The Mares Novices’ Hurdle was dominated by the Irish-trained representatives since the inaugural contest back in 2016, before Harry Fry’s Love Envoi bucked the trend last year. A field of 19 went to post in last year’s renewal, which saw Love Envoi land the spoils for Harry Fry and Jonathan Burke. Our leading experts will provide all the analysis you need for this year’s Mares Novices’ Hurdle field, alongside our selection for the Grade 2 event.
Mares Novices’ Hurdle Bookmaker Odds – Race 6, Thursday 16th March 4:50
| Horse/Form | Silks | Jockey/Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luccia 11-11 |  | J: Nico de Boinville T: Nicky Henderson | 13/8 |
| Lot Of Joy 221 |  | J: Paul Townend T: Willie Mullins | 5/1 |
| Under Control 11 |  | J: Mark Walsh T: Nicky Henderson | 6/1 |
| You Wear It Well 1-1121 |  | J: Gavin Sheehan T: Jamie Snowden | 10/1 |
| Magical Zoe 1-11 |  | J: A P Heskin T: Henry De Bromhead | 10/1 |
| Princess Zoe 1 |  | J: Danny Mullins T: Anthony Mullins | 10/1 |
| Halka Du Tabert 1-113 |  | J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott | 16/1 |
| Ahorsewithnoname 2232-P |  | J: Sean Bowen T: Nicky Henderson | 16/1 |
| Jetara 032122 |  | J: Sean O’Keeffe T: Mrs John Harrington | 20/1 |
| Foxy Girl 2-21 |  | J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry De Bromhead | 20/1 |
| Nikini 3-4112 |  | J: Patrick Mullins T: Willie Mullins | 20/1 |
| The Model Kingdom 113132 |  | J: B J Cooper T: Noel Meade | 25/1 |
| Ladybank 81 | | J: Aidan Coleman T: Henry De Bromhead | 25/1 |
| Mullenbeg 211162 |  | J: Harry Cobden T: Milton Harris | 25/1 |
| Endless Escape -51111 |  | J: Ben Jones T: Ben Clarke | 33/1 |
| Shecouldbeanything 1-1132 |  | J: Jordan Gainford T: Gordon Elliott | 40/1 |
| Banntown Girl 23-423 |  | J: Keith Donoghue T: Stephen Gerard Carey | 40/1 |
| Poetic Music 6-1321 |  | J: Paddy Brennan T: Fergal O’Brien | 40/1 |
| Belle The Lioness 31-221 |  | J: Darragh O’Keeffe T: Henry De Bromhead | 40/1 |
| Still Ciel B22105 |  | J: Shane Fitzgerald T: Henry De Bromhead | 50/1 |
| Inspiratrice 601U3 |  | J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Nicky Martin | 100/1 |
All About the Mares Novices’ Hurdle in 2023
If the betting is anything to go by, this year’s Mares Novices’ Hurdle could be won by another British-trained horse, as Nicky Henderson’s Luccia currently heads the betting. The classy mare has won all four races so far in her career, including both runs over hurdles.
Both hurdles runs have seen run out a comfortable winner in each, and she’s clearly a talented mare with a bright future ahead. This will be her toughest assignment by some stretch however, and it remains to be seen where her limitations lie.
There are plenty of Irish-trained challengers ready to take her on, with Ashroe Diamond perhaps the pick of the bunch. Willie Mullins six-year-old was no match for the boys in two Grade 1’s this season (although she did finish third in both), but she made no mistake when back against her own sex at Fairyhouse in January.
Despite a couple of jumping errors and being short of room in the run in, she stayed on strongly to win going away and confirm her credentials as one of the top mares in the novice hurdling division this season.
Although she isn’t the only Willie Mullins’ mare fancied for the race, as he also has Night And Day lined up as a potential option for this. She could only finish ninth on her first start over hurdles, although that was in Grade 1 company and on the back of a 646 day lay-off, so it wasn’t as bad an effort as it might seem!
She has since ran out an easy 22 length winner of her sole race this season, so she’s clearly a talented mare and gives the master Irish trainer another option for the race. He had six runners in last year’s renewal, so it would be no surprise to see both line up here, and it might be worth seeing who Paul Townend opts to ride to give you a judge on which is their strongest option.
You Wear It Well has followed the same path as last year’s winner Love Envoi by winning the Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown in February, so she’s sure to prove popular in the betting.
Other notable entries include another Mullins runner in Lot Of Joy, along with Gordon Elliott duo Magical Zoe and Harmonya Maker.
Qualifications/Trends
The Mares Novices’ Hurdle is open to fillies and mares aged four years and over and despite being open to the youngest age group, there has never been a four-year-old winner of this contest. The Grade 2 race has only been ran seven times and was won for the first five seasons by Irish trainer Willie Mullins, before Henry De Bromhead landed the contest in 2021 and Love Envoi became the first British-trained horse to win in last year’s renewal.
It had obviously not been the best of events for British trained runners prior to Love Envoi’s victory last year, as only two runners had found the frame in previous renewals – those were Fergal O’Brien’s Cap Soleil (2018 finished 2nd) and Phil Kirby’s Rayna’s World (2020 finished 3rd).
The Mares Novices’ Hurdle has only thrown up one market shock in its history and that was when Eglantine Du Seuil (2019) won at 50/1, with fellow stablemate Concertista back in second at 66/1, who ironically won the race 12 months later (at much shorter odds of 9/2). That certainly bucked the trend as the first three renewals went the way of the market leader and the biggest SP in the last three runnings has been last year’s winner Love Envoi, who won at 15/2.
Four of the seven winners of this race had previously contested in graded company. Willie Mullins’ Limini (2016) and Laurina (2018) had both landed the Grade 3 Solerina Hurdle at Fairyhouse before going on to festival success in March. Lets Dance (2017) also won at Fairyhouse earlier in the season but was successful in the former Grade 2 Golden Cygnet Hurdle which has subsequently been upgraded to Grade 1 status. Love Envoi’s prep run for the race last year was in the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, where she stayed on strongly to land the honours.
Mares Novices’ Hurdle Prize Money in 2023
Jsut over £103,000 was on offer in last year’s Mares Novices’ Hurdle, with connections of Love Envoi claiming the top prize of over £59,000.
The prize pot for the 2023 renewal is £105,000.
Mares Novices’ Hurdle History
The Grade 2 contest for mares and fillies was first run back in 2016 and is known as the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in honour of the superstar mare who is the only horse in history to win the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup. The race was originally created in order to expand The Cheltenham Festival to an even 28 races across the four days.
Retired jockey Ruby Walsh won this contest twice for trainer Willie Mullins but both Paul Townend and Rachael Blackmore have both recorded one win in the contest and will be looking to equal that record at this year’s Festival for their respected yards.
Winners since 2016
| Year | Horse | Jockey/Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Limini | J:Ruby Walsh T:Willie Mullins | 8/11F |
| 2017 | Let’s Dance | J:Ruby Walsh T:Willie Mullins | 11/8F |
| 2018 | Laurina | J:Paul Townend T:Willie Mullins | 4/7F |
| 2019 | Eglantine Du Seuil | J:Noel Fehily T:Willie Mullins | 50/1 |
| 2020 | Concertista | J:Daryl Jacob T:Willie Mullins | 9/2 |
| 2021 | Telmesomethinggirl | J:Rachael Blackmore T:Henry De Bromhead | 5/1 |
| 2022 | Love Envoi | J:Jonathan Burke T:Harry Fry | 15/2 |