Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Jump to: Tips and Predictions | Betting Odds | Recent Winners

The Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is a National Hunt race held every year on Cheltenham Racecourse. It’s part of the Cheltenham Festival’s third day, which is also St. Patrick’s Day. The event is the second to last race, after the Festival Plate and before the Kim Muir.

This Grade 2 race is a recent addition to the Festival’s schedule, with the first Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle was held in 2016. As with any Cheltenham Festival race, it draws sizable attention from punters.

That interest is partially due to being a high-level showcase for young novice mares.

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: Tips and Predictions

Note: the predictions below refer to the 2021 running of this race – preview will be updated closer to the beginning of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.

Willie Mullins has won every renewal of this (five) so far and he accounts for four of the 15 runners now. The betting cannot single one out, but Paul Townend has settled on Gauloise. She was behind Roseys Hollow and ROYAL KAHALA in a Fairyhouse Grade 3 (2m2f, soft to heavy) last month but the runner-up (sent off 11/10fav) is significantly better off with both on these terms and is very likely to improve for this drying ground. She may end the Mullins domination of this contest, though Pont Aval and Glens Of Antrim are potential improvers for Team Closutton.

Olly Murphy’s Allavina is a big price to upset the Irish apple cart and she has more improvement to come in all probability.

Enda McElhinney‘s Selection: Royal Kahala

2021 Winner: Telmesomethinggirl (Rachael Blackmore) 5/1

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: Betting Odds

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle: Recent Winners