The Mares Novices' Hurdle Tips (4:50pm)

[StevieDay1983]

The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is the second youngest race at the Festival (the Mares Chase being the youngest), run over two miles and 179 yards of the new course. The race has only been run seven times with Willie Mullins winning five of them. Of the seven runnings we’ve had three skinny favourites obliging, two second favourites, a 15/2 chance and a 50/1 rag. Last years renewal fell to Harry Fry’s Love Envoi.

This year’s renewal has a warm favourite in the Nicky Henderson trained Luccia who remains unbeaten in two bumpers and two listed novice hurdles, the latest coming at Exeter when easing to the front and winning with her head in her chest. She does have an entry in the Supreme (where she would receive a mares allowance) but this looks the most logical race for her and she’ll be hard to beat.

Willie Mullins is always to be feared in these mares contests and Ashroe Diamond is decent having won twice over hurdles this season as well as being placed in grade one events against the boys. This is her only entry at the Festival and she should be thereabouts. Mullins could also be represented by Night And Day, a 22L winner of a Clonmel maiden hurdle in January and Lot Of Joy who broke her national hunt duck when a 12L winner of a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle in February.

Henry De Bromhead has an interesting mare entered in Magical Zoe who hasn’t been seen since November when winning a grade 3 novice hurdle at Down Royal and remains unbeaten and a promising mare. One of the most interesting runners in the race has to be the Tony Mullins mare Princess Zoe, a former group one flat winner who dead heated on her jumping debut at Punchestown. She’ll need to improve from that but she was very good on the level.

Jamie Snowden has a very nice mare called You Wear It Well that won at Sandown in listed company in mid February and also comes into the reckoning if allowed to take her chance. The Irish will no doubt have a big say here but they may have to all play second fiddle to Nicky Henderson’s mare Luccia who looks smart.

Punters Lounge Tip: Luccia @ 7/4 at >Unibet - Click Here To Bet

by The Brigadier

[The Brigadier]

The Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is the second youngest race at the Festival (the Mares Chase being the youngest), run over two miles and 179 yards of the new course. The race has only been run seven times with Willie Mullins winning five of them. Of the seven runnings we’ve had three skinny favourites obliging, two second favourites, a 15/2 chance and a 50/1 rag. Last years renewal fell to Harry Fry’s Love Envoi.

LUCCIA

Warm favourite here and Nicky Henderson’s mare has an unbeaten record on the line. Looked good in winning two bumpers and two novice hurdles latterly at Exeter in listed company. Looks smart and the one to beat though has to shoulder a 5lb penalty. Nico De Boinville takes the reigns.

MAGICAL ZOE

One of 5 Henry De Bromhead runners in a race named after his late son. Unbeaten in a bumper and two novice hurdles. Beat Nikini a length last time and Aidan Heskin takes the ride. 5lb penalty to carry here.

YOU WEAR IT WELL

Has won 3 of her 4 hurdles with her only defeat coming at the hands of the smart Hermes Allen in the grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury on New Year’s Eve. Bolted up in the Jane Seymour Mares’ Nov Hurdle at Sandown since. Claims although dropping in distance not certain to suit. Trained by Jamie Snowden and ridden by Gavin Sheehan. 5lb penalty to carry.

BELLE THE LIONESS

Another Henry De Bromhead trained runner, this one ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe. Landed the odds when breaking her duck over hurdles in Thurles maiden last time out and will need to step forward to take a hand in finish. 3lb penalty here.

AHORSEWITHNONAME

Was runner up in this race last season at 50/1 to Love Envoi and subsequently won twice on the level. Major flop at odds on when last seen on Boxing Day and Nicky Henderson has others with better chances today.

BANNTOWN GIRL

Only won one of her career twelve starts and up against it here for Irish handler Stephen Gerard Carey and jockey Keith Donoghue.

ENDLESS ESCAPE

Former point to pointer who’s run up a sequence of four wins in minor novice hurdle company under Ben Jones for trainer Ben Clarke. This much tougher and needs to step up again.

FOXY GIRL

Another Henry De Bromhead runner with Rachael Blackmore taking the ride. Broke her duck last time when winning a Limerick maiden hurdle by 4L from a Mullins runner who’s won since. Unexposed and could possibly take a hand in finish.

HALKA DU TABERT

A point to point winner (by 45L), a bumper and a maiden hurdle before a credible third in grade 3 company at Fairyhouse in January. Only rated 3lb behind favourite Luccia at these weights and holds each way claims with Davy Russell riding for Gordon Elliott.

JETARA

Stepped her game up when runner up in grade 3 mares novice hurdle at Fairyhouse last time when going down by a length and a quarter to Ashroe Diamond. Jessie Harrington’s charge has small each way claims.

LADYBANK

Runs in the Honeysuckle colours of Kenny Alexander and another trained by Henry De Bromhead. Dead heated with Princess Zoe in a maiden hurdle at 40/1 at Punchestown in January. Aidan Coleman takes over here and will need to raise her game.

LOT OF JOY

One of two Willie Mullins runners and the pick of stable jockey Paul Townend. Very easy winner of Fairyhouse maiden hurdle at odds of 1/7 following two second places in maiden hurdles. Hard to assess but connections suggest she’s a player.

MULLENBERG

Won 3 of her 7 starts over hurdles for trainer Milton Harris. Best effort however was last time at Kempton when chasing home the Paul Nicholls trained Rubaud in a grade 2 hurdle. Will need to improve again to feature.

NIKINI

Willie Mullins’ ‘2nd’ string ridden by Patrick Mullins. Beaten a length by Magical Zoe at Down Royal last time in grade 3 company and 5lb better off here so should turn the tables. Solid each way chance.

POETIC MUSIC

Locally trained by Fergal O’Brien. 6th in last year’s Champion Bumper here and has taken well enough to timber winning twice. Was 11 1/2L behind Luccia at Newbury in November and 5lb better off now. Looks held.

PRINCESS ZOE

Very smart flat performer in the care of Thomas Mullins. Joined on post on hurdling debut at Punchestown by 40/1 poke Ladybank. Will need to do better here but is rated 106 on the flat so could well do that under Danny Mullins.

SHECOULDBEANYTHING

Another Gordon Elliot runner who’s shown decent enough form in listed/grade 2 company on last two starts. Ridden by Jordan Gainford here and only has officially 2lb to find with Luccia. Lively outsider.

STILL CIEL

The weakest of the De Bromhead quintet and looks out of her depth here. More likely to finish last than first!

THE MODEL KINGDOM

A consistent mare trained by Noel Meade. Kept good company on last two starts but likely to find several of these too good for her.

INSPIRATICE

Rank outsider trained in the West Country by Nicky Martin. Shown nowhere near enough to trouble the placings.

UNDER CONTROL

Very interesting runner from the same yard as Luccia. Owned by JP McManus and ridden here by Mark Walsh, she’s won two hurdle races, firstly in France before joining Nicky Henderson and winning comfortably in a Newbury juvenile hurdle. Trainer mooted afterwards she was more likely to go to Aintree but she’s obviously come out of that win well and looks a player here getting weight from all as shes a four year old.

summary:-

Luccia is the obvious one and will be hard to beat although she does have to carry a 5lb penalty here like dangers Magical Zoe and You Wear It Well. Her class may tell and she can take this with her stable companion Under Control who won on the bridle at Newbury a fortnight ago the best outsider.

1 Luccia @ 13/8 William Hill

2 Under Control

3 Lot Of Joy