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Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
Grade 1, Cheltenham 16:10
£120,000 added,
4yo plus,
2m 3f 200y, Class 1  
Tuesday 10th March 2020

QuinnBet

1 Honeysuckle 9/4
2 Benie Des Dieux 4/6F
3 Elfile 16/1
9 ran NR: Crossgalesfamegame Distances: ½l, 6½l, 4¾l
Time: 5m 8.73s (slow by 31.73s)

It was billed as one of the races of the week and the £120,000 Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle served up a treat for racegoers as 9/4 shot Honeysuckle defeated Benie Des Dieux in a thrilling renewal of the G1 event.
 
Honeysuckle, ridden by Rachael Blackmore and trained by Henry de Bromhead, was always prominent in the two miles and four furlong event and stayed on gamely in the closing stages to fend off the sustained challenge of 4/7 favourite Benie Des Dieux, trained by Willie Mullins, by a half-length.
 
De Bromhead, registering a 54.25/1 double on the day following Put The Kettle On's 16/1 success in the G1 Racing Post Arkle Novices' Chase, was also enjoying a ninth success overall at The Festival™ presented by Magners.
 
He paid tribute to Honeysuckle, who is now unbeaten in eight starts over hurdles and is a four-time G1 winner, as well as rider Rachael Blackmore, registering her third winner in total at The Festival.
 
The County Wexford handler, who also had the option of running Honeysuckle in the G1 Unibet Champion Hurdle 40 minutes earlier, said: "I'm delighted with Honeysuckle - it was a superb performance to go and beat Benie Des Dieux.
 
"It was [a] very close [decision] in fairness and thankfully we came up with the right race between us. What a ride - my God, the way she got up the inside coming around the last turn. It was two amazing ladies together.

"Paul [Townend, aboard Benie Des Dieux] opted to go the other way and I think Rachael had to sit and suffer, to be fair. Suddenly, the gap appeared and she was gone. It's fantastic. She kind of threw herself at the last - Rachael wasn't sure and left it to Honey and she gave it a lash. She really toughed it out up the hill.

"The way she won her maiden hurdle, she looked nice. We let them try and develop in the track and see if they can work their way up, so you wouldn't be trying to find out too much at home. She always looked nice and was strongly recommended to us after she won her point-to-point.
 
"We will enjoy to today and see. It's amazing for her to do it. I didn't mind the ground for her, I was probably more concerned for Notebook, and the day she won in Fairyhouse at the start of the season was really testing ground."

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Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
(For The David Nicholson Mares’ Trophy )
£120,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 200y, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Soft, Heavy in places

POS DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Honeysuckle 6 11-5 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 9/4
2  ½ Benie Des Dieux 9 11-5 W P Mullins Paul Townend 4/6F
3 6½ Elfile 6 11-5 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 16/1
4 4¾  Roksana 8 11-5 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 12/1
5 9½ Stormy Ireland 6 11-5 W P Mullins Robbie Power 7/1
6 nk Cap Soleil 7 11-5 Fergal O'Brien Paddy Brennan 66/1
7 8½ Lady Buttons 10 11-5 Philip Kirby Thomas Dowson 20/1
8 5 Popong 6 11-5 Henry De Bromhead Aidan Coleman 66/1
9 43 Desaray Girl 5 11-5 Philip Kirby Sam Twiston-Davies 100/1
NR 3 5-4163 Crossgalesfamegame 6 11-5 Fergal O'Brien NON RUNNER

Mathematician Betting

OLBG MARES’ HURDLE PAST RESULTS

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran
2019 Roksana 7-11-05 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Sarah Faulks 10/1 14

2018-WINNER-BENIE DES DIEUX 7-11-05 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-9/2
2ND-Midnight Tour 8-11-05 Owner-James & Jean Potter; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-33/1
3RD-Apple’s Jade 6-11-05 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Jack Kennedy; SP-1/2 Fav
9 ran, Time-5m 10.10s; Dist-½, 1

2017-WINNER-APPLE’S JADE 5-11-05 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-7/2
2ND-Vroum Vroum Mag 8-11-05 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-11/4
3RD-Limini 6-11-05 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/4 Fav 17 ran, Time-4m 50.20s; Dist-11⁄2, ns

2016-WINNER-VROUM VROUM MAG 7-11-05 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-4/6 Fav
2ND-Rock On The Moor 8-11-05 Owner-R Irwin; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Robbie Power; SP-66/1
3RD-Legacy Gold 8-11-05 Owner-Roger Brookhouse; Trainer-Stuart Crawford IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-40/1
19 ran, Time-4m 45.00s; Dist-23⁄4, 1⁄2

2015-WINNER-GLENS MELODY 7-11-05 Owner-Fiona McStay; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-6/1
2ND-Polly Peachum 7-11-05 Owner-Lady Tennant; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/1
3RD-Bitofapuzzle 7-11-05 Owner-Chris Giles & Potensis Bloodstock Ltd; Trainer-Harry Fry; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-16/1
15 ran, Time-4m 51.10s; Dist-hd, nk 1/2 Fav Annie Power (Fell)

2014-WINNER-QUEVEGA 10-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 8/11 Fav
2ND-Glens Melody 6-11-05 Owner-Fiona McStay; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-14/1
3RD-L’Unique 5-11-05 Owner-Denis Barry; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-25/1
16 ran, Time-4m 44.60s; Dist-¾, ¾

2013-WINNER-QUEVEGA 9-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 8/11 Fav
2ND-Sirene D'Ainay 7-11-05 Owner-Stephane Milaveau; Trainer-Emmanuel Clayeux FR; Jockey-Jonathan Plouganou; SP-33/1
3RD-Swincombe Flame 7-11-00 Owner-Yeo Racing Partnership; Trainer-Nick Williams; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-40/1
19 ran, Time-4m 55.46s Dist-1½, 2

2012-WINNER-QUEVEGA 8-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 4/7 Fav
2ND Kentford Grey Lady 6-11-00 Owner-Ian Bare; Trainer-Emma Lavelle; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-14/1
3RD Golden Sunbird 8-11-03 Owner-Jim Mernagh; Trainer-Paul Nolan IRE; Jockey-Robbie Power; SP-66/1
19 ran, Time-4m 51.30s Dist-4, nk

2011-WINNER-QUEVEGA 7-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-5/6 Fav
2ND Sparky May 6-11-05 Owner-Bill Muddyman; Trainer-Pat Rodford; Jockey-Keiran Burke; SP-4/1
3RD Ocean Transit 6-11-00 Owner-Ocean’s Five; Trainer-Richard Price; Jockey-David Bass; SP-50/1
14 ran, Time-4m 48.08s Dist-10, 1

2010-WINNER-QUEVEGA 6-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/4 Fav
2ND Carole’s Legacy 6-11-00 Owner-Paul Murphy; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Andrew Tinkler; SP-20/1
3RD Voler La Vedette 6-11-05 Owner-Mrs M Brophy; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/4
17 ran, Time-4m 45.40s Dist-4½, 1¼

2009-WINNER-QUEVEGA 5-11-03 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-2/1 Fav
2ND United 8-11-05 Owner-R B Holt; Trainer-Lucy Wadham; Jockey-Dominic Elsworth; SP-100/30
3RD Aura About You 6-11-00 Owner-Jim Mernagh; Trainer-Paul Nolan IRE; Jockey-Alain Cawley; SP-28/1 21 ran, Time-4m 55.20s Dist-14, sh

2008-WINNER-WHITEOAK 5-11-00 Owner-Brendan Richardson; Trainer-Donald McCain Jnr; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-20/1
2ND Refinement 9-11-05 Owner-Michael Tabor; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Tony McCoy; 10/1
3RD Chomba Womba 7-11-05 Owner-Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-100/30 Fav
13 ran, Time-5m 1.40s Dist-sh, 2½