The European Breeders’ Fund Matchbook VIP National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final (Saturday 9 March) is commonly referred to as the EBF Final. It is a grade three handicap hurdle run over 2 miles 3 furlongs and 173 yards at Sandown on the same day as the Imperial Cup.
The most notable winner is Albertas Run who went on to win at three consecutive Cheltenham Festivals.
EBF Final 10-Year-Trends
- All 10 winners were aged either five or six
- Every winner in the last decade was rated between 122 and 132
- Winners carried between 10-11 and 11-12 to victory
- Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson have both trained two of the last 10 winners
- Only one of the last 10 favourites has won
- SP’s of the winners have ranged between 4/1 and 20/1
EBF Final 2019 Main Contenders
One For Rosie
Top-weight has been carried to victory twice since the race was first run in 1998 but One For Rosie is rated a few pounds higher than either of those winners and higher than any of the last 10 winners. But it will be interesting to see how much improvement there is to come from a horse that hails from the Nigel Twiston-Davies stable that has yet to win this race but is used to plundering plenty of other top handicaps at this meeting.
Russian Hawk
Colin Tizzard is another top trainer that has won many high-profile races at Sandown, and this is another novice hurdler that is pitched into handicap company for the first time. However, his last two runs in novice hurdles didn’t suggest he had anything in hand of his current mark.
Dorking Cock
Didn’t show much in his first few runs over hurdles but has won his last two in handicaps. His rating has gone up for those wins, but must be a concern that those wins have come over shorter trips and, more importantly, he finished last on his one run over course and distance.
Before Midnight
Looks to have been cleverly campaigned by Nicky Henderson who won both the 2011 and 2013 renewals with similar horses. This one was given three quick runs before Christmas, after which he was given a rating of 128 by the handicapper. Henderson then gave this fellow a warm up in a novice hurdle he was entitled to win and it’s noticeable that Henderson’ previous two winners were rated 128 and 130.
EBF Final Summary
This is a notoriously hard race to find the winner of, as most of the field have been running in novice hurdles and many will be running for the first time in handicap company for the first time.
However, the one horse that does stand out is Before Midnight, as Nicky Henderson could have timed his first venture into handicap company to perfection. His mark is similar to the ones that Henderson’s two previous winners have had coming into this race and that bodes well for his chances.
EBF Final Tip 2019 Betting Tip
Before Midnight (Each-Way)