Mares' Hurdle 2023 Ante-Post Tips: Defending champion can win again in competitive renewal
The Mares' Hurdle could be a bell-ringer this year, with six potential runners all in single figures to take out the title. Former Champion Hurdlers Honeysuckle and Epatante could clash alongside a host of other talented mares over 2m4f at The Festival and there are a host of potential winners.
Billy Grimshaw has one of his Cheltenham tips for the Grade 1 here and in what could be the best ever renewal of the race, see all the odds here...
The star attraction in the 2023 Mares' Hurdle undoubtedly looks to be Honeysuckle as the 2020 winner of the race looks set to take her swansong in the contest which kicked off her three years in a row of victories at The Festival. The presence of the monster Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle and her star somewhat waning after losing her unbeaten tag has prompted connections to swerve a chance to defend the Champion Hurdle title and come here, with a much greater shot at glory.
The extra distance is no bother to Honeysuckle, as she showed when winning the race from the classy Benie Des Dieux in 2020, and the roof would come off Prestbury Park were she to claim a fourth Cheltenham win and bow out a winner.
Not to be a party pooper, however, but I feel she is the wrong favourite. The style in which she has underperformed on both starts this year is indicative to me that her talent and aptitude for the game are on the decline and with a host of younger and improving horses set to take her on, Henry De Bromhead's star is the first big name I'll be swerving for betting purposes.
Another mare with a phenomenal CV who could take her chance here is Epatante for Nicky Henderson, who of course won the Champion Hurdle in the year Honeysuckle took out the Mares' title. She had a bit of a dip after that in terms of her class but has looked to be enjoying an Indian Summer of late with some solid runs and wins. She is not a confirmed runner as she may wait to defend her Aintree crown, but if lining up I would probably take her in a match bet against Honeysuckle.
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In 2022 Harry Fry broke the Willie Mullins stranglehold on the Mares' Novices' Hurdle when training Love Envoi to success. She is undoubtedly talented and should enjoy this test, and Fry will have planned her season backwards from this race, so she was a tough one to ignore and probably last off the shortlist.
Her only defeat in her career so far came at Punchestown last season behind Brandy Love, who has been pushed out to as big as 10/1 after a disappointing reappearance behind Queens Brook at Punchestown this week.
Brandy Love was not given a hard time in this race and if reopposing at the Festival, off levels not giving away nine pounds, I would fancy her to reverse the form. Whether she can beat Love Envoi again remains to be seen but she will certainly strip fitter for the Punchestown race on Wednesday and will be given a much more forceful ride by Paul Townend.
Echoes In Rain is another potential ride for Townend out of Closutton if he deserts and she looked better than ever when romping to the Limestone Lad last time out by 10 lengths so couldn't be discounted, although the suspicion is she may find a few too good.
There are a few other outsiders who could at least make the frame if taking their chance such as Shewearsitwell, Tellmesomethinggirl and West Balboa, but the horse they all have to beat in my opinion is the defending champion MARIE'S ROCK. With most firms offering NRNB, she is in my mind still worth backing despite the possibility she heads to the Stayers' Hurdle (a race in which she would also have a great shot). Honeysuckle is usually popular in the betting before the off so may hold onto favouritism, but especially on recent form I can't see how she deserves to.
Last season's success in this race may have been a shock to punters (18/1SP) but there was certainly no fluke about it and in beating Queens Brook up the Cheltenham hill she announced herself as a mare of high class after a promising but inconsistent career up until that point. She then went and beat the Irish again in their own backyard at Punchestown, no mean feat, before a much deserved summer break
Her reappearance in the Relkiel Hurdle a race in which connections stressed she would be rusty, was arguably her best yet in dismissing Dashel Drasher with ease over this course and distance to win by 6 lengths. She is a horse going the right way and we know she handles this test with aplomb. At around the 3/1 mark in most places NRNB, she is to my mind the standout and rates a bet at this stage with potential to shorten if stable confidence comes for her as the big day approaches.
