Epatante Mares' Hurdle Odds: Third Favourite To Triumph At 4/1
When looking at the Epatante Mares’ Hurdle odds ahead of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, the bookmakers are expecting the star hurdler to give it a right good go and put it up to the favourite Honeysuckle.
Epatante Mares’ Hurdle Odds
The fifth race of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday 14th March. The race takes place at 4.10pm, with the Mares’ Hurdle taking centre stage. This Grade 1 race is one of the biggest on the opening day of the Festival, and there are some fantastic horses on show here.
One of the standout horses in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle is the Nicky Henderson trained Epatante.
The 9-year-old mare currently sits as the third favourite at odds of around 4/1 with the best horse racing betting sites. Epatante has won around Cheltenham before in the Champion Hurdle and is an extremely capable horse. However, last time she was up against Honeysuckle she finished 3 1/2 lengths behind at last years’ Festival.
However, Epatante has been in good form of late and has had some stellar runs in preparation for the Cheltenham Festival. Jockey Aidan Coleman will likely be in the saddle on Epatante – a horse and jockey duo that are well acquainted with each other. Therefore due to her recent performances and Cheltenham pedigree, she is rightfully one of the favourites here.
Horse racing fans are excited to see the duel this year at Cheltenham between Epatante and Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle. Marie’s Rock could be a big player here too – another Henderson trained mare.
As we have alluded to, the French horse has raced at the Cheltenham Festival before on multiple occasions. She won the Champion Hurdle here in 2020, came runner-up last year and also had a third place finish behind Honeysuckle two years ago.
In terms of Cheltenham odds, Epatante’s odds could well shorten slightly as the Mares’ Hurdle race approaches, depending on the ground. She is one of the most accomplished horses in this race, alongside the Henry De Bromhead trained Honeysuckle of course.
Two other Mullins’ horses in Echoes In Rain and Brandy Love could have a say in the Mares’ Hurdle, along with the favourite Honeysuckle and Epatante’s stablemate Marie’s Rock.
The last winning Mares’ Hurdle favourite was back in 2016 when Vroum Vroum Mag triumphed up the Cheltenham hill. This could be a good sign for someone like Epatante or one of the other horses in the field with Honeysuckle being the overriding favourite to win at the Cheltenham Festival for the fourth time.
Henderson’s 9-year-old is the third betting favourite, with fellow legendary trainer Willie Mullins also entering a few brilliant horses in the fifth race on Day 1 in the Mares’ Hurdle. You can check out Willie Mullins vs Nicky Henderson head-to-head racing stats and net worth
Back Epatante in the Mares’ Hurdle as the third favourite at 4/1 odds with BoyleSports.
Also be sure to claim the best Cheltenham betting offers and Cheltenham free bets below.
What Date & Time Is The 2023 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle?
�� Time/Date: 4:10pm (Tuesday 14th March 2023)
�� Racecourse: Cheltenham
�� Purse/Winner: £67,524
�� TV: ITV / Racing TV
- Honeysuckle 3/1
- Marie’s Rock 10/3
- Epatante 4/1
- Brandy Love 6/1
- Love Envoi 7/1
- Echoes In Rain 7/1
- 12/1 bar
