Antepost: Mares Hurdle Preview

The entries for a few Cheltenham races have already been published including the big 4 championship races. We've already had a preview of the Ryanair Chase, and that's shaping up to be an intriguing race. This week we've had entries for some of the main hurdle races including the Mares Hurdle - which I'll preview here and after this there's still another 26 to go! The Mares Hurdle is shaping up to be a good renewal this season, especially if all the market principles turn up with plenty of young improving horses who will have their say come March.

Mares Hurdle - Tuesday 12th March 2024 - 2m4f

Lossiemouth - 5/2

Last years Triumph Hurdle winner and the current favourite. She hasn't been seen this season but that's by design. Willie Mullins, her trainer, has gone with a different preparation for last years juveniles and it's likely Lossiemouth will have one run before attempting to win the Mares Hurdle. It's well known that many juveniles going into open company struggle, and it's probably a good plan by Willie Mullins not to overface Lossiemouth in the early part of the season and allow her to strengthen up and progress at home before targeting the spring festivals after one spin pre-Cheltenham.

It's not a given that Lossiemouth will want a step up in trip as she was keen enough last season especially in the Triumph. Her breeding suggests she might get the middle distance trip well enough, and it will be interesting to see how she fares on her pre-Cheltenham outing, however the fact that the Mares Hurdle is often a speed test on the old course will help her. At the moment she's a little skinny despite her obvious class. She also has the choice of running in the Champion Hurdle.

Gala Marceau - 6/1

Gala Marceau was held by Lossiemouth 3 times over hurdles last season, and it's whether the step up in trip will allow her to turn the tables on her old nemesis in the Mares Hurdle. A winner in France over 2m31/2f, she is also a little keen and wears a hood to calm her down. The form of her win in France has been franked with the 2nd Losange Bleu winning a Grade 1, and Zarak The Brave (3rd) winning the Galway Hurdle.

Just like Lossiemouth, if she progresses enough she will have a great chance, and is likely to run in the coming weeks. She is another one who might prefer a speed test given her younger years and keenness. She rates as a solid each way bet come the day although she is probably held by the favourite Lossiemouth.

Ashroe Diamond - 7/1

Winner of the Grade 1 mares novice hurdle at Fairyhouse, she had a decent time of it last season mixing it with the geldings before unfortunately missing out on the Dawn Run with an injury. I'd say she would of gone close in that as she had the right sort of profile for that race, having had 4 runs over hurdles and seemed the tough and hardy type that go close.

Only been seen once this season, that was a decent run in the Hattons Grace and she likely ran to a mark of 150 there which puts her right in the picture to go close here. If the race turns into a stamina test, then expect her to be a mare who'll be strong in the finish where others might be wilting. A worry would be that Patrick Mullins will do what he's done in the last couple of seasons in holding her up too far back and coming too late. Hopefully Danny Mullins, who's already won on her last season will be on board.

Love Envoi - 12/1

The possible pace angle in the race along with fellow British challenger You Wear It Well. She set a slow pace against Honeysuckle last year, and travelled supremely well before being nailed by Honeysuckle's turn of foot late on.

This season she's only been seen once in the rescheduled Fighting Fifth hurdle at Sandown and ran a strange race. Held up in last and seemingly never travelling with much zest, she ran on to take 2nd in atrocious ground. Likely to be seen at Warwick in February, I'm curious to see how she runs and whether she is still in love with the game after an awkward start at Sandown. If she shows her obvious class, she is definitely a contender at 12/1.

Echoes In Rain - 14/1

A talented animal who's career has probably been blighted by her inability to settle in her races. She's already had 2 attempts in this race without winning, and it's unlikely she will plunge this at her 3rd attempt despite still running to a decent level on the flat and over jumps this season.

If there is a solid pace in the race, she will be more suited to that rather then last seasons race, where anything that was held up ended up having no chance. If you can get 20/1+ on the day with 4 or 5 places on offer then that's a fair bet, but I wouldn't think she has enough improvement in her left to be on the winning podium.

Jetara - 14/1

Another talented mare, and she's been in fine form this season winning 3 on the bounce including the Grade 3 at Leopardstown over Christmas. Well held in the Dawn Run last season, she's improved with racing and looks a smart operator for the spring. Her trainer mentioned that Cheltenham wasn't on the radar after her last win, although things may have changed given she holds an entry in this. Personally I think there are better types in this race, and she would hold a place claim at best if the race falls apart.

Luccia - 16/1

Another classy young sort who's highly rated by her trainer. The favourite for the Dawn Run last year, she suffered a couple of niggles in the run up to the festival but still had the ability to finish 4th in the race, before running a cracker in the 2 mile Grade 1 at Aintree.

Seen 3 times this season already, she's ran 3 solid races including a win in the lucrative 2 mile handicap hurdle at Ascot just before Christmas. Before that she ran an excellent 3rd in the Greatwood off a big weight, as well as a 2nd to You Wear It Well at Wetherby on terrible ground. She will need better ground to be seen at her best, and it's not a given that she wants 2m4 at the moment. She still needs fo find around 10lb to be in the mix, but that could be achievable if she wins the Betfair Hurdle next - in which she holds an entry. Might be more suited to the County Hurdle.

Magical Zoe - 20/1

Another horse who brings the novice hurdle form from last season, and is definitely open to improvement. Whether she can get 15lb improvement is probably up for debate, and is best watched for now. 2nd in the Dawn Run last year, that puts her as a 140ish mare as we speak and is held by another potential runner in You Wear It Well.

Marie's Rock - 20/1

Another who was hugely inconvenienced by last years slow pace which didn't suit hold up animals at all. She's been seen twice and been well beaten in both attempts this season. It's highly likely that the mare is regressing given her age (9), and it was originally stated that her target was the Stayers Hurdle at the start of the season. Well beaten by stronger stayers in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury, she's likely to take in the Mares Hurdle now according to connections, and unless you're getting a decent price on the place only market, she's one to avoid despite her obvious top class ability.

You Wear It Well - 20/1

Winner of the Dawn Run last season, she's not the classiest horse in the field but could win the title of the toughest horse in there. Rated 140, she has to find 10lb on ratings to be in the mix of things. It's not out of the realms of possibility given her apitude for the track and the fact she's likely to get a soft lead if given the chance to make the running.

If you can get 20/1 on the day and a number of places, she's definitely an each way play. Soft conditions could give her an even better chance of running well too.

Zenta - 25/1

It wouldn't surprise me if Willie Mullins opts to switch Zenta back to hurdles and have a pop at the Mares Hurdle after her defeat in her season opener at Cork in a graded novice chase. It's likely that connections will keep her novice status for next year now given her entry in the Mares Hurdle.

If she can get an outing over hurdles before Cheltenham and run well enough, she's not out of contention given her excellent 3rd in the Triumph behind the 2 horses at the top of the betting (Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau).

Brandy Love - 33/1

Beaten twice over fences this season, she looks like she's regressing and has had her fair share of niggles and setbacks over the years. I wonder if she'll be retired to stud by connections sometime in the near future. The same goes for another runnerTelmesomethinggirl.

Conclusion

An open looking Mares Hurdle given the lingering absence of 2 of the market leaders this season. However that is by design, and those 2 hold serious chances if turning up fit and firing on the day. There has to be question marks over the stamina of Lossiemouth at the moment over this trip given her keenness, and she represents a short price at this stage despite her obvious class. Gala Marceau has shortened in the past couple of weeks to 6/1, and also holds strong claims. She is held by Lossiemouth however, and rates as the each way bet on the day if you can get 5/1 or bigger especially if she returns with a bang on her season opener.

We do have to remember it's always tough for the majority of ex-juveniles coming into open company, so I'll side with ASHROE DIAMOND as the solid selection right now. It will take a runner capable of running to 150+ and given her form she has the ability to do that on a consistent basis. Love Envoi has the capability to as well, but will need to show more spark in her next run after an uninspiring start.

However this race will rely on how the race is run, and it's hard to find a genuine pace-setter despite You Wear It Well making all last year in the Dawn Run, especially if connections decide to be conservative on the big stage. If there is no pace, then I expect Lossiemouth or Gala Marceau to be the winner, however if this turns into a stamina test then expect Ashroe Diamond to go close. It's hoped Patrick Mullins (likely rider) won't give his mount too much to do, and hold a prominent position.

Bets:

Ashroe Diamond - 1.25pts ew @ 7/1