Mares' Novices' Hurdle For Princess Zoe at Cheltenham Favoured

Top class flat horse Princess Zoe, who dead-heated for first on her hurdling debut at Punchestown, is expected to be at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival in March, with her trainer Tony Mullins eyeing-up the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle as the best option.

Princess Zoe Has a “Serious Chance” in Whatever Cheltenham Race She Runs In

Trainer Tony Mullins has said that he feels his 8 year-old grey mare Princess Zoe has a “serious’ chance” in whatever Cheltenham Festival race she runs in and even though she’s entered in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on the final day, it’s the Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle that Mullins is targeting – a race she’s on offer @ 20/1 with BetUK, and @ 25/1 for the Albert Bartlett.

A Dead-Heat on Hurdles Debut See Princess Zoe Share The Spoils

It might not have been the ideal start to her hurdling career, but despite having to share the spoils with a horse called Ladybank (watch below), Princess Zoe is still 1-from-1 over the sticks and, therefore, will head to the Cheltenham Festival with an unbeaten NH record.

She’s a Group One winner on the flat that has amassed over £420,000 in total prize money so is certainly a very classy recruit to the jumping game if bringing that level of form to hurdling.

Yes, she’s no spring chicken for a flat horse at 8 and the plan for connections had been to retire her as a broodmare this year – but having failed to meet the reserve tag at the Tatts December Sales the option to switch her to hurdling was now on the table.

Mullins Expects Princess Zoe to Improve For That Last Run

Mullins has said that, despite the bookmakers still making her a big Cheltenham odds to win a race at the Festival, that he was delighted with the run as with the cold spell at the time her preparation didn’t go perfect. He feels that she’s got a great chance at Cheltenham, especially with the shorter trip looking a plus and also taking on her own sex.

The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – or the Dawn Run Novices’ Hurdle as it’s often referred to – was won 12 months ago by Love Envoi for trainer Harry Fry, but in it’s short time as a Festival race has been dominated by the Willie Mullins yard with five wins from the seven renewals.

The Nicky Henderson-trained Luccia heads the betting for the 2023 Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle @ 11/4 with BetUK.

What Date & Time Is The 2023 Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle?

📅Time/Date: 4:50pm (Thursday 16th March 2023)
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
💰 Purse/Winner: £59,083
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV