Cheltenham Tuesday 10th March 4.10pm

Distance: 2 miles 4 furlongs

Weights – 10st 10lb (4yo), 11st 5lb (5yo +)

The fifth race on day one is the Mares Hurdle, first run in 2008.

Known as the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle until 2011 and the OLBG Mares Hurdle from 2011 – 2019.

It is run on the old course at Cheltenham over a distance of about two miles and four furlongs and during the running they clear nine hurdles.

It is a race where short priced horses generally do well and has been dominated by Willie Mullins over the last eleven years he has won nine of the last eleven renewals, six of them with the magnificent Quevega.

Here are Cheltenham Mares Hurdle 12 Year Trends and Statistics.

• Age – Nine of the last twelve winners were aged between 5 and 7.
• Starting Price – Ten the last twelve winners have returned a SP of 6/1 or less.
• Last Run – Nine of the last twelve winners won on their last run before Cheltenham, seven of those winners ran within the last 52 days.
• Course Form – Seven of the last twelve winners had at least one previous run at Cheltenham, and five of them had at least one previous win at Cheltenham.
• Distance Form – Eleven of the twelve winners had at least two previous runs and at least one win over 2m 3f – 2m 5f.
• Hurdle Form – Eleven of the twelve winners had at least five previous runs over hurdles, All of them had at least two wins over hurdles.
• Official Rating – Eleven  of the last twelve winners had a rating of 142 or higher.
• Graded Wins – Nine of the last twelve winners had won a Grade 1 or Grade 2 race.

Currently the leading contenders for the Mares Hurdle 2020 are:

• BENIE DES DIEUX – Talented Chaser who reverted to hurdles for the 2018 running of this which she won with some authority. Since then she has won a further three Grade 1 hurdles and  a Grade 2 very easily last time. The only blemish on her record is when falling in this race last year.
  
• HONEYSUCKLE – Now seven from seven over hurdles including the Irish Champion Hurdle (2m 1f) at the beginning of February. She has best at this 2m 4f trip. On the negative side she has nevr run outside of Ireland and therefore has no experience of Cheltenham.
  
• STORMY IRELAND – Runner up in the 2019 renewal behind ROKSANA and hacked up in a moderate Grade 3 at Naas last time. Expected to find one or too of these rivals too good and has place claims at best.
  
• LAURINA – Has been chasing this term and clocked up a win on debut before pulling up twice. Never travelling at all last time and reportedly broke blood vessels on the previous race. Unlikely to be a contender in this even if she lines up.
  
• ROKSANA – Took advantage of the fall by BENIE DES DIEUX when winning this last year. Followed up with a good run in the Stayers Hurdle at Aintree when second. Has looked a bit one paced in her races this season despite finishing in the runners up berth twice. May sneak a place.
  

This race has one outstanding runner and several that may make the places behind her so it may come as no surprise to you that my selection for the Mares Hurdle is BENIE DES DIEUX who, apart from that fall at the last flight in last year's race when she was well in command, has a pretty impressive record over hurdles.

She hacked up at Gowran Park by 22 lengths over 3m in January and never even broke sweat and was eased on the run in. That run made her a short priced favourite for this race but she could instead turn up in the Stayers Hurdle and give Paisley Park a run for the money so if you are dabbling in the ante-post market make sure you get non runner no bet.

My selection for the Mares Hurdle 2020 is: BENIE DES DIEUX 4/5 (NRNB).

As this article is written in advance of the 2020 Festival, the likely contenders are expected to change as we get closer to Champion Day. The picture also starts to get much clearer as we approach the festival, with trainers starting to show their cards in the weeks leading up to Day 1. 

To get Keith’s very latest, up-to-date thoughts on the Day 1 card, and his final Day 1 tips, simply register as a FREE FRT member here, and Keith will email you the full Day 1 tips (including for this race) on the morning of Champion Day.

2017 winner APPLES JADE has been installed as ante-post favourite, but Willie Mullins has a couple of high-class contenders in the shape of last year’s winner BENIE DES DIEUX and LAURINA but the latter is more likely to be aimed at the Champion Hurdle which may well be the target of APPLES JADE too.

My selection for the race is BENIE DES DIEUX 3/1 who can confirm last season's form with APPLES JADE.

Result: BENIE DES DIEUX fell at the last flight when well in charge of the race three lengths adead of the eventual winner ROKSANA who was being driven at the time.

• 2008 Whiteoak 5 Jason Maguire Donald McCain, Jr.
• 2009 Quevega 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
• 2010 Quevega 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
• 2011 Quevega 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
• 2012 Quevega 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
• 2013 Quevega 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
• 2014 Quevega 10 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
• 2015 Glens Melody 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
• 2016 Vroum Vroum Mag 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
• 2017 Apple’s Jade 5 Bryan Cooper Gordon Elliott
• 2018 Benie Des Dieux 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
• 2019 Roksana 7 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton

As these articles are written in advance of the 2020 Festival, the likely contenders are expected to change as we get closer to Champion Day. The picture also starts to get much clearer as we approach the festival, with trainers starting to show their cards in the weeks leading up to Day 1. 

To get Keith’s very latest, up-to-date thoughts on the Day 1 card, and his final Day 1 tips, simply register as a FREE FRT member here, and Keith will email you the full Day 1 tips on the morning of Champion Day.

Over the years, Keith has been a regular at the northern tracks attending countless race meetings and building up a network of contacts, and a portfolio of systems and strategies. 

He was one of the co-founders of Free Racing Tips all the way back in 2008, and his free tips are now backed by more than seventy thousand FRT members every single day.

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