Betfair Hurdle
Grade 3 Handicap, Newbury
£155,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus,
2m 69y, Class 1  
Saturday 8th February 2025

BetGoodwin

Navajo Indy looked like a promising gelding when he clinched victory in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury on November 30 and could potentially return as a strong contender here. Although the event is no longer a graded contest like those won by Comedy Of Errors, Kribensis, Rock On Ruby, and Epatante, it still maintains a high quality contest.

Guided by Gavin Sheehan, Navajo Indy overcame a mistake three hurdles from the finish to win convincingly against Queens Gamble and other highly regarded opponents. His earlier victory at Bangor was further validated by runner-up Gamesters Guy winning decisively at Carlisle. Trainer Tom Symonds has high hopes for his horse, who previously won a bumper at Newbury and was second in a maiden hurdle there.

Symonds commented, “We were thrilled with his performance. It was a big ask for his handicap debut, but we utilized his familiarity with Newbury. Having won his novice late last season, he remained a novice until the end of November. Now he’s won an intermediate hurdle, hopefully on his way to bigger things. I thought his mark of 120 was lenient and would show over further distances, but he clearly stays well at Newbury. He settled, jumped, and stayed on to the line wonderfully. Seeing the horse he beat at Bangor win at Carlisle was great too.”

With an 8lb rise to a mark of 128, Symonds is now considering the best path to the Betfair Hurdle on February 8. “This horse has never put a hoof wrong and his best asset is galloping at speed and staying, which Newbury supports well. Eight pounds is what it is, and while we could go for 0-130s or 0-140s, that would negate his biggest strength. The intermediate hurdle was a quality field, and the ground wasn’t ideal, but he handled it well. The time compared well to the Listed race, which is notable. The Ladbrokes race at Ascot in December might come too soon for him, so we might target a closed handicap over two miles instead. In the Betfair, we’d aim to get in with a nice weight by having some older horses entered.”

Navajo Indy’s performance in the Gerry Feilden has set high expectations, and Symonds is carefully planning his next moves to maximize the gelding’s potential.

BetZone

Betfair Hurdle (Handicap) (Grade 3)
£155,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 69y, Class 1
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The Betfair Hurdle – Roll of Honour

YEAR WINNER TRAINER JOCKEY AGE/WEIGHT SP RAN

2024 IBERICO LORD Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 6 11-8 11/2 21
2023 AUCUNRISQUE Chris Gordon Nick Scholfield 7 11-4 9/1 16
2022 GLORY AND FORTUNE Tom Lacey Stan Sheppard 7 11-8 20/1 14
2021 SOARING GLORY Jonjo O'Neill Jonjo O'Neill Jr 6-10-07 17/2 23
2020 PIC D'ORHY Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 05-11-05 33/1 24
2019 AL DANCER Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 06-11-08 5/2F 14
2018 KALASHNIKOV Miss Amy Murphy Jack Quinlan 05-11-05 8/1C 24
2017 BALLYANDY Nigel Twiston-Davies Sam Twiston-Davies 06-11-01 3/1F 16
2016 AGRAPART Nick Williams Lizzie Kelly 05-10-05 16/1 22
2015 VIOLET DANCER Gary Moore Joshua Moore 05-10-09 20/1 23
2014 SPLASH OF GINGE Nigel Twiston-Davies Ryan Hatch 06-10-03 33/1 20
2013 MY TENT OR YOURS Nicky Henderson A P McCoy 06-11-02 5/1F 21
2012 ZARKANDAR Paul Nicholls Ruby Walsh 05-11-01 11/4F 20
2011 RECESSION PROOF John Quinn Dougie Costello 05-10-08 12/1 15
2010 GET ME OUT OF HERE Jonjo O'Neill A P McCoy 06-10-06 6/1 23
2009 Abandoned - Snow
2008 WINGMAN Gary Moore Jamie Moore 06-10-00 14/1 24
2007 HEATHCOTE Gary Moore Jamie Moore 05-10-06 50/1 20
2006 Abandoned - Frost
2005 ESSEX Michael O'Brien IRE Barry Geraghty 05-11-06 4/1F 25
2004 GEOS Nicky Henderson Marcus Foley 09-10-09 16/1 25
2003 SPIRIT LEADER Jessica Harrington IRE Norman Williamson 07-10-00 14/1 27
2002 COPELAND Martin Pipe A P McCoy 07-11-07 13/2 16
2001 LANDING LIGHT Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 06-10-02 4/1F 20
2000 GEOS Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 05-11-03 15/2 17
1999 DECOUPAGE Charles Egerton Jimmy McCarthy 07-11-00 6/1 18
1998 SHARPICAL Nicky Henderson Mick Fitzgerald 06-11-01 10/1 14
1997 MAKE A STAND Martin Pipe Chris Maude 06-11-07 6/1 18
1996 SQUIRE SILK Andy Turnell Paul Carberry 07-10-12 13/2 18
1995 MYSILV Charles Egerton Jamie Osborne 05-10-08 9/4F 8
1994 LARGE ACTION Oliver Sherwood Jamie Osborne 06-10-08 9/2 11
1993 KING CREDO Steve Woodman Adrian Maguire 08-10-00 10/1 16
1992 RODEO STAR Nigel Tinkler Graham McCourt 06-10-10 15/2 15
1991 Abandoned - Frost
1990 DEEP SENSATION Josh Gifford Richard Rowe 05-11-03 7/1 17
1989 GREY SALUTE John Jenkins Richard Dunwoody 06-11-05 8/1 10
1988 JAMESMEAD David Elsworth Brendan Powell 07-10-00 11/1 19
1987 NEBLIN Toby Balding Stan Moore 08-10-00 10/1 21
1986 Abandoned – Snow
1985 Abandoned – Snow
1984 RA NOVA Nan Kennedy Paddy Farrell 05-10-06 16/1 26
1983 Abandoned - Snow & Frost
1982 DONEGAL PRINCE Paul Kelleway John Francome 06-10-08 13/1 27
1981 Abandoned – Waterlogged
1980 BOOTLACES David Barons Paul Leach 06-10-09 20/1 21
1979 WITHIN THE LAW Peter Easterby Alan Brown 05-11-04 25/1 28
1978 Abandoned – Frost
1977 TRUE LAD Bill Swainson Tommy Stack 07-10-04 14/1 27
1976 IRISH FASHION Michael Cunningham IRE Ron Barry 05-10-04 16/1 29
1975 TAMMUZ Fulke Walwyn Bill Smith 07-10-13 18/1 28
1974 Abandoned – Waterlogged
1973 INDIANAPOLIS John Sutcliffe snr Jeff King 06-10-06 15/2 26
1972 GOOD REVIEW Jim Dreaper IRE Val O'Brien 06-10-09 8/1 26
1971 CALA MESQUIDA John Sutcliffe snr John Cook 07-10-09 33/1 23
1970 Abandoned - Snow & Frost
1969 Abandoned - Frost
1968 PERSIAN WAR Colin Davies Jimmy Uttley 05-11-13 9/2F 33
1967 HILL HOUSE Ryan Price Josh Gifford 07-10-10 9/1 28
1966 LE VERMONTOIS Ryan Price Josh Gifford 05-11-03 15/2 28
1965 ELAN John Sutcliffe jnr David Nicholson 06-10-07 9/2F 21
1964 ROSYTH Ryan Price Josh Gifford 06-10-02 10/1 24
1963 ROSYTH Ryan Price Josh Gifford 05-10-00 20/1 41

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