The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle is the fifth race on Cheltenham’s Day One card. Find out Daryl Carter‘s thoughts on the race at this stage along with an exclusive 888sport sign-up offer of Bet £10 – Get £45 Sign-up offer.
INTRODUCTION
The Mares Hurdle looks like a competitive renewal this term, and this used to be a race where you would simply turn to a Willie Mullins raider to land the spoils. He has had no win in the race since 2018 with Benie Des Dieux, and the race may not go back to him this year either.
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KEY TRENDS
In the last 12 years, nine winners were aged between five and seven.
Eleven of the last 12 winners were in the top three of the betting.
Nine of the last 12 winners have been rated 150 plus – Stormy Ireland and Concertista (unlikely to run) are the highest rated in the field.
Eleven of the last 12 winners have had a least one win in Grade 1-3 company.
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LIKELY CONTENDERS
Tellmesomethinggirl rightfully heads the betting in this contest at a general 4/1. This is undoubtedly her target after winning the Mares Novice Hurdle in excellent style last term, where she brushed aside a few of these. She was so imposing last year it’s hard to take any of her early season form seriously, considering her trainer has expressed that they are working back from this race in March, which is her sole target. She will get a strong pace to aim at here, and she looks to have all the boxes ticked.
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Heaven Help Us won the Coral Cup last season by nine lengths making all of the running, and it’s clear she has a liking for Cheltenham. This old course could suit her front running tactics even better, and she run with credit since including when splitting Tellmesomethinggirl and Royal Kahala at Leopardstown last December. She is more than entitled to hold her own in this company, but she is not the only pacesetter in this contest, and it could be set up for a strong closer.
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Stormy Ireland loves to front-run, and she has form figures of 1152211 in Mares only contests for Willie Mullins. She beat the boys in the Reelkeel Hurdle on her latest outing at Cheltenham when making all of the running, and that form sets a good standard in this contest. Pace pressure is the slight concern for her chances, though, but she sits top of the rating tree and can’t be written off with any confidence.
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Indefatigable 14/1 and Molly Ollys Wishes 14/1 are both high prices but are entitled to play a hand on ratings. The former won the Martin Pipe in 2020, and she has been mixing it in graded company against the boys over three miles. Her form figures here at Cheltenham of 241215 make her an appealing alternative to the market leaders. The latter is on the upgrade and has been unbeaten in Mares races since November 2020, but she does lack course experience.
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BIG RACE VERDICT
This race is yet to shape up, but TELLMESOMETHINGGIRL looks a worthy favourite and given connections are looking to peak her on this day, and it has been the long term plan all season, another big performance awaits. She flew up the Cheltenham Hill last season and will have the strong pace to aim at again this time around. She is rock solid and is on the upgrade.
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