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Mares Hurdle
14:40 Cheltenham Festival
2026-03-12
Winner: £70,475
Runners: 7
Going: Good
No. of hurdles: 10
Distance:
The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle run over 2m4f and restricted to mares. Starting in 2026 it will be run on day four of the Cheltenham Festival, previously being on day one. It is still a relatively new addition to the meeting, having first been staged in 2008. Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins has dominated the Mares’ Hurdle. Winning eleven of the eighteen runnings, including six in a row with star mare Quevega, and the last two with Lossiemouth.
NO.DRAW
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4(0)
3-3373
Jetara
-
J: James Bowen
T: Mrs John Harrington
8
11-5
145
156
Smart mare who was an 11l fourth to Lossiemouth in this 12 months ago before finishing third in 3m Grade 1s at Aintree and Punchestown later in the spring; hasn't quite hit the same heights this season, including 9l third to Feet Of A Dancer and Dream On Baby in Doncaster Grade 2 latest; vulnerable even if back to her very best in a change of headgear (first-time blinkers replace cheekpieces).
6(0)
5-6233
Take No Chances
-
J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
8
11-5
145
153
Won Grade 2 mares' event at Ascot before finishing third to Lossiemouth in this and the Aintree Hurdle (Wodhooh 8l ahead in second) last spring; has slightly bettered those RPRs in defeat on all four outings this season and she's an each-way player again.
7(0)
112-11
Wodhooh
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-5
154
160
Has won nine of her ten hurdle starts (including last year's Martin Pipe over C&D), with her only defeat coming at the hands of Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle (2m4f, good to soft) last spring; has looked every bit as good when landing Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle (2m3f, good to soft) and a 2m4f Grade 3 at Leopardstown's Christmas meeting (gave weight and beat Feet Of A Dancer just over 2l) this season; will be hard to beat.
2(0)
43-121
Feet Of A Dancer
-
J: Sean O'Keeffe
T: Paul Nolan
7
11-5
144
152
Consistent type; fourth in the Pertemps Final at this meeting last year and has taken her form to an even higher level this term, winning Listed race at Punchestown (2m2f, soft to heavy) and Grade 2 at Doncaster (3m, soft); beat Dream On Baby by 2l in the latter, with Jetara a further 7l back in third; however, Wodhooh gave her 8lb and a beating (just over 2l) at Leopardstown in between, so it's tough to see how she can turn the tables off levels.
5(0)
F-3143
Sunset Marquesa
-
J: Brendan Powell
T: Joe Tizzard
7
11-5
129
142
Followed a clearcut handicap win at Sandown (2m4f, soft) with a good fourth to Nurse Susan in a Listed event there in January; another sound effort when a rallying third of four in 2m Ascot mares' Grade 2 (soft) since; the return to further will suit but she has plenty to find on form.
3(0)
2-1321
Jade De Grugy
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
7
11-5
150
160
5-7 over hurdles; second to stablemate Lossiemouth in this last year before a Grade 1 win at the Punchestown festival, her second success at the top level; has taken well to fences this winter, finishing second in Limerick Grade 2 over Christmas before going one better in similar company at Thurles (2m5f, yielding) in January; most consistent and looks sure to go well back hurdling.
1(0)
P22132
Dream On Baby
-
J: Donagh Meyler
T: Emmet Mullins
6
11-5
141
148
Steadily progressive; won Listed event at Kempton (2m5f, good) in November; has advanced her form in defeat since, finishing third to Wodhooh and Feet Of A Dancer in Grade 3 at Leopardstown (2m4f, good/yielding) over Christmas before getting outstayed by the latter in a 3m Grade 2 at Doncaster (soft) in January; likeable but surely far more a place than win contender.
RACING POST TIP
Wodhooh
Last year's runner-up Jade De Grugy should go well in her bid to provide Willie Mullins with a 12th win in this race, but preference is for WODHOOH, whose only defeat in ten hurdle starts came at the hands of Lossiemouth in last year's Aintree Hurdle. Gordon Elliott's mare looked as good as ever when giving weight and a beating to Feet Of A Dancer and Dream On Baby at Leopardstown over Christmas, and she can win over C&D at the Festival for the second year running. Take No Chances may take third again.
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MARES HURDLE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2025 | Lossiemouth | 11-12F | 6 | 4/6F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2024 | Lossiemouth | 1211-1 | 5 | 8-13F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2023 | Honeysuckle | -132 | 9 | 9-4F | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2022 | Marie’s Rock | 317P1 | 7 | 18-1 | Nicky Henderson | Nico de Boinville |
| 2021 | Black Tears | 22-331 | 7 | 11-1 | Denise Foster | Jack Kennedy |
| 2020 | Honeysuckle | 11-111 | 6 | 9-4 | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2019 | Roksana | 3-1112 | 7 | 10-1 | Dan Skelton | Harry Skelton |
| 2018 | Benie Des Dieux | 33-1-11 | 7 | 9-2 | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2017 | Apple’s Jade | 1-2212 | 5 | 7-2 | Gordon Elliott | Bryan Cooper |
| 2016 | Vroum Vroum Mag | 11-111 | 7 | 4-6F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2015 | Glens Melody | 4-7521 | 7 | 6-1 | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
MARES HURDLE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Trained in Ireland, 8/10
- Aged between six and seven, 8/10
- Ran to an RPR of 150 or above, 7/10
- Had won on their previous start, 6/10
- Had previously not won at Grade 1 level, 6/10
Other factors
- Lossiemouth (2024 and 2025), Honeysuckle (2023) and Apple’s Jade (2017) were the winning favourites in the last decade.
- Only three winners in the past decade have returned at double-figure odds, with Marie’s Rock (2022) returning the biggest odds at 18-1
We have all the best Cheltenham Betting offers ahead of placing your bets on the 2026. Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - MARES HURDLE 2026
Lossiemouth became an 11th winner for Willie Mullins in 18 runnings of the Mares’ Hurdle. The talented grey, who races in the silks of Susannah and Rich Ricci, registered back-to-back victories in the contest. Paul Townend’s mount was sent off the 4-6 favourite and breezed clear for a seven-and-a-half-length victory over stablemate Jade De Grugy.