Final favours entrants possessing very high stamina. Backing stayers who have experience over the course and distance is one of the best tips we can provide for this horse racing spectacle. Recent winners of this Cheltenham race do not reveal anything of note when studying the form and it is therefore a good idea to look further back in the betting for a big priced each-way chance.
Click here for the latest 2004 Cheltenham Festival betting.
The last race of the day also produced the tightest finish so far with Inching Closer being awarded the race after a photo finish. Barry Geraghty recorded his second Cheltenham winner of the day in a hard fought final two furlongs, edging out the impressive Royal Emperor. Despite the suggestions that Royal Emperor prefers soft ground, he put in a very good round of jumping and ran with the pace throughout the race. With a little further improvement he will certainly worth looking at in the 2004 Festival betting. Tribal Venture stayed on well to claim third place in what was only his sixth race over hurdles.
| Handicap Hurdle Final Results |
| Year |
Horse |
Trainer |
Starting Price |
| 2003 |
Inching Closer |
J OŽNeill |
6/1 Fav |
| 2002 |
Freetown |
L Lungo |
20/1 |
| 2000 |
Rubhahunish |
N Twiston-Davies |
8/1 |
| 1999 |
Generosa |
J Hassett |
12/1 |
| 1998 |
Unsinkable Boxer |
M Condon |
5/2 Fav |
| 1997 |
Pharanear |
J OŽNeill |
14/1 |
| 1996 |
Great Easeby |
W Storey |
7/1 |
Wednesday's opening race at the Cheltenham Festival is the Sun Alliance Novices' Hurdle. |
