A fine victory by the great Honeysuckle in this race last year was among the highlights of the 2023 Festival. That victory proved to be her swansong as she is now retired having enjoyed a simply exceptional career.
This year’s Mares’ Hurdle field is a quality one with 11 horses take the start, with favourite Lossiemouth odds-on for the Mullins yard. A brilliant victory over Love Envoi – also entered here – by more than 9 lengths simply added to her magnificent form, and Paul Townend is in the saddle once more.
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This is another race where, all being well, the favourite will win, so we need to look at those at bigger prices for a place. Harry Fry’s Love Envoi is back for another go and has to be in with a place chance once more and at 12/1 will appeal to each way to each way punters, while Mullins also saddles Ashmore Diamond, who holds an impressive record and is currently 9/2.
Henry de Bromhead enters two horses here – Tellmesomethinggirl who while a fine horse and with Rachael Blackmore aboard will need to up her game here – and the more interesting Lantry Lady. A 28/1 shot, she was impressive last time out at Gowran Park and is worth a bet for a place.
All being well this is Lossiemouth’s race, and another that will surely add to Willie Mullin’s tally on Champions Day.
Day 1 Cheltenham featured races quick links:
- 13:30 Supreme Novices Hurdle Tips
- 14:10 Arkle Challenge Trophy Tips
- 14:50 Ultima Handicap Tips
- 15:30 Champion Hurdle Tips
- 16:10 Mares Hurdle Tips
- 16:50 Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Tips
- 17:30 National Hunt Chase
However, it is a few years now since a Mullins horse won but it would be a surprise if the Irish yard does not saddle the victor in 2024.
Favourite at 8/11 is Lossiemouth, a mare with potential entries in other races at the Festival, while the next three in the market – Ashroe Diamond, Gala Marceau, and Echoes In Rain – are also Mullins horses. Of these it is Ashroe Diamond that is attracting attention at 4/1.
Harry Fry enters Love Envoi – worth a look at an attractive 14/1 – while Nicky Henderson saddles Luccia and previous winner Marie’s Rock each in double figures.
Henry De Bromhead took the race last year with the popular Honeysuckle, and while he has a few entries this year it is a low key horse of his that we like the look of for a place.
Lantry Lady came over from France to the Irish stables and has not run since a comprehensive 14 length win under Rachael Blackmore last March at Gowran Park.
Currently offered at 40/1, this is certainly a bet worth considering in what is a quality field.
What happened in the Mares Hurdle 2023?
Honeysuckle heads the field after her unbeaten run ended at the start of the season when denied by Teahuppo & Klassical Dream.
We then saw her next in the Irish Champion Hurdle when she was also brushed aside by State Man.
Connections believe that she has regressed from last year and this will more than likely be her last run. I also believe this too as she just doesn’t seem to have her sparkle that she had before. She heads the market in this however I want to take her on.
Epatante
Epatante is another rock solid mare who has often seen the rear end of Honeysuckle however I believe she will turn that around this year.
Over two miles and four furlongs at Aintree last year she seemed to relish the step up trip putting away decent hurdlers in the process. This season she has been unfortunate not to taste Grade One action after being a clear second best to her stable companion Constitution Hill.
Her trainer Nicky Henderson has supplemented her for this race after forgetting to enter her and this rock solid mare will have a great chance of paying back the fees here.
Read more about Cheltenham Festival tips at the 2024 Festival here.
She jumps well, travels ideally and loves the track. I’d much rather back her at 3’s than any others in this race.
The other fancy at a bigger price in this is Theatre Glory.
She blew me away last time at Warwick winning a Listed hurdle beating nice mares. She clearly loves rattling fast ground and that’s looking like what she’s going to get.
She won a bumper at the course earlier on in her career and although this is her toughest test yet I still think there is a good amount of progression to come.
She comes in here against some fairly unexposed rivals and she may be found undone for the experience but I feel she will relish.
Of course we must mention Willie Mullins’ duo Brandy Love & Echoes In Rain after his impressive record in the race with nine wins out of the fifteen renewals of the race.
Brandy Love had been favourite for this race for a while after a devastating performance at Punchestown last year.
A few setbacks through the year saw her return just last month when she finished third.
She appeared to look like she needed the run but I’m still unsure if she’s got as much ability as people make out.
Echoes In Rain has been a funny mare to get a grasp on. Her keen nature has often been her downfall however this year she seems to have blossomed nicely winning the Limestone Lad.
This step up in trip isn’t something I think she wants however she has run well at it before. I think she needs to improve even more to be in the first three.
To summarise, I think Epatante has a cracking chance of being a two time Cheltenham Festival winner here with a rock solid season and shows no signs of regressing unlike her market rival.
At 3/1 I think that’s a superb price for a pretty good mare.
Selection: Epatante 3/1