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Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
Grade 2, Cheltenham 13:20
£105,000 guaranteed,
4yo plus mares,
2m 179y, Class 1  
Thursday 13th March 2025

FormRatings

Maughreen bolstered her prospects for the Cheltenham Festival with a commanding front-running victory at Punchestown, marking her first race in 378 days. The six-year-old, related to Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen, impressed in the €50,000 BetVictor Graduation Bonus Series Mares Maiden Hurdle on January 27.

Ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins, she led throughout, overcoming minor errors to secure a five-length win over Dee’s Lady, with Familiar Dreams finishing third. Mullins praised her potential and indicated she may head straight to Cheltenham.

Sixandahalf is another highly regarded contender, currently positioned just behind Maughreen in the betting markets. Most recently, she delivered a seriously impressive performance in the SBK Mares Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse on January 11 - she's a mare with a very big engine.

Jubilee Alpha has recently strengthened her Cheltenham credentials with an impressive victory in the Fitzdares Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Windsor on January 19. The six-year-old mare carried a penalty, having previously won at Listed level at Taunton over Christmas, and stayed on strongly to hold off her rivals. Following this performance, her odds for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle were cut to 7-1 by bet365. She is currently the shortest-priced runner from trainer Paul Nicholls for the meeting. 

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Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
(Registered as the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle)
Grade 2, £105,000 guaranteed, 4yo+ mares, 2m 179y, Class 1  
36 entries
Going:

NO. FORM HORSE AGE TRAINER JOCKEY (form as of Jan 27)
1 211-1 Anno Power 6 - Harry Fry
2 -31P11 Aurora Vega 7 - W P Mullins
3 10-16 Baby Kate 6 - W P Mullins
4 136-9 Barnahash Primrose 7 - Jonathan Sweeney
5 0 Bective Queen 5 - Gordon Elliott
6 11-212 Diva Luna 6 - Ben Pauling
7 1-5 Echoing Silence 5 - Henry De Bromhead
8 111-13 Familiar Dreams 6 - Gordon Elliott
9 11-1 Farfromnowhere 7 - Paul Nolan
10 117-4 Fleur Au Fusil 7 - W P Mullins
11 -21111 Flying Fortune 6 - Peter & Michael Bowen
12 1-1 Future Prospect 5 - W P Mullins
13 23111 Hey Sunshine 6 - W P Mullins
14 2-11 Holloway Queen 5 - Nicky Henderson
15 12-311 Jubilee Alpha 6 - Paul Nicholls
16 323-3P Karamoja 5 - W P Mullins
17 523 Karma d'Airy 5 - W P Mullins
18 2212-2 Karoline Banbou 5 - W P Mullins
19 211-1 Kientzheim 5 - Nicky Henderson
20 21-113 Kimi De Mai 5 - W P Mullins
21 713-18 La Marquise 5 - Jamie Snowden
22 362-21 La Pinsonniere 5 - Nicky Henderson
23 11-21 Let It Rain 6 - Dan Skelton
24 5-1114 Listentoyourheart 6 - Dan Skelton
25 1-14 Magic Boum 5 - Gordon Elliott
26 1-1 Maughreen 6 - W P Mullins
27 80-125 Mongibello 7 - S R B Crawford
28 212132 Mozzies Sister 6 - Declan Queally
29 3-3318 Murcia 4 - W P Mullins
30    Riskabahia 5 - Mme A-S Pacault
31    Sip Sip Hooray 6 - W P Mullins
32 2-11 Sixandahalf 5 - Gavin Cromwell
33 33-216 Sunset Marquesa 6 - Joe Tizzard
34 1-141 That's Nice 5 - Nicky Henderson
35 2- Venusienne 5 - P & C Peltier
36 0-1114 World Of Fortunes 7 - Liam Kenny

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Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Past Results

Year Winner Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP Ran

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

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