Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle |
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| Grade 2, Cheltenham 13:20 £105,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus mares, 2m 179y, Class 1  |
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This is shaping up as one of the more intriguing puzzles of the week, and recent evidence suggests Willie Mullins once again holds a powerful hand. Champion Bumper heroine Bambino Fever has taken a significant step forward with a comprehensive success at Fairyhouse, a performance that hinted at both class and the capacity to learn quickly in her new discipline. Unbeaten in four starts last season, she swept all before her in Grade One National Hunt Flat company at both Cheltenham and Punchestown, a flawless campaign that marked her out as a mare of rare promise.
🗣️ "I'm hoping she'll be better again at Cheltenham."
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 17, 2026
Willie Mullins on Bambino Fever's Mares' Novice Hurdle tilt
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Her transition to hurdling has not been entirely straightforward, finishing second as a short-priced favourite on her debut at Naas, but the response was emphatic. Sent off a prohibitive 1-10 for the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Hurdle, she made all the running under Paul Townend and galloped relentlessly clear for a 12-length victory, a display that saw her trimmed from 5-2 to 13-8 with Paddy Power for this race. Townend was satisfied with both the result and the education gained.
“That was grand. I would have liked a lead as she wasn’t doing a lot in front but she was jumping clean,” said the winning rider.
“She had to get down and race over the last two. I didn’t get anywhere near the bottom of her but she learned how to jump fast and she did it well. We would have been disappointed if she didn’t do what she has done. I can’t tell you from that the ability she has but I liked what she did. She jumped clean early but got the experience of being in front as well, if she has to do that in future. When I woke her up she was good.”
If that learning curve continues to rise, Bambino Fever looks poised to be a central figure in a race that so often rewards mares still climbing towards their ceiling.
Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
(Registered as the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle)
Grade 2, £105,000 guaranteed, 4yo+ mares, 2m 179y, Class 1
47 entries
Going:
NO. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Feb 18)
1 2113 Al Fonce 5 11-4 Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm
2 -431U1 Amen Kate 6 11-4 Thomas Cooper
3 32P-13 Anariza 6 11-4 T Ellis
4 4-1233 A Path To Ronda 6 11-4 Jamie Snowden
5 2152 Azahara Palace 6 11-4 Adrian Paul Keatley
6 11-121 Bambino Fever 6 11-4 W P Mullins
7 143612 Belle Montrose 7 11-4 Samuel Drinkwater
8 173-21 Blue Velvet 6 11-4 W P Mullins
9 2-1122 Carrigmoornaspruce 6 11-4 Declan Queally
10 314433 Carry On Heidi 6 11-4 Jeremiah Patrick Baragry
11 0-2212 Charisma Cat 6 11-4 Alan King
12 1-114 Chosen Comrade 5 11-4 Peter Fahey
13 123111 Cousin Kate 5 11-4 Denis Gerard Hogan
14 4-P381 Diamond Du Berlais 5 11-4 W P Mullins
15 2-2114 Dream Shadow 7 11-4 Fergal O'Brien
16 4-5U1 Dutton Law 5 11-4 D J Jeffreys
17 /51-11 Echoing Silence 6 11-4 Henry De Bromhead
18 1-1636 Edith Pelham 6 11-4 Fergal O'Brien
19 P-1421 Full Of Life 7 11-4 Henry De Bromhead
20 153-61 Future Prospect 6 11-4 W P Mullins
21 0-4F14 Getawhisky 6 11-4 Dan Skelton
22 19-141 Jackie Hobbs 6 11-4 Harry Derham
23 3-2121 Khrisma 6 11-4 Nicky Henderson
24 13-131 Kingston Queen 6 11-4 David Pipe
25 22-112 La Conquiere 7 11-4 Jamie Snowden
26 1-1126 Lady Tadita 5 11-4 Jamie Snowden
27 5-11 Livingonaprayer 5 11-4 Jamie Snowden
28 0 Louve D'Irlande 5 11-4 Paul Nolan
29 937-06 Mo Ghille Mar 5 11-4 John Joseph Hanlon
30 27-111 Oldschool Outlaw 6 11-4 Gordon Elliott
31 25-112 Place De La Nation 5 11-4 W P Mullins
32 07-613 Queenie St Clair 6 11-4 Nick Scholfield
33 -2U313 Scavengers Reign 6 11-4 James Owen
34 4-1274 Shotgun Shirley 5 11-4 Lucy Wadham
35 30-211 St Irene 6 11-4 Nick Scholfield
36 16-312 Strong Run 7 11-4 Fergal O'Brien
37 1-4513 Watamu 5 11-4 Emma Lavelle
38 3-1112 White Noise 6 11-4 Kim Bailey & Mat Nicholls
39 21 Charme De Faust 4 10-8 W P Mullins
40 111 Highland Crystal 4 10-8 Gordon Elliott
41 311 Made U Blush 4 10-8 Dan Skelton
42 1111 Manganese 4 10-8 Max Comley
43 1113 Mange Tout 4 10-8 Gordon Elliott
44 32-2 Mille Et Une Vies 4 10-8 Dan Skelton
45 2-512 Selma De Vary 4 10-8 W P Mullins
46 324 Tralee Girl 4 10-8 Dan Skelton
47 1 Tunisya 4 10-8 Faye Bramley
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Past Results
Year Winner Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP Ran
2025 Air Of Entitlement 6 11-4 Robcour Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 16/1 23
2024 Golden Ace 6 11-02 I F Gosden Jeremy Scott Lorcan Williams 10/1 8
2023 You Wear It Well 6 11-07 Sir Chips Keswick Jamie Snowden Gavin Sheehan 16/1 21
2022 Love Envoi 6 11-07 Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates Harry Fry Jonathan Burke 15/2 19
2021 Telmesomethinggirl 6 11-02 Kenneth Alexander Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 5/1 15
2020 Concertista 6-11-02 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede W P Mullins Daryl Jacob 9/2 22
2019 Eglantine du Seuil 5-11-02 Sullivan Bloodstock Limited Willie Mullins IRE Noel Fehily 50/1 22
2019-WINNER- DU SEUIL 5-11-02 Owner-Sullivan Bloodstock Limited; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-50/1
2ND-Concertista 5-11-02 Owner-Simon Munir & Isaac Souede; Trainer-Willie Mulllins IRE; Jockey-Danny Mullins; SP-66/1
3RD-Tintangle 6-11-05 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Jack Kennedy; SP-40/1
22 ran, Time- 4m 51.09s, Dist-sh, 1¾ 15/8 Fav Epatante (9th)
2018-WINNER-LAURINA 5-11-07 Owner-Sullivan Bloodstock Limited; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-4/7 Fav
2ND-Cap Soleil 5-11-07 Owner-Mrs S A Noott; Trainer-Fergal O’Brien; Jockey-Paddy Brennan; SP-10/1
3RD-Champayne Lady 6-11-02 Owner-Rory Connell; Trainer-Alan Fleming IRE; Jockey-Denis O’Regan; SP-80/1
14 ran, Time-4m 15.40s, Dist-18, sh
2017-WINNER-LET’S DANCE 5-11-07 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-11/8 Fav
2ND-Barra 6-11-02 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-12/1
3RD-Dusky Legend 7-11-05 Owner-Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Wayne Hutchinson; SP-20/1
16 ran, Time-4m 2.00s, Dist-2¾, nk
2016-WINNER-LIMINI 5-11-07 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-8/11 Fav
2ND-Dusky Legend 6-11-02 Owner-Richard & Lizzie Kelvin-Hughes; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Wayne Hutchinson; SP-50/1
3RD-Bloody Mary 5-11-07 Owner-J P McManus; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-7/1
16 ran, Time-3m 58.00s, Dist-4½, 2½
