Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle 2025 - Gordon to get it right again in the Festival curtain closer
- Free guide to the 2025 Martin Pipe
- This handicap will take place on day four of the Cheltenham Festival on Friday 14th March
- Wodhooh features in our verdict
Jack Kennedy riding Wodhooh (L) clear the last to win The 'Bet In-Race' With Coral Fillies' Juvenile Hurdle at Newbury. (Getty)
The curtain comes down on the Cheltenham Festival with the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle. A handful of future Grade One winners have landed this handicap in recent years, including 2015 Brown Advisory winner Don Poli, and reigning Gold Cup king Galopin Des Champs.
Here's our free guide to the 2025 Martin Pipe, featuring the latest odds, expert analysis and our best betting tips.
*Note - Best bets won't be finalised until the field has been confirmed*
2025 Martin Pipe Odds
| Name | Odds |
|---|---|
| Kopeck De Mee | 7/2 |
| Wodhooh | 6/1 |
| McLaurey | 7/1 |
| East India Express | 10/1 |
| Taponthego | 12/1 |
| Bar | 14/1 |
2025 Martin Pipe Trends
- 9 of the last 10 winners had run no more than eight times over hurdles
- 9 of the last 10 winners had never won a handicap
- 9 of the last 10 winners carried 11-03 or more
- 9 of the last 10 winners had run in a Graded race
- 8 of the last 10 winners returned an SP of 12/1 or shorter
- 8 of the last 10 winners finished 3rd or better last time out
Six of the last eight renewals of the Martin Pipe have gone the way of Irish raiders, and Ireland is well-represented again. Kopeck De Mee has been the talking horse of the meeting after he was given a British mark of 136. Ruby Walsh said in a preview that he could be a horse of 160+ ability. I expect he'll go off at a very short price.
2025 Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle Tip 1 - Wodhooh
While this race usually goes the way of a fancied runner, favourites have a dreadful record. Sir Des Champs remains the only favourite to claim victory in the Martin Pipe and I'm hoping that trends continues this year, as I'm going to take Kopeck Des Mee on.
I've backed WODHOOH (7/1) at 12/1 and Gordon Elliott's mare still represents value at her current price. Elliott always targets the Martin Pipe and he's already confirmed that last year's winning rider, Danny Gilligan will partner the second-favourite.
Woodhooh has won all six of her starts over hurdles, including a pair of Listed victories in juvenile races last term. On her only start of the season thus far, Gilligan guided Elliott's five-year-old to an impressive handicap win here at Cheltenham, where an excellent jump at the last allowed Wodhooh to pull two lengths clear of the pack on the run to the line.
Behind Wodhooh that day was William Hill Handicap Hurdle winner Joyeuse, who has been supplemented for the Mares' Hurdle. Third-placed Take No Chances will also run in that Grade One after beating Kargese at Ascot. Royal Margeaux finished fourth and has hacked up in a Listed race since.
Considering the strength of that form, I was expecting the British handicapper to push Wodhooh up to 144, maybe even 145. Yet, he chose to give Elliott's mare just two extra pounds, meaning she'll shoulder 11-8 when confirmed for the Martin Pipe.
Two more to note: This race has been the long-term plan for Taponthego, who thrashed McLaurey in a two-and-a-half mile maiden hurdle earlier in the season and his two most recent defeats have come over two miles. Another Elliott novice to watch is The Enabler, who boasts solid maiden hurdle form and wasn't suited by the trip on his handicap debut at the Dublin Racing Festival.
Verdict
Wodhooh is our sole ante-post selection in the 2025 Martin Pipe.
Wodhooh
2025 Martin Pipe
@6/1 - 5 Units
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