Mares' Novices' Hurdle - Latest Betting Odds 2025

Michael O'Sullivan Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Gbb Race)

My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (Gbb Race)

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Reg' as the Fred Winter) (Premier H'cap) (GBB)

Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Turners Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Broadway Novices' Chase) (GBB Race)

Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (A Limited Handicap) (GBB Race)

BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Weatherbys Champion Bumper (A Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered As Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle) (GBB)

Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) (Registered as The Golden Miller) (GBB Race)

Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (Spon By Thames Materials) (GBB)

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

William Hill County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (Registered As The Liberthine Mares' Chase) (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The Spa Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race)

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase

Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

FREE BETS & OFFERS - MARES NOVICES' HURDLE

The Mares' Novices' Hurdle is a Grade 2 contest run over 2m1f on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival. View the racecard here.

Compare the odds for all the runners in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Find out which bookmaker is offering the best odds.

Mares' Novices' Hurdle Chase tips and predictions from our horseracing experts for the first race on day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival 2025. Click to see more. 

Mares' Novices' Hurdle - Runners, Trends & Winners 2025

The Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle, registered as the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. It is one of the newest races at the Cheltenham Festival, having first been staged in 2016, it is run on the third day of the festival. Initially dominated by Willie Mullins, who trained all of the first five winners, it has become more open with the last four winners coming from four different trainers, none of which were Mullins. The Mares' Novices' Hurdle has previously given penalties to Class 1 and 2 winners, a 5lb and 3lb penalty respectively, but for 2025 and beyond no penalties will be applied. This is because it was thought to have reduced the number of times some mares ran in the lead up to the festival. Check the Mares Novices Hurdle runners and riders ahead of the race and place your bets by clicking the odds buttons.

Compare the odds for all the runners in the Mares Novices' Hurdle on day three of the Cheltenham Festival. Some bookmakers offer different odds and unique offers so look out for the offer icons under the bookmaker logos. You may want to look for an each-way alternative at bigger odds, which is where the Mares Novices' Hurdle odds comparison comes in handy.

Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tips - Cheltenham Festival Preview 2025

Golden Ace, officially rated 19lb below the 5-6 favourite Brighterdaysahead and in receipt of just 5lb, travelled powerfully throughout and found more than her rivals to extend her unbeaten record over hurdles to three. Brighterdaysahead, who fought the winner up the hill, didn’t have the race run to suit but emerged with plenty of credit under a 5lb penalty, as did Birdie Or Bust, who held every chance at the last. The fancied Jade De Grugy found the drop in trip against her.

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The Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle odds comparison grid is simple and easy to use. All the runners are listed down the left, whilst each bookmaker is presented across the top. The odds box that crosses the horse and the bookmaker, is the odds that bookmaker is offering on that specific horse.
The odds that have a bold number indicate the best price available for that horse in the Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle. The odds boxes are coloured red and blue to indicate whether a horse is being supported or not. The red boxes show a drift in price, which means the odds are getting bigger as less punters are betting on that horse. In contrast, the blue box shows when the odds are contracting, indicating the horse is being supported in the betting.
Underneath the bookmaker logo, are the offers available for the Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle by that bookmaker. Some bookmakers offer more places for each way bets, or money back specials if your horse finishes second, so it’s always worth checking and comparing before placing your bet.
<span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Discover the latest Cheltenham Mares Novices' Hurdle ahead of the race, alongside the best exclusive Cheltenham Festival free bets for an enhanced betting experience!&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:1053569,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;11&quot;:0,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;23&quot;:1}" data-sheets-textstyleruns="{&quot;1&quot;:0}{&quot;1&quot;:101,&quot;2&quot;:{&quot;2&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:1136076},&quot;9&quot;:1}}{&quot;1&quot;:131}" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{&quot;1&quot;:101,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;https://www.racingpost.com/free-bets/horse-racing/cheltenham/&quot;}{&quot;1&quot;:131}">Discover the latest Cheltenham Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle ahead of the race, alongside the best exclusive <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.racingpost.com/free-bets/horse-racing/cheltenham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cheltenham Festival free bets </a>for an enhanced betting experience!

Ireland took the first six runnings after this race was introduced in 2016 but the home side has hit back with consecutive wins for Harry Fry with Love Envoi, Jamie Snowden
with You Wear It Well and Jeremy Scott with Golden Ace last year. The ante-post betting indicates the prize will go back to Ireland this year, with Willie Mullins’ Maughreen and the Gavin Cromwell-trained Sixandahalf disputing favouritism. Both have landed their only starts over hurdles having been bumper winners last season, but in between Sixandahalf had a successful Flat campaign last year (rated 94) that ended with third place in the Irish Cesarewitch. Cromwell’s mare was given a Racing Post Rating of 130 for her hurdles win, compared with 120 for Maughreen (the latter had the edge in bumpers at 121 to 119). Mullins has another good contender in French import Karoline Banbou, who was beaten on her hurdles debut in Ireland by stablemate Baby Kate but won her maiden well next time at Fairyhouse. The leading British hope could be Paul Nicholls’ Jubilee Alpha, who was runner-up in the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at Aintree last spring and has plenty of experience over hurdles, having won two out of three to reach an RPR of 125. Nicholls also has Just A Rose, who has the same RPR after her wide-margin debut success at Taunton. 

Sky-high are reputations on the line. There's an infectious level of confidence behind BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD and Jade De Grugy, both unbeaten mares who haven't half looked good in bossing in their own backyards. Gordon Elliott has great belief in the selection who might just be the superior stayer under these testing conditions. Whether Golden Ace is quite up to this level remains to be seen, but the potential is there for sure.


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<colgroup>
<col width="66" />
<col width="152" />
<col width="119" />
<col width="66" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="177" />
<col width="177" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Year</td>
<td>Horse</td>
<td>Previous Form</td>
<td>Age</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Trainer</td>
<td>Jockey</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2024</td>
<td>Golden Ace</td>
<td>142-11</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>10-1</td>
<td>Jeremy Scott</td>
<td>Lorcan Williams</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023</td>
<td>You Wear It Well</td>
<td>1121</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>16-1</td>
<td>Jamie Snowden</td>
<td>Gavin Sheehan</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022</td>
<td>Love Envoi</td>
<td>1-1111</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>15-2</td>
<td>Harry Fry</td>
<td>Jonathan Burke</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2021</td>
<td>Telmesomethinggirl</td>
<td>13113</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>5-1</td>
<td>Henry De Bromhead</td>
<td>Rachael Blackmore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2020</td>
<td>Concertista</td>
<td>4-2-0433</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>9-2</td>
<td>Willie Mullins</td>
<td>Daryl Jacob</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2019</td>
<td>Eglantine Du Seuil</td>
<td>1-13</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>50-1</td>
<td>Willie Mullins</td>
<td>Noel Fehily</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2018</td>
<td>Laurina</td>
<td>F2-11</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>4-7F</td>
<td>Willie Mullins</td>
<td>Paul Townend</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2017</td>
<td>Let’s Dance</td>
<td>21-111</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>11-8F</td>
<td>Willie Mullins</td>
<td>Ruby Walsh</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2016</td>
<td>Limini</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>8-11F</td>
<td>Willie Mullins</td>
<td>Ruby Walsh</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Latest odds for the Mares Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival

Mares Novices' Hurdle Odds 2025

Key trends
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Aged five or six, nine winners in nine runnings</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Top-three finish last time out, 9/9</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Top-three finish in a Listed or Graded hurdle, 8/9</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Two to four hurdle starts, 7/9</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Adjusted RPR of at least 143, 5/9</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Rated within 6lb of RPR top-rated, 5/9</li>
</ul>
Other factors
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Seven winners had won over further than 2m1f.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">One was still maiden but she was beaten a short-head in the race the previous year.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Willie Mullins has trained five of the nine winners (the first five). </li>
</ul>
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Mares Novices' Hurdle tips from our racing experts for the mares novices' race on day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival.

Mares Novices' Hurdle Tips 2025

Mares Novices' Hurdle Tips and Predictions

<span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Want to place a bet on any of our Experts' Mares Novices' Hurdle Tips ahead of Cheltenham? Be sure to also check out the latest Cheltenham Free Bets available to all new customers ahead of the Mares Novices' Hurdle&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:1049089,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;23&quot;:1}" data-sheets-textstyleruns="{&quot;1&quot;:0}{&quot;1&quot;:128,&quot;2&quot;:{&quot;2&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:1136076},&quot;9&quot;:1}}{&quot;1&quot;:149}" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{&quot;1&quot;:128,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;https://www.racingpost.com/free-bets/horse-racing/cheltenham/&quot;}{&quot;1&quot;:149}">Want to place a bet on any of our Experts&#8217; Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle Tips ahead of Cheltenham? Be sure to also check out the latest <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.racingpost.com/free-bets/horse-racing/cheltenham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cheltenham Free Bets </a>available to all new customers ahead of the Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle

Racing Post experts predict the likely big players and identify the each way value in the Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle as well as analysing the trends and predicting the winner.

Daylesford Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Essentially this boils down to Constitution Hill and State Man, the last two Champion winners, versus each other and possibly against one or both of Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth unless they go for the Mares’ Hurdle 40 minutes earlier. If they all line up, it could be a race for the ages. Even if they don’t, which seems the more likely scenario, there is still the potential for an outstanding performance from at least one of the combatants. Nicky Henderson’s Constitution Hill was magnificent in the 2023 Champion, beating State Man by nine lengths, but health issues forced him to miss last year’s race and he hasn’t yet scaled his former heights even though he remains unbeaten after ten races over hurdles. The Willie Mullins-trained State Man took the crown in his old rival’s absence 12 months ago and has a deserved reputation as ‘Mr
Reliable’, although there was an off-day at Christmas before he bounced back to land a third Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival. Gordon Elliott’s
Brighterdaysahead has beaten State Man twice this season, most eyecatchingly in that Christmas contest at Leopardstown, and rates as the best mare in training after her spectacular 30-length success. Close behind her is Mullins’ Lossiemouth, who won last year’s Mares’ Hurdle and might take the step up to the Champion this time. She has met both of her big male rivals this season, finishing well against Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton but then taking a crashing fall when upsides State Man in the Irish Champion. Provided there are no lasting effects, she is capable of a big run wherever she lines up.

The unfortunate absence of Constitution Hill leaves the door wide open for last year's runner-up STATE MAN to go one better. The Willie Mullins-trained 7yo has been thoroughly dominant otherwise since racing at the top level and sets a clear standard in this field. Irish Point gained his Grade 1 hurdle wins over longer trips but he has shown versatility and, being a progressive sort who has built up a good winning sequence, looks the chief threat to the selection. Constitution Hill's trainer Nicky Henderson is left represented by Iberico Lord (third choice) and Luccia, who are not supersubs as such but they bring strong 2023-24 handicap form to this higher grade.

Ireland looks extremely likely to open the scoring in the traditional festival curtain-raiser and many will see Kopek Des Bordes as the first banker of the week for Willie Mullins. The five-year-old was so impressive in his Grade 1 win at the Dublin Racing Festival that Mullins said fellow trainer Ted Walsh had called the next day to compare him to Golden Cygnet, the fabled but ill-fated outstanding Supreme winner in 1978. The biggest danger is Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio, a Grade 1 winner at Christmas who has the advantages of more hurdling experience than the favourite and a previous run at Cheltenham, having been runner-up in last year’s Champion Bumper. Henry de Bromhead, who won with Slade Steel last year, has the promising but inexperienced Workahead this time. Mullins has a host of other possibles and the highest-rated is Grade 2 winner Salvator Mundi. Britain would have a good chance only if The New Lion or Potters Charm were surprisingly rerouted from the Turners.  

This year's Supreme has become more open with leading novice Ballyburn skipping the 2m option and heading for the Gallagher on Wednesday. Firefox and Slade Steel tie in with that horse and come here with strong claims on form, while Willie Mullins is typically well represented even without Ballyburn. As regards those Closutton runners, MYSTICAL POWER is particularly appealing. He is superbly bred, remains unbeaten and looks open to any amount of further improvement. Tullyhill (second choice) has progressed with each start over hurdles and holds a leading chance on ratings, while Mistergif is an interesting prospect. Jeriko Du Reponet is the pick of the British contenders and helps to give JP McManus, who also owns the selection, a robust hand.

This was shaping up as potentially one of the best Britain v Ireland showdowns of the festival until the news came that Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino – hugely impressive on his chasing debut at Christmas – had been ruled out due to a serious infection in the ligaments of his near hind leg. He had been odds-on favourite but that mantle passed to Willie Mullins’ Majborough, like Sir Gino an outstanding juvenile hurdler last season and now a high-performing chaser at an early age. Last year’s Triumph Hurdle winner has outstanding claims, having recorded a Racing Post Rating of 164 in winning the Grade 1 Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival. This is a race in which favourites do well, with eight of the last ten winning, including all seven priced at 2-1 or shorter. Britain still appears to have the main danger in Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud, also a Grade 1 winner in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase and with more experience than the favourite after going on to make it four out of four over fences in the Grade 2 Kingmaker
at Warwick. Other possibles include the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Firefox and Touch Me Not – runner-up to both Majborough and L’Eau Du Sud in their Grade 1s – along with Jango Baie, who may give Henderson a runner at least.

Willie Mullins has won five of the last nine runnings and again holds a strong hand, with the mercurial Gaelic Warrior the pick of his three contenders and the one to beat overall as long as his erratic jumping passes its most searching test. However, in a more open Arkle than usual the suggestion is MASTER CHEWY, who had an excuse at Lingfield last time and had previously impressed with his sound jumping technique. A well-run 2m should suit him down to the ground and he may well record a personal best. Cases can be made for quite a few of the others, with Quilixios and Hunters Yarn next on the list. Dublin Racing Festival form is represented by Il Etait Temps and Found A Fifty, while JPR One and the selection's stablemate Matata are closely matched and impossible to rule out.

This prestigious 3m1f handicap chase is one of the most important of its type in the jumps season and, as well as being a major prize in its own right, often draws runners who will head on to other big races in the spring, including the Grand National.

Last year's third Monbeg Genius would have outstanding claims if only he were able to recapture that form but he comes here on a downer after a recent Kelso defeat and it would be a work of magic if he could turn things round this quickly. THE GOFFER was unable to match the first three after the last fence in this race 12 months ago but it would be harsh to describe him as a non-stayer given the exceptionally high quality of that running and his challenge is likely to be delayed for longer this time. Soft ground will suit up-and-coming Meetingofthewaters and he is likely to be very dangerous, along with unexposed Chianti Classico but the latter's trainer Kim Bailey also holds a strong hand with Trelawne who should relish this first go in a staying chase. Stumptown also makes some appeal now he's found his form again with blinkers fitted, along with Gevrey if he is able to recapture his best.

Coming on the same afternoon as the Champion Hurdle, this Grade 1 continues to offer an alternative route to top festival honours for the best mares – arguably to the
detriment of the showpiece feature – and the old arguments have resurfaced over where Brighterdaysahead and Lossiemouth should run. The Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead rates as the best mare around after her stunning display in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting, where she left last year’s Champion winner State Man trailing and came home 30 lengths clear. Lossiemouth won this race last year by three lengths from Telmesomethinggirl, taking Willie Mullins’ score to ten in the 17 runnings. She has raced against the boys this season, most recently taking a heavy fall four out in the Irish Champion Hurdle when going head to head with State Man. If at least one of the big two went to the Champion, the chances would improve for July Flower (Henry de Bromhead) and the Mullins pair Kargese and Jade De Grugy. 

Although Vroum Vroum Mag in 2016 is the only one of five Willie Mullins-trained odds-on shots to triumph in this race in the post-Quevega era, it would still be a surprise were LOSSIEMOUTH to fluff her lines. Last year's Triumph winner would have been a major player if allowed to take her chance in the Champion Hurdle and looks a cut above the rest in this field, assuming that her stamina holds. Stablemate Ashroe Diamond can give her most to do ahead of last year's runner-up Love Envoi.

First run in 2005, this is a fiercely competitive and often wide-open handicap hurdle for four-year-olds only. LAST YEAR’S WINNER Jazzy Matty scored at 18-1, becoming the third winner in the past six runnings for Gordon Elliott and the sixth in a row for Ireland (fifth was the best Britain could manage last year). He was the seventh French-bred to win in 19 runnings (a French-bred has finished first or second in all but one of the last ten). Irish trainers dominate the ante-post betting with Lark In The Mornin for Joseph O’Brien, Willie Mullins’ Batman Girac and Ethical Diamond, and the Gordon Elliott-trained Wodhooh, Ndaawi and Mighty Bandit. The last home winner was in 2017 but there are decent hopes of another with Jane Williams’ Excelero and the Olly Murphy-trained Roaring Legend.

Lark In The Mornin has long been the talk of the town for this having hinted in his maidens that improvement is lurking, which could well emerge today on his handicap debut. However, there is no shortage of alternatives, with Milan Tino (second choice) temptingly treated, Ndaawi possessing potential and Palamon a lively one with his yard having punched above its weight in this race with a selective approach. The suggestion at greater odds, however, is the improving BRIGHT LEGEND (nap), who was reeled in by Eagle Fang at Naas last time in a race that has thrown up four of the last five Boodles winners. The selection deserves some credit for hanging around for second that day after such a bold front-running ride and, if his revs can be conserved for the business end this time, he just might be seen in a whole new light.

This is the longest and oldest race at the festival, although five years ago the race distance was reduced to 3m6f and with two fewer fences to jump. There are more big changes this year with the removal of the race’s Grade 2 status and its downgrading to a 0-145 novice handicap, plus the traditional stipulation that only amateur jockeys can ride in the race has been removed.

It's a small but competitive field, with much less between all of them on form than the betting might suggest. Preference is for SALVADOR ZIGGY who has not raced since October but had almost exactly the same layoff before his excellent second here on soft ground in last year's Pertemps Final. He's taken well to fences. Embassy Gardens (second choice) shapes like he's probably the class act among them but it's interesting to see that he is today fitted with a hood, as is Corbetts Cross, so their connections presumably have a nagging doubt over whether they will settle well enough to see out this marathon trip. Kilbeg King may emerge best among the three who fought out the Reynoldstown finish at Ascot, while Mr Vango has to be given a positive mention as the only one who has proved himself over this sort of trip.

Willie Mullins is the leading trainer in this race with seven wins and he has another strong candidate in Final Demand, who took over favouritism after his impressive Grade 1 victory at the Dublin Racing Festival. His Racing Post Rating jumped 20lb to a division-leading 154 with that 12-length success, giving Mullins an excellent chance of a fourth Turners in a row. Britain has a serious challenger in the Dan Skelton-trained The New Lion, also an impressive Grade 1 winner in the Challow at Newbury. The Mullins squad also looks set to include Kawaboomga, who is talented but lacks Graded experience, while another to note from the home team is Nigel Twiston-Davies’s course-and-distance winner Potters Charm. Some of the others with good Graded form, such as Gordon Elliott’s The Yellow Clay, may go elsewhere.

It feels somewhat reckless to suggest that this Grade 1 might elude Willie Mullins, particularly as his comfortable Grade 1 winner Ballyburn sets such a high form standard, but one from the home team with a sporting chance is JINGKO BLUE, who displayed major improvement when winning a Sandown handicap in the style of a Graded-level performer last month. He can reward each-way support, at least. Ballyburn is clearly the main danger, while his stablemates Predators Gold and Ile Atlantique have been placed in Grade 1 hurdle races this year and also have big roles to play.


Three of last year’s festival winners are in the reckoning for this Grade 1 staying novice chase, which in terms of competitiveness may be the race that benefits most from the removal of the 2m4f Grade 1. Ante-post favourite Ballyburn is one of those who may have gone for the old Turners, given that he won the Grade 1 novice hurdle over the intermediate distance last year, but he will have to move up in trip now. The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old has strong form credentials after his Grade 1 win over 2m5½f at the Dublin Racing Festival, even if questions remain about his jumping. The other festival winners from last year are Better Days Ahead (Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle) and Stellar Story (Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle), who are both trained by Gordon Elliott and are closely matched on their February meeting in a Grade 2 at Navan, which Better Days Ahead won by a neck. Dancing City and Lecky Watson, third and fifth behind Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett, are also in the mix for Mullins, while Elliott’s challenge could be bolstered by Croke Park, runner-up to Ballyburn at the DRF. Nicky Henderson has the chief home hopes in Jango Baie and Jingko Blue. 

The buzz around Fact To File is understandable, given not only his connections but his obvious engine. He is still pretty raw and this race is often won by toughness and being street-smart over ability, just like last year when The Real Whacker beat Gerri Colombe. Preference is for STAY AWAY FAY, who has winning Cheltenham Festival form and bags of stamina. He will need a test, the fitting of cheekpieces acknowledges as much, but he showed when beating Giovinco at Sandown that he is not a complete slowcoach. The main threat could come from the unexposed Monty's Star, who is a half-brother to Monalee but brings to mind the same connections' Minella Indo even more strongly.


This highly competitive handicap hurdle was introduced in 1993 and regularly attracts a maximum field (currently set at 26). Last year's winner, Langer Dan, became the first dual winner of the race when scoring at 13-2 for Dan Skelton. He was 9-1 the previous year, but even with his back-to-back successes there have been just five winners at single-figure odds since 2004. Form: Eleven of the last 15 winners had won or finished second last time out. Weight and ratings: Langer Dan carried 11st 8lb to victory last year off a mark of 141 (in 2023 he won off the same mark carrying 11st 4lb). He made it six winners in the past decade rated in the narrow 138-143 band. Age: This race tends to suit younger, less exposed types, and the number of hurdles runs is a key factor. Only four of the last 17 winners were into double figures. Trainers: Nicky Henderson is the most successful trainer with four wins. 

Langer Dan's revivals in the spring are well known by now and last year's brought him a win in this race off the same mark as today, but this time round Might I might prove even more potent among the more established runners. Both face a host of far less exposed challengers. Sa Majeste, the ante-post favourite, is probably the pick of those but Built By Ballymore and Jigoro also deserve a high profile among the Irish and Lucky Place is a British novice to note. The latter is with Nicky Henderson, whose recent fortunes will hopefully take a turn for the better at the Festival and who could take this race with DODDIETHEGREAT, whose late gains in the Betfair Hurdle augured well. The chief threat may come from a less heralded Irish challenger in Zanndabad, who is 4lb out of the handicap but could be about to come into his own.


Jonbon was one of the Nicky Henderson stars forced to miss last year’s festival owing to concerns over the health of the Seven Barrows string but he is set to line up with a big chance this time. He has won five out of five since that disappointment, advancing his career-best Racing Post Rating three times during that impressive run. This season he has scored by wide margins in the Tingle Creek at Sandown and the Clarence House at Ascot, latterly defeating dual Champion Chase winner Energumene to take his RPR to 177. The big question is whether he can reproduce his best at Cheltenham, where he has won on only two of his five visits (in contrast to his 100 per cent record elsewhere). Willie Mullins has three of the main threats in Gaelic Warrior, Energumene and El Fabiolo but there are question marks with them as well, concerning form, age and jumping. King George VI Chase runner-up Il Est Francais would be an intriguing contender if dropped back to this trip by Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm, while Dublin Chase one-two Solness (Joseph O’Brien) and Marine Nationale (Barry Connell) add further Grade 1 quality to the mix.

Barring mishaps, the finish to this year's Champion Chase could well prove a carbon copy of last year's Arkle in which EL FABIOLO drew clear to beat Jonbon. Those two are not bombproof on the jumping front but their completion records are still unblemished and, ability-wise, their ratings have progressed into the 170s. El Fabiolo has the higher figure and is a worthy favourite to extend his winning sequence, while Jonbon has never finished out of the first two and remains a respected contender assuming he doesn't repeat the Clarence House foul-up. Edwardstone may throw a spanner in the works, having been rejuvenated by a change of tactics in the Game Spirit, though another uncontested lead isn't guaranteed in this field.


This unusual event, introduced when the festival expanded to four days in 2005, began as a handicap but was changed to a conditions race in 2016. Now it reverts
back to a handicap, although with a 19lb weight range in an effort to attract highquality chasers. Last year’s race was abandoned after heavy rain made parts of the
cross-country course unraceable. Ireland v Britain:  Ireland has won 16 of the 19 runnings. Enda Bolger dominated in the early years when it was a handicap but he was joined on five winners by Gordon Elliott, who took charge after the change to a conditions race. Philip Hobbs is the only trainer to have won for Britain, with Balthazar King in 2012 and 2014 (both when it was a handicap), and Easysland scored for France in 2020. 

Gordon Elliott has an excellent record in this race, as does jockey Keith Donoghue, and the Cheltenham Festival has brought out the best in GALVIN over the years. He was runner-up to stablemate Delta Work 12 months ago on his cross-country debut and last month's staying-on fourth over an inadequate 2m5f in the Boyne Hurdle was a highly encouraging performance. The 11yo Delta Work is bidding to win this race for the third consecutive year and is feared most, ahead of 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo who was a promising fourth off top weight in a C&D handicap in December on his cross-country debut. Coko Beach and Foxy Jacks have been in the form of their lives this season and could also be involved.


This hotly contested 2m handicap chase had a significant change four years ago by moving from the New course to the Old. The Old course is slightly sharper and tighter,
favouring a quicker, strong-travelling type. Last year's winner: Unexpected Party scored at 12-1 for Dan Skelton. He was described in the Racing Post comments as “prominent on outer”, following on from other recent “prominent” winners Sky Pirate (2021) and Global Citizen (2022) and 2023 scorer Maskada, who was “in touch with leaders”. Form and ratings: Nine of the last 15 British-trained winners had been successful at Cheltenham before. Unexpected Party wasn’t one of them but had recorded his
best two Racing Post Ratings at the course. The quality has improved year on year and ten of the last 14 winners were rated at least 140. Age: This has been a good race for novices with 15 winners since 1983. Only three winners have been older than nine since 12-year-old Uncle Ernie in 1997. 

A feature of MADARA (nap)'s wins in good handicaps here and at Leopardstown this winter has been the way he's powered clear from the last, suggesting he has more in the locker. Saint Roi (second choice) is well treated on last season's Grade 1 novice chase form and there's a good chance he's been laid out for this, while the unexposed Sa Fureur has a similar profile to Gordon Elliott's 2020 winner Chosen Mate. Last year's winner Maskada is another who could go well, while Harper's Brook is hardly one for maximum faith but there's every chance he'll be bang there at the last.


Entries are made late for this Grade 1, giving as much time as possible for likely contenders to gain vital racecourse experience. Often only one run is deemed necessary, as was the case with last year’s one-two Jasmin De Vaux and Romeo Coolio, who came out to win in January and then were put away until the festival. Those two, along with the rest of last year’s first seven, were trained by Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott, who between them have won seven of the last eight runnings. It is not surprising, therefore, that the ante-post betting is dominated again by possibles from Ireland’s two biggest stables. Dublin Racing Festival bumper winner Bambino Fever looks set to head the Mullins team along with Copacabana, a later arrival to the racecourse, while Elliott has dual winner Kalypso’chance on his long list. Britain has realistic hopes of success this year, principally with David Pipe’s impressive Ascot winner Windbeneathmywings. Further down the betting on the Irish side is Henry de Bromhead’s Scope To
Improve – probably an apt description of the whole field.

Get set for the most open Champion Bumper since they went 7-1 the field in 2013. While British aspirations are higher than is often the case, Irish stables have not only won 24 of the 31 renewals but had the first two home in the last seven. Willie Mullins is responsible for the lion's share of those triumphs and his typically stocked-up team is spearheaded by impressive Naas winner Jasmin De Vaux, though it has often paid to see beyond his apparent first string and You Oughta Know has the more compelling form claims. However, Gordon Elliott may have an even stronger hand through Jalon D'oudairies, Romeo Coolio and THE YELLOW CLAY. Elliott has talked up the chances of all three, but The Yellow Clay's luck was out in Leopardstown's traditionally influential Grade 2 last month as, without suffering serious interference at a crucial stage, he could have finished ahead of You Oughta Know (second choice) and might well have given Jeroboam Machin something to think about. Bear in mind that the winner would have been a strong favourite for this had injury not intervened.


New for this year is this Grade 2 2m4½f novice limited handicap chase, which takes the place of the Grade 1 Golden Miller Novices’ Chase (run most recently under the
Turners sponsorship). The aim is to bolster the Grade 1 numbers in the 2m Arkle and 3m Brown Advisory by removing the option for the top novices at the intermediate
distance, while adding a competitive handicap in its place. This is an adaptation of the contest held at the festival from 2006 until 2020, after which it was moved to Sandown. A major difference is that the new race is a limited handicap with a 20lb weight range. If this race follows a similar pattern to the previous version, there will be an accent on strong recent form (look for winners/runners-up last time out) and that will tend to mean the winner is more likely to come from the top six in the betting.
There might also be a greater spread of winning connections. Fourteen different trainers were successful in the 15 runnings of the previous novice handicap chase
and victory went only three times to the trainers who now make up the ‘big five’.

Having reportedly recovered well from his injury, the very promising IROKO is taken to build on his impressive Warwick win and register a second Cheltenham Festival success. Twelve months ago he landed the Martin Pipe, which has thrown up several subsequent Grade 1 winners over the years, and there's any amount of further progress in him. Facile Vega, a fascinating candidate over the new trip, is second on the list. The other main contenders are Ginny's Destiny and Grey Dawning who command plenty of respect and look set for an absorbing rematch that could go either way.

The race conditions for this 3m handicap hurdle were tightened again in 2023, with horses having to finish in the first four in a qualifier to be eligible for the final. This year there has been another change, guaranteeing a run for all winners of series qualifiers (provided they are within the weights at declaration stage). 

While lots of these are in with a shout, none has given such a firm impression of having more in the tank as CUTHBERT DIBBLE (nap). He's a second-season hurdler who is 2-2 in handicaps this term and had no difficulty with the trip when upped to 3m last time. Best of the other British runners may be White Rhino (a reserve) and Emitom but greater dangers probably come from the Irish contingent, principally perhaps from Gaoth Chuil (second choice) and Farouk D'Alene, who were first and second in the Leopardstown qualifier, even though Cleatus Poolaw is one of the least exposed and brings clear potential. Gabbys Cross and Anna Bunina could also go very well.

Some of those prominent in the ante-post betting may be diverted to the Gold Cup or the Champion Chase, but this is still shaping up as a cracking contest. Among the probables are three festival scorers, including the last two winners of this race. Having been beaten twice by stablemate Galopin Des Champs over Leopardstown’s 3m½f, Willie Mullins’ Fact To File may well be best suited by dropping back to this intermediate distance if he is to add to last year’s festival success in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase. He started this season with victory in the John Durkan over a similar mid-range trip, with Galopin Des Champs behind him on that occasion. The old hands are previous winners Protektorat (Dan Skelton) and Envoi Allen (Henry de Bromhead), while the young guns include Venetia Williams’ still-improving dual Grade 2 winner Djelo and narrow John Durkan runner-up Spillane’s Tower for Jimmy Mangan. 

Despite reaching the veteran stage, ENVOI ALLEN could well follow up last year's success and enhance his excellent record at this meeting. He retains all of his ability judged on last-time-out form. Banbridge, an ideal Ryanair type, is feared most assuming he gets suitable ground and takes part. Fil Dor, an interesting contender back up in distance, is third choice. Stage Star isn't certain to get an easy lead but he's strongly respected on other counts. Some of the other runners are smart but need to prove they are still effective at this sort of trip.

Ireland had a recent dual winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle in Flooring Porter and many expect Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo to follow up last year’s comfortable victory, which
came at the expense of Flooring Porter’s hat-trick bid. A stayer in his prime can dominate in this often weak division and arguably that scenario has played out in favour of those two Irish stars in recent years. After Teahupoo was third in his first attempt at the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2023, Elliott kept him fresher last year by giving him just one run beforehand in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle and the same formula has been followed again. Just as important to Teahupoo is soft ground, which is something Elliott cannot control, and quicker conditions than last year could bring him back to the pack. Home By The Lee has been in the pack for the past three years, achieving his best Stayers’ result when third last year, and Joseph O’Brien’s ten-year-old will be back again off a Grade 1 victory at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting. New rivals await too and one on an upward curve is Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old Lucky Place, a Grade 2 course winner on New Year’s Day in the Relkeel Hurdle. Even younger is the Declan Queally-trained Rocky’s Diamond, who was still only four when he was third to Home By The Lee at Christmas and then a month later (after officially turning five) won the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle.
Elliott also has an up-and-comer of his own in The Wallpark, who would be another
interesting new rival for Teahupoo but could go for the Pertemps Final instead. 

The Cheltenham Festival brings out the best in SIRE DU BERLAIS and he is taken to defy his advancing years and win this race for the second year running. No star candidate has emerged in the 12 months since and if he can reproduce last season's form he should be tough to beat. Teahupoo, who is also trained by Gordon Elliott, was a close third last March and this 7yo could build on that performance this time around, but Noble Yeats may be the chief danger. He was receiving weight when narrowly beating Paisley Park in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over C&D in January, but may well improve on that form now in cheekpieces, in which he won the 2022 Grand National. The highly progressive 7yo Crambo, who won the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time out, is another to consider.

Established in 1951 and traditionally known as the Mildmay of Flete, this is a highly competitive 2m4½f handicap chase that usually attracts a maximum field of 24. Last year's winner: Shakem Up’Arry scored at 8-1 for Ben Pauling, equalling the score at 5-5 for Britain and Ireland in the past decade. Form: Shakem Up’Arry was the sixth last-time-out winner to strike in the past nine runnings (one of the other winners had been second the time before). Weight and ratings: The previous trend of winners rated in the 130s has changed now that it is less common to get into the race with that sort of mark. Nine of the last 11 winners were in the 140-145 range and most carried less than 11st. Trainers: Gordon Elliott (with The Storyteller in 2018) is the only one of the current big five trainers to have taken the prize in the past 17 years.

There is a lot to be said for the market leaders Crebilly and THEATRE MAN who have both done really well against up-and-coming novices over C&D this winter and preference for the latter is only slight. Although generally a neat jumper he lost some valuable momentum four out here on his latest start but his finishing was impressive up the final hill and on that run there are unlikely to be many who come home better. Crebilly can be the main danger ahead of Shakem Up'Arry, who was better than ever on this track last time, and Saint Felicien, with In Excelsis Deo also of interest.

This 3m2f handicap chase is now one of two festival races left open only to amateur riders (the other is the hunter chase) and typically attracts a full field of 24. Last year's winner: Hot favourite Inothewayurthinkin (13-8) made it five wins in six years for Ireland, giving trainer Gavin Cromwell his first handicap success at the festival. Form: There is a trend of Kim Muir winners bouncing back from disappointing efforts (15 of the last 24 winners had been unplaced on their previous run). Inothewayurthinkin had
been ninth in Leopardstown’s 2m5½f handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. Weight and ratings: With little between most of the runners nowadays, the higherrated runners have started to do well and 12 of the last 16 winners carried 11st 4lb or more (including topweights Character Building in 2009, Ballabriggs in 2010, Mount Ida
in 2021 and Inothewayurthinkin last year). Most recent winners were rated in the 140s (Inothewayurthinkin was 145). Age: Only four horses aged older than nine have won in the last 30 runnings and horses aged seven or eight have won ten of the last 14. Trainers: This tends to get shared around and Cromwell was the 12th different winning
trainer in the last 13 runnings. Only Gordon Elliott has doubled up in that time (2021 winner Mount Ida also came from his stable, officially under Denise Foster’s name). Elliott has become the most powerful force with two winners, two seconds, two thirds and three fourths from 21 runners.

Four of the last five runnings have gone to Ireland and Irish-trained horses filled the first seven placings last season. The Irish contenders dominate calculations once more and top of the list is the Gordon Elliott-trained COOL SURVIVOR, who could rediscover the considerable promise he showed over hurdles now he is upped in trip. Stamina proved a strong suit for the unexposed Daily Present when he won on his handicap debut at Down Royal in January and he is feared most ahead of the 6yo Inothewayurthinkin, who has potential upped in trip. Last year's winner Angels Dawn is also respected, along with Whacker Clan and Where It All Began.

If the home team have struggled to make a telling impact on the first three days, the juvenile hurdling championship contest promises a strong start to the final card. Britain has the top two in the ante-post betting, and they present quite a contrast. Lulamba is favourite for Nicky Henderson (who has won the Triumph a record seven times) and has come from traditional jumping roots in France with a big reputation. The hype was justified to some extent by his hurdles debut win at Ascot but arguably he has still to prove he has as much substance as style. That is not the case for Flat recruit East India Dock, who has a much superior Racing Post Rating from his course-and-distance victory on Trials day. His trainer James Owen is at the opposite end of the experience scale to Henderson, having yet to taste festival success. Ireland’s best chance appears to be the Gavin Cromwelltrained Hello Neighbour, winner of the often significant Grade 1 juvenile hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Sir Gino heads the ratings and left much the strongest impression with his win here in January but he is hard to recommend given the health issues which seem to have afflicted so many of his stablemates. Willie Mullins has to be the starting point for revised calculations but these are not straightforward given the air of unfinished business which surrounds the Grade 1 won by Kargese at Leopardstown, where she travelled clearly the best but finished with stablemates Storm Heart, MAJBOROUGH and Bunting on her heels. Others from that race also line up today, as does yet another Mullins horse in the ex-French Salvator Mundi, who is highly regarded. Nurburgring is a professional alternative to all of them but Majborough is the selection (ahead of Kargese) on the assumption that he will have come on significantly since Leopardstown, which was his first run for 307 days and only his second overall.

This ultra-competitive 2m1f handicap hurdle can have up to 26 runners and being in the right ratings bracket has become a virtual prerequisite. Last year's winner: Absurde scored at 12-1 for Willie Mullins, who has now won seven of the 15 runnings since his first success in 2010. FORM The William Hill Hurdle (formerly Betfair) at Newbury and the Liffey Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival have been key pointers – ten of the last 24 winners had run in one of those. Ratings: All bar four winners since 2006 were rated in the 130s with five of the last ten having run off 137-139. Age: Only five horses older than six have won in the last 21 runnings. Second-season hurdlers have won 16 of the last 24 runnings. Trainers: Ireland has accounted for 12 of the last 17 winners, with nine of them trained by a Mullins. Dan Skelton (four wins) has become the British trainer to watch.

The Gordon Elliott-trained novice King Of Kingsfield certainly catches the eye having finished third behind Ballyburn and Slade Steel in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month, while last year's Ebor winner Absurde is a fascinating contender for Willie Mullins off what could be an advantageous mark. However, preference is for the proven handicap hurdle form of L'EAU DU SUD (nap), who was an excellent second in last month's Betfair Hurdle when clear of Go Dante and Faivoir, who were the chief protagonists in Saturday's Imperial Cup. Despite Faivoir's big run at Sandown, and the fact he won this last year, Harry Skelton rides stablemate L'Eau Du Sud and the pair can enhance Dan Skelton's tremendous record in this race. Faivoir is second choice ahead of last year's runner-up Pied Piper. Go Scottish is well treated on his chase form and could be a danger, while the in-form Mr Freedom is an interesting each-way contender at big odds.

The hardest of the Grade 1s to solve for punters, with ten of the last 11 winners priced in double figures and four of them coming in at 33-1 or 50-1. The possibly poisoned chalice of favouritism has been held recently by Gordon Elliott’s The Yellow Clay, who has clear form claims after numbering a Grade 1 success in his 4-4 record over hurdles. Others in the reckoning include The Big Westerner (Henry de Bromhead), France’s Jet Blue (David Cottin) and Jasmin De Vaux (Willie Mullins), last year’s Champion Bumper winner. A couple of British contenders who might catch the eye further down the list are Wendigo (Jamie Snowden) and Derryhassen Paddy (Lucinda Russell). Mullins’ Final Demand would be top-rated if he came here but the Turners looks his likely destination. 

Experience - and lots of it - was always a big selling point in this race, yet lightly raced horses have joined the party in recent years. Regardless of background, sheer grit and determination are forever key attributes in such a war of attrition for novices. The imposing CHIGORIN showed those qualities in abundance in winning his maiden at Fairyhouse and, while others bring stronger form credentials, the same was true of stablemate Minella Indo whose profile was not dissimilar when a 50-1 winner of this in 2019. Readin Tommy Wrong and Lecky Watson (third choice) may fare best of the Mullins contingent, but the British have strength in depth, with Captain Teague, Shanagh Bob and Gidleigh Park all strong candidates with their Graded honours. However, Johnnywho (feared most) is equally as exciting over this new trip, while the Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man isn't without hope either.

Galopin Des Champs landed his third consecutive Irish Gold Cup in February and has an outstanding chance of doing the same at Cheltenham to become the first to 
complete a Gold Cup hat-trick since Best Mate in 2004. The last before that was the mighty Arkle in the 1960s, showing what a rare and coveted feat Galopin Des Champs stands on the verge of completing. Willie Mullins’ superstar chaser has recorded a Racing Post Rating in the 180s for the third consecutive season, which again puts him head and shoulders above the opposition. The King George VI Chase, a championship contest in its own right, is always a place to look for a serious challenger (Bravemansgame, that season’s winner, was runner-up in Galopin Des Champs’ first Gold Cup) and Banbridge is firmly in the picture after his Kempton triumph. Joseph O’Brien’s highly versatile nine-yearold took his RPR to a career-best 174 there and would be a threat if he gets decent ground. There are plenty of high-class chasers around, mostly among the second-season group (Fact To File, Corbetts Cross, Monty’s Star), but none is yet to touch the exceptional quality of Galopin Des Champs.

This Gold Cup is as good as it gets. 12 months ago the stamina of GALOPIN DES CHAMPS was questioned but, once over the last fence, down went his head and away he raced from Bravemansgame. His path hasn't always been smooth since but he was brilliant when beating Gerri Colombe after Christmas and he took his revenge for two defeats by Fastorslow when beating that one at Leopardstown last month. The latter has had wind surgery since and he looks a good bet to go very well today but spring horse Corach Rambler still qualifies as being unexposed over staying trips and his defeat of Fastorslow here last March puts him into the picture, too. Hewick, whose King George win bordered on the vaudeville, shouldn't be underrated if the ground is no worse than good to soft but the opposite is true for much improved Welsh National winner Nassalam, while L'Homme Presse has to show his stamina is equal to the task at such a high level. Bravemansgame should run his usual honest race without being a strong enough stayer to fancy for the win, but Gentlemansgame still has some potential in staying races.

Sine Nomine’s 8-1 success for Fiona Needham last year made it six British winners in the last eight years and the nine year-old mare looks set to return, albeit after an unseating and a fall this season on her steps out of hunter chase company. Nine horses since 1956 have won the race twice – three of them (Salsify, On The Fringe and Pacha Du Polder) in recent years. Sine Nomine became the first winner in ten years not aged in double figures. Before the recent trend towards success for those aged ten or 11, 14 of the previous 19 winners had been nine or younger.

The smallest field since 11 ran in 1998 and this could be more open than the betting implies. Last year's runner-up Its On The Line doesn't always make life easy for himself and seems risky business as favourite, while it's a concern over today's trip that the hugely talented Ferns Lock has rarely looked the stoutest of stayers, a doubt that also dismisses Samcro. Past winners Premier Magic and Billaway should threaten again, while Time Leader is interesting despite having largely plied his trade at a lower level and over shorter distances. However, another surprise package could be SINE NOMINE, who is an improving mare with the wind in her sails after delivering her most convincing performance yet at Wetherby last month when making short work of last season's Aintree hunter chase runner-up Bennys King.

Willie Mullins won the first two runnings but has had to settle for second in the next two, first with Allegorie De Vassy and then with Dinoblue. That pair remain the top two hopes for Closutton and are set to line up again after their tight battle in the Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas in February. Dinoblue just edged that 2m contest by a neck but this step up to 2m4½f will be more in favour of Allegorie De Vassy, although she was beaten by her stablemate when fourth in this race last year. Gavin Cromwell could send Limerick Lace for a repeat bid after last year’s threequarters-of-a-length success, but on this season’s form he may have better chances with up-and-coming novices Bioluminescence and Only By Night (below). Bioluminescence has been disputing ante-post favouritism with Dinoblue. It is worth noting that the four winners have been prominent in the betting (no bigger than 3-1) but the favourites (all saddled by Mullins) have been beaten. 

Much of the interest centres around whether the high-flier Dinoblue can muster the stamina for a return to this trip for the first time in two years. Her hurdle run in a Grade 1 that day was inconclusive but with that being her one and only attempt at 2m4f there have to be doubts about whether connections have faith in her over this far. Stablemate ALLEGORIE DE VASSY put up a stout show in this race last year, when it was just unfortunate that the winner put up a stouter one, and she has a good chance of going one better, although Limerick Lace has plenty going for her, too, with Riviere D'etel another to consider. Pink Legend has been placed in this race for the last two years but she comes here on a low this time.

Iroko was a first festival winner for joint-trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero at 6-1, leading home a JP McManus one-two ahead of the Nicky Henderson-trained 14-1 shot No Ordinary Joe. Runners rated between 133 and 139 have won nine of the 15 runnings but four of the last six winners were rated 142-145. Five- and six-year-olds have won 13 of the 15 runnings. Ten of the last 13 runnings were won by Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls, Gordon Elliott or Joseph O’Brien. Ten of the 15 winners have been sent off at double-figure odds and Sir Des Champs in 2011 is the only successful favourite. Sa Majeste is a Willie Mullins-trained possible for last year’s winning owner. Gigginstown’s likely types include Mullins’ Quai De Bourbon and the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Cleatus Poolaw and Stellar Story.

Willie Mullins is doubly represented in his bid for a fifth Martin Pipe success but Quai De Bourbon's form lacks depth and Ocastle Des Mottes has stamina to prove upped in distance. Preference is for the Henry de Bromhead-trained WATERFORD WHISPERS who has a solid record this season, should be capable of further improvement and looks the perfect sort for this assignment. Answer To Kayf (second choice) and Yeats Star (third choice) are solid contenders who tie in with the selection, while Better Days Ahead is another Irish challenger who looks shortlist material. Thanksforthehelp, Sonigino and No Ordinary Joe look best of the British contestants.