Mares' Novices' Hurdle Entries - 39 in Running for Cheltenham Festival Thursday

39 horses have been entered for the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on day three of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. They include all three of the market leaders for the race in Brighterdaysahead, Dysart Enos and Jade De Grugy.

The race is one of the newest on the roster at the Festival, having been introduced to the meeting in 2016. Willie Mullins won the first five renewals of the race between 2016 to 2020, but having gone winless in the three years since, will be looking at Jade De Grugy to deliver him his sixth success in the contest.

Gordon Elliott is yet to taste victory in the race, but has a potentially high quality mare in Brighterdaysahead, who has long been towards the top of the ante-post betting. She runs in the colours of Gigginstown, whose owners sponsor the race with Ryanair.

The Brits have upset the visitors by taking the last two runnings of the race, and Fergal O’Brien will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Harry Fry and Jamie Snowden when Dysart Enos lines up in a month’s time. His mare is unbeaten in six starts in bumpers and novice hurdles, including a victory at 1/9 at Doncaster in January.

Other key entries include Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten Aston Martini, as well as Fun Fun Fun, who went off at just 5/1 for last season’s Champion Bumper.

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Entries