2024 - Front five in the market fill the first five places. The front three in the market fill the 1-2-3. All are novices. First four home pulled away from the rest. It will be interesting to see how the changes affect this. Gordon Elliott trains his 3rd winner in eight renewals. Did saddle seven runners. Danny Gilligan had already ridden over 40 winners (Irish flat and jumps). Had won a Galway Plate on Ash Tree Meadow. Better Times Ahead had been beaten 5 lengths by Slade Steel in a December Navan G2 over 2m 4f. Tbh, there was other graded form amongst fancied horse. Waterford Whispers (2nd and fav) had been all the rage on the Preview Nights. Winner came form the Navan Novice 20th January, same race as Banbridge. BHA 140, 6lbs higher than Irish mark.

2023 - JP finishes the Festival with a double as Aidan Kelly stylishly gets Iroko up the hill. A bit outpaced but had the stamina to burn. A first win for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. At time of writing (Feb '24) Young Kelly yet to have another ride for the stable. Nice to see JP continuing to patronise many trainers. Like all the Britsh trained winners of this, Iroko had already been plying his trade that season in handicaps. Had run the previous season in the G1 Chepstow Juvenile Hurdle. Carried 11-5. Nicky Henderson second with No Ordinary Joe. The Gigginstown connection contnued with Cool Survivor being punted down to 5/1 co fav. 15th. 11 of the 23 Irish trained, best Paul Gilligan's Buddy One in 3rd. Langer Dan won the Coral Cup instead.

2022 - Poor oul Langer Dan. Comes back. Well, there can't be another Galopin Des Champs in the field this year. No, but you can get brought down early. Whole world knew, after a gentle pipe opener at Taunton. 7/2f. Then won at Aintree. Dan always says 'a spring horse.' At the business end of this race Banbridge and Cobblers Dream pulled away from the rest. Joseph's horse just kept on a bit more strongly than the pride of the Case yard. Langer Dan immediate 8/1 fav for 2023.

2021 - I felt for Langer Dan, 6th in the Boodles in 2020, then hardly beats a horse in three runs. Turns up at Sandown, cruises home indecently in the Imperial Cup at 5/1. Five to one? He's a spring horse, sure we all know, claims trainer. The bonus was the plan. Six days later, well punted at 13/2, held out the back by Lorcan Williams, then scythes through them two out. Coming round the corner, Lorcan thinks 'what a double, this and the Foxhunters!' But no one had told him that there was an aeroplane in front off 142 called Galopin Des Champs. At the last Lorcan thinks, 'still have a shout.' But no, the thing just gets faster. From the last the two of them pull ten lengths clear of something else in third.

2020 - Front View all the rage the fortnight before. The JP, Jonjo Jnr ridden 4/1 SP fav. Kevin Blake is Joseph's race planner. To give him credit as he was scorned at the Belfast Preview, Kevin did say 'although well handicapped, his jumping might not be up to scratch.' Proved spot on. If Column Of Fire with the weight of the Gigginstown stat (only runner) hadn't come down at the last, Gordon Top Festival Trainer 2020? Maybe. It was left to Paul Webber's Indefatigable to mug a lonely Pileon on the line. Rex (The Daisy) Dingle no mug either with over 50 winners to his name at that time. Bottom weight 11st off 136. Standard is climbing. Umbrigado, the Pipe runner, backed to 9s, nowhere. You do feel for David, in his quest.

2019 - Joseph O'Brien brought a bittersweet Festival Day to a close (Sir Erec) when Early Doors, a JP owned, Jonjo Jnr ridden six yr old carrying the top weight of 11st 10lb got home from the Gigginstown 7/2 fav Dallas Des Pictons, the pair clear. Winner was the 5/1 second fav, having finished 3rd in this in 2018. Donagh Meyler rode the fav here having won it on Blow By Blow. Gigginstown/Elliott responsible for 2nd and 3rd. Bottom weight was 4th and got in with a rating of 126. Dallas Des Pictons, if winning, would have meant Gordon drew level with Willie on three winners but would have still lost it 5-2 on countback for second places.

2018 - Gigginstown make it four from the last eight when Blow By Blow leads from start to finish, their only runner in the race. Fine front running ride from Donagh Meyler. Nine of the 23 strong field Irish Trained, fill the 1-2-3-4. N Henderson best of the rest in 5th and 6th. Non-claiming Irish jockeys also filled the first four places. Top weight winner carrying 11st 10 lbs

2017 - Champagne Classic at 12s, Michael O'Leary's 'worst horse' and a novice, wins very cosily under a non-claimer, JJ Slevin, for G Elliott who was confirming top trainer at the Festival. His 6th run over hurdles, the horse was a six yr old carrying 11st 3 rated 1lb less than he was in Ireland? Running in his first handicap As was G Elliott's third place, Runfordave. Bottom weight 11st. Dell' Arca only Pipe representative, 18th. Winner never here before. Previous run, third in a Thurles G3 over 2m 4f.

2016 - P Nicholls continues his targeting of the Festival h'caps with 5yr old Ibis Du Rheu 14s in a hood he always wore carrying 11st 7 lb, rating 139 ridden by Jack Sherwood, a non claiming jockey. Price 14s. Won by a length from the in-form Twiston Davies trained Flying Angel fresh from winning the Imperial Cup at Sandown six days previous. His 6lb penalty got him into the race as bottom weight carried 11st 3 lb before allowance. Best Irish trained was Willie's Whiteout 5th at 33s. Ibis hadn't been out for 41 days and his only course form was 6th in the January Juvenile Trial in 2015. No Pipe runners. Changing times.

2015 - Only two Pipe runners, both unfancied, both unplaced. W Mullins getting a taste for this, saddling 1st and 3rd from 3 runners. Killutagh Vic 7/1 won again for second season hurdlers (but still a novice). 6th in previous years Champion Bumper and came here from 3rd in January Leopardstown G2 novice over 2m 4f (finishing just behind Martello Tower). Irish trained 1-2-3-4. Had only won a maiden hurdle this season. He was 6 yrs old and this was his 5th run over hurdles. Lowest weight was 11st 1lb off 135 (the rating of the winner). Luke Dempsey was an non claiming jockey under the new rules and was the 5th in a row to win this having already ridden 20+ winners. Roi Des Francs (the well backed 3/1 fav) in 3rd had previously won the Clonmel G3 won in 2014 by Don Poli.

2014 - Pipe runner was Vieux Lion Rouge unbeaten in three, backed from 7s to 5s, finished 21st. W Mullins wins with 12/1 Don Poli, five yr old carrying 11st 5lbs off 143. Mikey Fogarty (claiming 3lbs) said he was 'flat out for the first mile and a half.' Horse had three hurdle runs, winning its last 2. Has run previous season in France. Never ran on course before. Handicap ranged from 146 to 133 (10st 12lbs)

'13 - D Pipe had 14 of the 198 entries . Only one runner, Gevrey Chambertain (full brother to Grand Crus). Hammered on course down from 5/1 to 9/4 fav (23 runners). Pulled up. P Nicholls won with Salubrious rated 141, winner last time of a Cl3 h'cap, a 6 yr old carrying 11st 8lbs ridden by Harry Derham (3). Price 16/1. 5 previous runs over hurdles. Had finished unpl in a previous on course bumper. Had won 2 previous hurdles. Lowest weight in h'cap was 10st 12.1

'12 - Attaglance off 139 at 16s completed a Festival handicap hurdle double for Malcolm Jefferson. Beat a pausing Toner D'Oudairies. He was a six year old and won a Cl 3 h'cap last time out. Compressed handicap went only down to 132. Four Pipe runners got in best in 10th, Street Entertainer one of theirs at 5/1, beaten when fell. All the rage at Belfast Preview night 10 days earlier. AH Haynes (3) rode. Attaglance had 13 previous hurdle runs.

'11 - Sir Des Champs 134 just got up with a well timed ride from Emmett Mullins (3). 9/2 favourite, a five yr old, won only previous hurdle run over 2 miles in Ireland. Closest Pipe finisher Shoegazer 9th at 13/2. Sir Des Champs never been here before.

'10 - Pause And Clause 137 won for Emma Lavelle at 14s carrying 11st 10lbs off 137. J Farrelly had no claim. Pause had also decent course form, having finished 3rd to Ninetieth Minute in the '09 Coral Cup. This win was his 7th run over hurdles. Had won a Cl2. Best Pipe finisher Ashkazar 7th and fav.

'09 - N Henderson wins with Andytown at 25/1, a son of Old Vic who had won a 2-mile handicap hurdle over the course in November. Andytown had finished last of four (a novice chase) last time out. He was a six yr old carrying 11 st 2lb off 133. Andytown was the first course (and distance) winner to win a handicap hurdle at the Festival for quite some time. This win was his 8th hurdle run. Best Pipe finisher Big Eared Fran 3rd and fav.

NOW, THE STATS

14 of the 16 winners had won hurdles containing at least 11 runners (Galopin Des Champs, Ibis Du Rheu and Sir Des Champs all in France). Not Better Times Ahead nor Blow By Blow. He had won an 11-runner G1 Bumper at Punchestown.

AGE - All 16 aged five or six yrs bar the two seven yr olds, Blow By Blow and Indefatigable.

THURLES - The Michael Purcell 2m 5f novice on 20th February has a recent history with this. 2018 Blow By Blow won both (hard to believe now, I know), Champagne Classic on 2017 was 3rd at Thurles before winning at Cheltenham. W Mullins's Five O'Clock and disappointed 2021, 7/1, 7th. Disappointed last year too, after 735 days off. Front View fav, had been 2nd in Thurles, couldn't jump. Nothing came 2021. The Goffer 15th here 2022. 2023 Buddy One, second at Thurles, 3rd here. Last year nothing came, although Staffordshie Knot in 2nd, then finished 2nd to Brighterdaysahead in an Aintree G1.

12 of the last 14 finished in the first three in their previous run. Iroko and Banbridge had won. Galopin 80/1 6th behind Appreciate It in the DRF G1 2m Novice. My mate Eugene knew. 25s for this. Still talking about it four years later. Ibis Du Rheu 5th in a Sandown handicap.

Gigginstown have had four winners from 19 runners, six of the other 19 were placed. Their only runner in 2020, Column Of Fire, fell at the last when second. Had every chance. 2021 Dallas Des Pitons 66/1 5th, their best. 2022 Decimation fell at the first. 2023 Cool Survivor punted down to 5/1 co fav, 15th. Last year Quai De Bourbon 3rd, Whats Up Darling 6th, both novices.

JOCKEYS - Danny Gilligan over 40 winners including a Galway Plate and a couple of Graded hurdles. Aidan Kelly had 20 odd winners in Ireland. Michael McDonagh (7) had ridden Birchdale to win a 17 runner 63k DRF h'cap chase. And had 20 odds winners. Sean O'Keefe had ridden circa 65 winners before this. Rex Dingle's portfolio include a £62k Sandown's Veterans Chase at Sandown. Jonjo O'Neill Jnr, Donagh Meyler, Emmett Mullins and Harry Derham had already ridden over 40 winners each before this. Jonjo's biggest win had been a Listed Lanzarote Hurdle, Donagh Meyler had already won a 95k Paddypower Chase, Harry had won at least a Greatwood Hurdle. Jack Sherwood and JJ Slevin both over 30 winners. Ability and experience of pilot very relevant in this race. As Pricewise keep hammering, we should pay more attention to jockey bookings.

In the 1-2-3 of the 16 years only John Shinnick (5) last year 4th on Answer To Kayf, Henry Brooke (6) and Joseph Palmowski (6) have gained a place for jockeys who would be claiming more than 3 lbs (Henry 2nd on Son Of Flicka 2011. That's only three from 48. Joseph 2nd on Thomas Crapper in 2017. To be honest, Thomas Crapper probably knew his way around Prestbury Park better than Joseph). Declan Lavery (6) fourth 2016 for W Mullins on Make Your Mark. In 2020 Rex Dingle pipped Ben Jones and Donal McInerney, both normally 3lb claimers.

The system changed in 2018. No claims now. The best conditionals get the rides.

TRAINERS - W Mullins - 4 winners, three 3rds, a fourth and two fifths. Has had 22 runners in the last nine. Of those nine renewals, only Great White Shark gained a place. 3rd at 40s 2020 before Galopin the aeroplane won. Last year he sent two, both well punted, finished 3rd and 5th. 2023, three came, nothing better than 16th, 2022 Adamantly Chosen 11/2 finished 11th last year and also had the 4/1 fav Gentleman De Mee, 10th in 2021. It's not that easy, sometimes.

G Elliott coming to the party with three winners, a second, three 3rds and a fourth since 2016, And Column Of Fire close when falling. Seevn last year, 1st and 6th. 2023, ran six best Imagine 5/1jt fav in 5th, Firm Footings 6th. Hollow Games 3rd 2022 at 9/2, The Bosses Oscar 5th. Mrs Foster had a 5th, an 8th and Folcano 15/2, a first hurdle faller in 2021.

Joseph O'Brien has trained two of the last six, Early Doors finished 3rd the year before he won it. Also in 2021 Floueur 3rd at 33s top weight. No runner last two years.

P Nicholls (in the last eight) two winners and three placed. Sonigno PU last eyar, Irish Hill 9/1 10th in 2023. Nothing in 2022, two down the field in each of the previous two years.

Sir Des Champs at 9/2 in 2011 only favourite to win. Due. Having said that nothing above 16/1 in the last 11.

DAVID PIPE - Had been reported that both Grand Crus and Dynaste were balloted out of this in their respective years. With Gevrey Chambertain well punted, tends to obviously suggest that Pond House keep trying to aim something useful here. Mr Big Shot, unbeaten over three turned up for them in 2018, unplaced, 'improve for run' said Racing Post. No runners in the 2019, Umbrigado 11th 2020, Leoncavallo 28s 2021, 6th. None ran last three years. David is 0-23. I do hope it happens sometime.

Better Days Ahead, Banbridge, Galopin Des Champs, Blow By Blow, Champagne Classic and Killultagh Vic were novices. Other 10 were second-season hurdlers. Only two winners had more than eight runs over hurdles, Attaglance 14, Indefatigable 11. Better Days Ahead only 4 runs. All bar Early Doors out within the last 62 days. He had jogged around after Apples Jade in the Leopardstown Xmas G1 over three miles, got a h'cap mark in England of 145 and then hid in his box. Blow By Blow previous outing only 22 days before this.

Eight of the last 11 had run over further than the 2m 4f earlier in the season. Not Iroko, Galopin. Both Banbridge and Indefatigable had won over 2m 5f. It's only a furlong.

Better Days Ahead 10th of 21 at only 10/1 in the 2023 bumper. Indefatigable had been 5th in the Mares Hurdle 2019, Early Doors had been 3rd in the 2018 renewal of this. Only Killutagh Vic 2015 6th in the Bumper and Pause And Clause 2010 3rd in the Coral Cup had previous Festival form. Galopin had been hiding in plain sight. Iroko and Banbridge never here before.

Now is a 0-145 handicap as opposed to 0-140 previously. Will be over 150 entries each year. Outsider of field at 6 day stage normally priced at 33s. Overround 300% plus. Do not bet ante-post ew on this. You'll get six places on the day. (Unless you really, really, know, of course)

There were only 21 of them between the last five years but horses carrying 11st or less are 0-109. None of the seven last year made the top 6. Buddy One 3rd in 2023, Party Business a fast finishing 5th 2022, Folcano the only one in 2021, 15/2, fell first.

Blow By Blow led the whole way. Galopin up there throughout. Banbridge 'prominent'. Nothing else has. Prone to late finishers. Like Better Days Ahead.

BLINKERS ETC - 79 have tried so far, Blow By Blow in blinkers wins 11/1, Ibis Du Rheu 14/1 won in the hood he always wore. Noble Endeavour 2nd 2015 'lost on nod.' Seven in in headgear last year, none better than 6th. 2023 three, none better than 7th. 2022 Cobblers Dream 2nd in his usual hood. Eight in 2021, Dallas Des Picton best in 5th, Three in 2020, two in first time headgear, best 19th. 2019 six ran, best was sixth. Seven ran in 2017, also nothing better than sixth.

BEATEN FAVOURITES - 41 last time beaten favourites have ran in the 14 races. No winners. A 5th last year, third and fifth in 2023, mind you. Included Column Of Fire. None ran in 2021. Do you think they know the stat?