MARES HURDLE INFO
Date: March 14, 2023
Type: Grade 1 National Hunt Hurdle Race
Distance: 2 Miles 3 Furlongs
Age Of The Horse: 4 Years Old and Older
We’ve enjoyed some memorable renewals over the years, races that stick in the mind for both good and bad reasons. Punters have made a profit on this race in recent times while others have, rather famously, saw accumulators go up in smoke during the Mares Hurdle.
This 2m 3f Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race sees the field take on ten hurdles and it’s not often we see all of the original names in the programme cross the finish line. It’s a gruelling test that separates the gutsy mares from the divas and drama queens. Run on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival 2023, all eyes will be on the Mares Hurdle when the field line-up on Tuesday 15 March.
Our expert team of horse racing content writers preview the race, giving advice on the trends, past winners, the current antepost betting and even offer a handy betting guide.
Traders at all major bookmakers have put their heads together to come up with antepost betting on the top races at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, including the Mares Hurdle. What they have released makes for very interesting reading indeed and it has made the value hunters sit up and take note.
Antepost betting allows backers to beat the queues and get their cash down on their chosen horse early, well before those leaving it until the final declarations stage or even the day of the race. A lot can happen between now and March 2021 but if you believe you have the next winner of the Mares Hurdle picked, there’s nothing stopping you making predictions and Mares Hurdle tips now and backing it with hard cash. The most important thing about antepost Mares Hurdle betting is the sooner you get your money down the better the price will be.
Like any form of gambling, however, antepost betting comes with risks. The main one being the fact you could back a horse to win the Mares Hurdle only to see it entered into a different race or miss the Cheltenham Festival entirely. If that happens you won’t get your stake back and will lose out without ever getting a run for your money. That’s why many punters choose to wait until the non-runner money back promotion comes into play. With this, if your horse doesn’t run in the race you backed it to win your stake will be refunded in full.
Let’s take a look at the current antepost betting, picking out the early favourites, the value available and which bookmakers are offering competition beating price. Remember, backing the right horse is important but so too is getting on at the best odds possible, and that’s where Bet365 Cheltenham specials along with the likes offered by other brands will come in handy.
Offers as the Cheltenham Festival approaches and attentions begin to focus on the Mares Hurdle 2022 you will notice a flood of offers, promotions and specials appear. These are updated every year to ensure they remain fresh, appealing to customers, both new and old, and better than the competition but we can get an idea of what to expect by taking our lead from last year’s festival.
Get ready for free bets, enhanced odds, extra places each-way, money back and plenty more. Below you’ll find a list of Mares Hurdle offers that will be updated regularly throughout the season. Bookmark this page to check back and see what’s available as we approach the off.
Antepost betting is the act of getting your cash down before the final field has been confirmed. There’s more risk involved here, of course, as your pick may run in a different race or not at all and you would lose your money, but with most horses the rewards are well worth the risk. Antepost backers get a much bigger price than what will be available to players on the day and if you are sure your pick will run in the Mares Hurdle, it pays to get your stake money down as early as possible.
Live betting and live streaming is available at a host of major bookmakers, including bet365, Coral and Betfair. This has been rolled out to include all UK and Irish horse racing and will include the 2023 Cheltenham Festival. With this modern and exciting feature, you can watch live Cheltenham Festival 2023 races on your desktop computer or mobile app through an HD quality live stream with expert commentary and stylish camera angles. What’s more, if you place a bet on the winner of the race you can follow the live streaming service at no extra cost to you. It’s the modern way to watch horse racing live and means never again will you be forced to check a results service or bet blind.
2020 Honeysuckle
2019 Roksana
2018 Benie Des Dieux
2017 Apples Jade
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag
2015 Glens Melody
2014 Quevega
2013 Quevega
2012 Quevega
2011 Quevega
2010 Quevega
Winner: Honeysuckle
The battle between Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle 2020 certainly didn’t disappoint on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival as the latter defeated the 2018 winner for Henry De Bromhead to keep her unbeaten streak alive. There had been some debate as to whether this clash of two magnificent Irish mares would happen, but the younger legs of Honeysuckle prevailed.
Backed into 9/4 against the odds-on favourite Benie Des Dieux, the six-year-old travelled strongly under regular jockey Rachael Blackmore who got a good run on the inner to lead turning for home. Honeysuckle then kept on well from the last and only needed riding out to score by half-a-length.
The front two outpaced 16/1 shot Elfile who was beaten a further 6 1/2 lengths in third with previous Mares’ Hurdle heroine Roksana 4 3/4 lengths behind in four. Stormy Ireland, second in last year’s race, made the running but faded to be fifth at 7/1 as Mullins – the most successful trainer in this – scooped three places.
Honeysuckle has won a Grade 1 over a shorter trip than this in the Irish Champion Hurdle and, if bidding for the Cheltenham equivalent in 2021, has earned quotes of 10/1 for next year’s Cheltenham Festival. It’s worth remembering she was entered in both the Mares’ and Champion Hurdle this season before owner Kenneth Alexander and De Bromhead decided to keep her at her optimum trip and put her back against her own sex.
Defeat for Benie Des Dieux saw Mullins blame a jockey error from Robbie Power, who doesn’t regularly ride Stormy Ireland, that he felt gifted Honeysuckle a run up the inside. The Mares’ Hurdle is a race that is no stranger to drama relating to that stable either.
Last year’s race was won by Roksana for jockey Harry Skelton and trainer Dan Skelton and that was the team’s first ever champion in this race. She was also the second seven-year-old winner in two years and the fourth over the course of the last five years. She did the business off a cracking 10/1 and although even backers would admit she was rather fortunate to get the prize money, if this festival has taught us anything over the years its that we can take nothing for granted.
Roksana looked a beaten horse but took full advantage of a late fall for Benie Des Dieux. Even then she made hard work of getting the win, wandering around at the finish, but Skelton was able to rally his mount and get her across the line for what was a stunning win and one that will live long in the memory of those in attendance and watching the live TV pictures.