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Mares' Novices' Hurdle
13:20 Cheltenham Festival
2026-03-12
Winner: £59,083.5
Runners: 22
Going: Good
No. of hurdles: 8
Distance:
The Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle, registered as the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, is one of the newest races at the Cheltenham Festival. First being 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 five 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.
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9(0)
P-1421
Full Of Life
-
J: Mike O'Connor
T: Henry De Bromhead
7
11-4
132
134
A stablemate of Echoing Silence; strike-rate of 2-6 over hurdles wouldn't be in keeping with a typical winner of this race, and neither would the fact that she's already tried fences (0-2); however, she made all in a Grade 3 at Down Royal in late October (2m1f, good to yielding) and was determined in keeping Carrigmoornaspruce at bay; could run well.
12(0)
13-131
Kingston Queen
-
J: Jack Tudor
T: David Pipe
6
11-4
129
137
Won two bumpers and was third in the Grade 2 for mares at the Grand National meeting; her only defeat over hurdles came in a race won by Old Park Star and she was a game winner of a Grade 2 at Warwick last time, beating White Noise (2m3f, heavy; fine on good to soft); has a likeable attitude but that takes you only so far; cheekpieces are turned to; others preferred.
8(0)
51-11
Echoing Silence
-
J: Darragh O'Keeffe
T: Henry De Bromhead
6
11-4
131
139
From a yard that's won two of the last five renewals of this; it was a useful maiden she won easily at Cork (2m4f, yielding) and she followed up in a 2m3f Listed event at Punchestown despite not being in love with the heavy ground (according to her trainer); the runner-up Switch From Diesel gave Bambino Fever something to think about in two bumpers last season, so that latest form heightens interest in this mare; the stable's winner 12 months ago was also dropping back in distance and returning from a similar break; very much one to bear in mind.
10(0)
153-61
Future Prospect
-
J: Harry Cobden
T: W P Mullins
6
11-4
-
142
Cost £150,000 at the sale on the eve of the Gold Cup two years ago; hooded for last three races; looks very vulnerable on bumper form and she lacks experience over hurdles, as several flights were omitted when she beat a big field at Naas (2m, yielding); the runner-up is now 0-5 over hurdles; only one previous winner of this had raced once over hurdles; unconvincing.
11(0)
19-141
Jackie Hobbs
-
J: Paul O'Brien
T: Harry Derham
6
11-4
125
132
Point and dual bumper winner; consistent without being strikingly progressive in going 2-3 over hurdles and the form of her latest win at Warwick (2m3f, good to soft) is no shining advertisement for her prospects.
13(0)
22-112
La Conquiere
-
J: Gavin Sheehan
T: Jamie Snowden
7
11-4
133
145
Had some of these behind when runner-up in the Grade 2 bumper for mares at Aintree last April; has taken her form to a higher level over hurdles, impressing in a Listed race at Newbury and not disgraced in defeat behind a talented older mare in a messy Grade 2 at Ascot (again on soft; has won on good); her form is roughly on a par with what You Wear It Well brought here when successful for the same yard three years ago; each-way claims.
7(0)
4-P381
Diamond Du Berlais
-
J: Mr P W Mullins
T: W P Mullins
5
11-4
132
126
0-13 in France but she contested some warm races and earned placed honours at Grade 2 and 3 level; joined current connections for 160,000euros and did what was expected of her in a weak maiden at Ludlow (2m5f, soft) for which she was long odds-on and won accordingly; may need plenty of ease underfoot to be at her best and even a peak effort will probably see her come up short.
4(0)
173-21
Blue Velvet
-
J: Sean O'Keeffe
T: W P Mullins
6
11-4
129
132
Held by Bambino Fever on bumper form but she has raised her game in maiden hurdles at Punchestown (heavy; won a bumper on good), finishing second to a good horse before accounting for a subsequent Leopardstown maiden winner with the pair in isolation; she'll need to unearth something from somewhere to threaten at this loftier level.
3(0)
11-121
Bambino Fever
-
J: Paul Townend
T: W P Mullins
6
11-4
138
145
Top of the pops last season in bumpers, beating the boys in the big one here (good to soft) before making it 4-4 in that sphere at Punchestown where her customary turbo kicked in when it mattered; her stable was quiet when she was surprisingly floored by Oldschool Outlaw on her hurdling debut and she then made no mistake from the front at Fairyhouse (2m2f, yielding) where her jumping was quick and accurate; tongue-tie is added; only six and she's probably still progressing; proven on the track, she'll take some beating.
16(0)
25-112
Place De La Nation
-
J: Danny Gilligan
T: W P Mullins
5
11-4
137
143
Cracking effort for a maiden to finish fifth in last season's Triumph; won her first two this campaign, though was long odds-on for both (2m6f/2m) and she couldn't hold a candle to Oldschool Outlaw when returned to Graded company at Fairyhouse (2m2f); it takes some imagination to envisage her reversing those placings.
2(0)
-431U1
Amen Kate
-
J: Jack Kennedy
T: Thomas Cooper
6
11-4
131
128
Useful bumper form but hammered by Bambino Fever when they once clashed in that scene; steadily progressive hurdler and her trainer targeted this race straight after she won a Listed race at Thurles in December (yielding); probably playing for the places, however.
5(0)
2-1122
Carrigmoornaspruce
-
J: James Bowen
T: Declan Queally
6
11-4
135
144
Beaten about 13l by Bambino Fever in a bumper but she won three of those, including a Grade 3 at Punchestown (yielding); no surprise to see her doing well over hurdles and the defeats have come in a Grade 3 at Down Royal (won by Full Of Life who dictated) and a Grade 1 at Leopardstown where she was left in second at the final flight behind smart gelding Skylight Hustle; she's back against her own sex here and rates solid each-way material.
17(0)
-2U313
Scavengers Reign
-
J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: James Owen
6
11-4
110
118
Wetherby maiden winner who has been beaten in her other four races over hurdles; she doesn't have the form or the profile for this.
15(0)
27-111
Oldschool Outlaw
-
J: Mark Walsh
T: Gordon Elliott
6
11-4
138
147
Behind some of these in Aintree bumper last April but has left that form behind since joining Gordon Elliott; as was also the case with Bambino Fever, it was her debut over hurdles when narrowly repelling that mare at Naas, and she followed up with a super-stylish display in adding a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse (2m2f); this hasn't been a lucky race for Gordon Elliott but this mare's star is on the rise and her claims are crystal clear, so long as she doesn't need the soft or heavy ground on which her improvement has come.
19(0)
3-1112
White Noise
-
J: Tom Bellamy
T: Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls
6
11-4
128
136
Tongue tied for her last two starts; her winning spree ended when narrowly foiled by Kingston Queen in a Grade 2 at Warwick last month (2m3f, heavy) and she probably needs that trip or even further ideally.
6(0)
114
Chosen Comrade
-
J: Donagh Meyler
T: Peter Fahey
5
11-4
-
125
Point, bumper and maiden hurdle winner who has 12l to find with Echoing Silence on their Punchestown meeting in December and there were no clear excuses, other than the heavy ground perhaps finding her out; even if happier on this surface (she has won on good to yielding and yielding to soft), she'll probably be feeling the heat when it matters.
22(0)
32-2
Mille Et Une Vies
-
J: Harry Skelton
T: Dan Skelton
4
10-8
135
127
Showed significant promise in much respected company in all her three defeats in France last spring (very soft or heavy); has reportedly worked well at her new home and there appears to be some confidence behind her armed with a 10lb age allowance.
14(0)
101
Louve D'Irlande
-
J: Conor Stone-Walsh
T: Paul Nolan
5
11-4
-
Flat, bumper and hurdle winner in France where her only defeat came in a 1m4f Grade 1 bumper, which was also the only time she's not sported a hood; hurled into the deep end here by new connections and there doesn't appear to be a wave of expectation behind her.
20(0)
21
Charme De Faust
-
J: Danny Mullins
T: W P Mullins
4
10-8
-
135
One of three fillies in the race and 4yos are 0-9 in this, though only one traded at shorter than 20-1; Paul Townend was complimentary about all parts of her game after she won a Thurles maiden (2m, heavy) with her head in her chest; whether she's wise enough after just two runs for a race of this nature is questionable but she's clearly talented.
21(0)
1111
Manganese
-
J: David Bass
T: Max Comley
4
10-8
125
133
4yo; French bumper winner who was entered in the Fred Winter on Tuesday but missed the cut; unbeaten hurdler and took the rise in class in her stride when narrowly too good for a smart subsequent winner, at Doncaster in January (Listed; soft; has won on good to soft); dangerous to leave out of calculations without knowing the ceiling of her ability.
1(0)
2113
Al Fonce
-
J: Jordan Gainford
T: Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm
5
11-4
120
125
Lightly raced 5yo whose two French wins (2m1f/2m3f) were on heavy ground; good ground when she was beaten fair and square in a Listed race at Taunton in December (behind St Irene) and that form gives her no right to be mixing it with the best of these.
18(0)
30-211
St Irene
-
J: Jack Quinlan
T: Nick Scholfield
6
11-4
123
127
Limited appeal on bumper exploits but those were for a different yard and she's looked highly progressive over hurdles in the West Country, the latest win in a Listed race; has earned herself a crack at this but she'll need a career best by some almighty margin to be in the shake-up.
RACING POST TIP
Bambino Fever
No favourite has won this since 2018 and, having won the first five renewals, Willie Mullins has fared no better than third in the last five. However, the negatives stop there with BAMBINO FEVER. She stole the show in bumpers last season and has looked a natural jumper of hurdles, even when she was turned over on her first attempt by Oldschool Outlaw. Her Naas conqueror clearly commands the utmost respect, especially after backing that up with a no-nonsense win at Grade 3 level, yet she probably caught Bambino Fever at a good time in December when the Mullins yard wasn't firing. It's by no means a two-horse race, and there are shades of last year's de Bromhead-trained winner with Echoing Silence, in that she's dropping back in distance after beating a notable opponent during the month of December in her last race. Carrigmoornaspruce is just an all-round good egg and she will give her backers a run for their money, while La Conquiere could be the best of the British from a yard that won this three years ago with a mare who brought a similar level of form.
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Cheltenham Festival Tips
2026 Cheltenham Festival tips from Racing Post Experts
MARES NOVICES HURDLE PREVIOUS WINNERS
| Year | Horse | Previous Form | Age | Price | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2025 | Air Of Entitlement | 17-1 | 6 | 16-1 | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2024 | Golden Ace | 142-11 | 6 | 10-1 | Jeremy Scott | Lorcan Williams |
| 2023 | You Wear It Well | 1121 | 6 | 16-1 | Jamie Snowden | Gavin Sheehan |
| 2022 | Love Envoi | 1-1111 | 6 | 15-2 | Harry Fry | Jonathan Burke |
| 2021 | Telmesomethinggirl | 13113 | 6 | 5-1 | Henry De Bromhead | Rachael Blackmore |
| 2020 | Concertista | 4-2-0433 | 6 | 9-2 | Willie Mullins | Daryl Jacob |
| 2019 | Eglantine Du Seuil | 1-13 | 5 | 50-1 | Willie Mullins | Noel Fehily |
| 2018 | Laurina | F2-11 | 5 | 4-7F | Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2017 | Let’s Dance | 21-111 | 5 | 11-8F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2016 | Limini | 11 | 5 | 8-11F | Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
MARES NOVICES HURDLE KEY TRENDS AND STATS
Key trends
- Aged five or six, ten winners in ten runnings
- Top-three finish last time out, 10/10
- Top-three finish in a Listed or Graded hurdle, 8/10
- Two to four hurdle starts, 7/10
- Rated within 6lb of RPR top-rated, 5/10
Other factors
- Eight winners had won over further than 2m1f.
- One was still a maiden but she was beaten a short-head in the race the previous year.
- Willie Mullins has trained five of the ten winners (the first five).
We have all the best Cheltenham Betting offers ahead of placing your bets on the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR - MARES NOVICES HURDLE 2025
Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead landed the day three opener with 16-1 shot Air Of Entitlement. The six-year-old had only previously run once over hurdles but defied her inexperience to beat the 85-40 favourite Sixandahalf by half a length in the 23-runner