Cheltenham Festival 2023: County Hurdle tips - Skeltons have high hopes for Pembroke
Ryanair Mares Novice Hurdle
The County Handicap Hurdle is very much a race for the pinstickers and each-way specialists, so we hope our friends from Tipstrr can help us to pick the wheat from the chaff among the 23 runners.
Run over the same trip as the Triumph Hurdle that preceded it, the County Hurdle is for older more established horses, but the large field can make it something of a betting minefield.
Indeed last year's winner, State Man was the first outright favourite to win this renewal since the year 2000, since when 15 of the 21 winners have been priced 10/1 or higher, including two 33/1 shots and another at 50s.
Connections of Pembroke hold high hopes after he landed two novice hurdles at the end of last year and then stepped up to come a strong second in the Grade Two Ballymore Novices Hurdle here in January.
The promising six-year-old looks well-treated in the weights and he should give a good account under the guidance of Harry Skelton.
Top tip: Pembroke
- Tip advised by CD Systems Daily Bargain on Tipstrr
French raider Aucunrisque progressed nicely through the back end of 2022, backing up a season debut win at Uttoxeter with a couple of close-up runner-up spots.
Most eye-catching of all, he landed last month's Betfair Hurdle at Newbury ahead of the reopposing Filey Bay, and although he is carrying nine pounds more here, he looks an attractive each-way option.
Each-way popular punt:
Aucunrisque
