In the latest of GG’s 2021 Cheltenham Festival Previews, Daryl Carter has analysed the Mares Hurdle, in which Concertista bids for back-to-back successes but she could yet face some superstar challengers
MARES HURDLE OVERVIEW
No horse wearing headgear has ever won this race so keep an eye out for first-time headgear as some may suggest that will enhance their horse’s chances (spoiler alert, it doesn’t)
Five of the last six favourites have been beaten and 10/13 winners had placed in at least a Grade 2 open event before running here.
MARES HURDLE KEY CONTENDERS
BENIE DES DIEUX 6/1
The 2018 winner, was the acca buster in 2019 after falling at the final flight when in the clear and touched off in 2020 by the unbeaten Honeysuckle.
It’s fair to say things aren’t always straight orward for the outstanding mare Benie Des Dieux at Cheltenham but she is a class act on her day and represents the leading yard in this contest over the years. She hasn’t been seen since this race last season and according to connections, the plan is to come straight here without a prep-run which shouldn’t be cause for concern given her record fresh after more than 100 days off the track reads 1F1161.
Willie Mullins is a master when it comes to getting longevity out of his horses so at 10 years of age she is likely to retain plenty of ability and rates a clear danger to any rival. She does have the option of running in the Mares Chase and connections have said they are undecided on which route to take witha decision made closer to the time.
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HONEYSUCKLE 10/3
Last year’s winner and 9/9 under rules (written before the Irish Champion Hurdle) she showed to be a top-class mare when holding off Benie Des Dieux in gusty fashion at the Cheltenham Festival last season.
She has gone from strength to strength and her improved jumping this season suggests she is now the full package. Depending on the result at the Dublin Racing Festival, connections will be tempted by the allure of a wide-open Champion Hurdle.
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ROKSANA 8/1
A fortunate winner of this race in 2019 after the final-flight fall of Benie Des Dieux but an improved model this term which has come courtesy a move up to 3m. I
t would be a travesty should connections drop back in trip for this race given her form figures over 2m4f read 42521 since 2018 and her form figures over 3m read 12122 and it would only be the lure of a weak final field that would tempt them this way.
It would be very hard to recommend her for this race given her new official rating of 153 has been achieved over 3m.
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CONCERTISTA 9/4
A rarity for the Cheltenham Festival as CONCERTISTA was a second-season novice when landing the Mares Novice Hurdle last term by 12 lengths in impressive fashion from Dolcita.
She had an experience advantage over most of the field after finding only Eglantine Du Seuil a short head too good the year before which allowed her to retain her novice status. However, she has proven that it was not just experience but a class advantage and she has since recorded back-to-back wins in graded Mares events in Ireland in comfortable fashion and looks to be the leading light in this division for her powerful stable. I
t is very difficult to find any negatives with her at this current stage and she looks a rock-solid favourite for this contest at the time of writing. She will look even stronger should Honeysuckle and Benie Des Dieux divert to other assignments.
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EGLANTINE DU SEUIL 33/1
A shock 50/1 winner of the Mares Novice Hurdle over Concertista in 2019 on just her third start for trainer Willie Mullins but she failed to see the winner’s enclosure in six further starts and is now with Paul Nicholls.
She has held her form well this season with tough tasks in handicap company and has had to carry some big weights in competitive fields. Her best performance for her new handler came at Cheltenham when a staying-on second behind The White Mouse in December which now takes her form figures at Cheltenham to 201.
Her only unplaced effort came in last year’s Coral Cup when given an impossible task off a handicap mark of 149 but she ran with credit to only be beaten 12 lengths. She will be happier here off level weights and is not one to write off just yet.
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VERDANA BLUE 14/1
Has been disappointing this season and has regressed to the tune of 9ls in three hurdle starts according to the official handicapper and connections may now have their sights set on a handicap.
She would be of interest should the ground be riding on the quicker side of good for this contest given her form figures in Mares only company read 23411UR and she has been tackling some high-class races in the last two years including two Grade 1 contests so she will always remain interesting in these events.
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MARES HURDLE BIG-RACE VERDICT
It looks very difficult to take on CONCERTISTA who can fly the flag for the Willie Mullins yard if Benie Des Dieux reroutes to the Mares Chase and this is a race that is lacking depth and will likely cut up significantly with Honeysuckle likely to take the Champion Hurdle route (dependent on results at Dublin over the weekend).
The seven-year-old is lightly raced and open to plenty of improvement and although her two excellent runs here at Cheltenham have both come on the new course it is splitting hairs to suggest the old course will not suit and, although she must defeat the recent favourites curse, she gets the vote.
Of those at bigger prices, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Paul Nicholls’ EGLANTINE DU SEUIL run into the frame with a strong pace and a stiff finish likely to suit.
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