Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle: 2m, Wednesday, March 16, 4:50pm
Key stat: 17 of the last 19 winners won last time out
Not a great race for punters as there have been winners priced at 40/1 (x2), 33/1, 25/1 (x2) and 20/1 in the last 12 years – though a couple of favourites have also buzzed in.
Seven of the 11 winners had run the bare minimum of three times over hurdles in order to qualify while eight of the 11 winners started their careers on the Flat.
Make a note of the highest-rated Flat performers that run in this as previous winners Dabiroun (20/1), Silk Affair (11/1) and What A Charm (9/1) were the best horses from off the level.
French-breds or French imports have won six of the 11 contests from approximately one-third representation so they are over-performing.
Trainer Paul Nicholls has saddled two winners and five placed-horses with French origins including Qualando who led home a 1-2-5 (all French breds) for the stable’s three runners last season.