Mares' Hurdle Betting Odds Comparison 2025

Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase  (Grade 1) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Reg;d As David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (Grade 1) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy (Grade 1) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

Turners Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

Ryanair Chase (Registered As The Festival Trophy) (Grade 1) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle (Grade 1) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

JCB Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (Grade 1) (POSSIBLE ENTRIES)

The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle is a Grade 1 contest run over 2m4f on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival. View the racecard here.

Compare the odds for all the runners in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Find out which bookmaker is offering the best odds.

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle tips and predictions from our horseracing experts for the fifth race on day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival 2024. Click to see more. 

Mares' Hurdle - Racecard & Runners 2025

The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle is a Grade 1 hurdle run over 2m4f and restricted to mares. It is run on day one of the Cheltenham Festival and is a relatively new addition to the meeting, having first been staged in 2008. Irish champion trainer Willie Mullins has dominated the Mares’ Hurdle, having won nine of the 14 runnings including the six in a row with star mare Quevega.

Compare the odds for all the runners in the Mares' Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival. Some bookmakers offer different odds and unique offers so look out for the offer icons under the bookmaker logos. You may want to look for an each-way alternative at bigger odds, which is where the Mares' Hurdle odds comparison comes in handy.

Mares' Hurdle Tips - Cheltenham Festival 2025

<span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Arguably the best field of mares ever assembled for this race; they had a combined 23 Grade 1 wins including three Champion Hurdles. It saw a fairytale ending to the career of HONEYSUCKLE, who was winning for the fourth successive year at the festival. She was helped by being well positioned in a race run at a dawdling early gallop that compromised the chance of several. Love Envoi was denied by a length, a further four lengths back to Queen's Brook in third. &quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:899,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;4&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:14281427},&quot;10&quot;:1,&quot;11&quot;:4,&quot;12&quot;:0}" data-sheets-textstyleruns="{&quot;1&quot;:0}{&quot;1&quot;:176,&quot;2&quot;:{&quot;5&quot;:1}}{&quot;1&quot;:187}">Arguably the best field of mares ever assembled for this race; they had a combined 23 Grade 1 wins including three Champion Hurdles. It saw a fairytale ending to the career of HONEYSUCKLE, who was winning for the fourth successive year at the festival. She was helped by being well positioned in a race run at a dawdling early gallop that compromised the chance of several. Love Envoi was denied by a length, a further four lengths back to Queen&#8217;s Brook in third.

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The Mares&#8217; Hurdle odds comparison grid is simple and easy to use. All the runners are listed down the left, whilst each bookmaker is presented across the top. The odds box that crosses the horse and the bookmaker, is the odds that bookmaker is offering on that specific horse.
The odds that have a bold number indicate the best price available for that horse in the Mares&#8217; Hurdle. The odds boxes are coloured red and blue to indicate whether a horse is being supported or not. The red boxes show a drift in price, which means the odds are getting bigger as less punters are betting on that horse. In contrast, the blue box shows when the odds are contracting, indicating the horse is being supported in the betting.
Underneath the bookmaker logo, are the offers available for the Mares&#8217; Hurdle by that bookmaker. Some bookmakers offer more places for each way bets, or money back specials if your horse finishes second, so it’s always worth checking and comparing before placing your bet.
<span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Discover the latest Cheltenham Mares Novices' Hurdle ahead of the race, along side the best exclusive Cheltenham Festival free bets for an enhanced betting experience!&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:1053569,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;10&quot;:2,&quot;11&quot;:0,&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;15&quot;:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;23&quot;:1}" data-sheets-textstyleruns="{&quot;1&quot;:0}{&quot;1&quot;:102,&quot;2&quot;:{&quot;2&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:1136076},&quot;9&quot;:1}}{&quot;1&quot;:132}" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{&quot;1&quot;:102,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;https://www.racingpost.com/free-bets/horse-racing/cheltenham/&quot;}{&quot;1&quot;:132}">Discover the latest Cheltenham Mares Novices&#8217; Hurdle ahead of the race, alongside the best exclusive <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.racingpost.com/free-bets/horse-racing/cheltenham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cheltenham Festival free bets </a>for an enhanced betting experience!

Willie Mullins once had a vice-like grip on this race with six-time winner Quevega and her successors, but it has been loosened in recent years with just one victory
for his Closutton stable in the past seven runnings. Normal service looks set to be resumed this time, however, if hot favourite Lossiemouth lines up here as expected.
Last year’s impressive Triumph Hurdle winner returned to action after nine months off with a decisive victory by almost ten lengths over Love Envoi in the 2m1f
International Hurdle on Cheltenham’s Trials day and the only serious question still to answer is how she will handle a step up in trip. Mullins has other leading contenders in Gala Marceau (runner-up to Lossiemouth in the Triumph) and the older Ashroe Diamond and Echoes In Rain (albeit the latter has been fifth and fourth in her two previous attempts). Britain’s main hopes are two mares who have run well in this race before. Marie’s Rock won for Nicky Henderson in 2022 (but was a disappointing seventh as joint favourite last year) and Harry Fry’s Love Envoi was runner-up to Honeysuckle 12 months ago, having won the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the festival the year before.

Although Vroum Vroum Mag in 2016 is the only one of five Willie Mullins-trained odds-on shots to triumph in this race in the post-Quevega era, it would still be a surprise were LOSSIEMOUTH to fluff her lines. Last year's Triumph winner would have been a major player if allowed to take her chance in the Champion Hurdle and looks a cut above the rest in this field, assuming that her stamina holds. Stablemate Ashroe Diamond can give her most to do ahead of last year's runner-up Love Envoi.

<table dir="ltr" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-baot="1">
<colgroup>
<col width="66" />
<col width="152" />
<col width="119" />
<col width="66" />
<col width="100" />
<col width="177" />
<col width="177" /></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>Year</td>
<td>Horse</td>
<td>Previous Form</td>
<td>Age</td>
<td>Price</td>
<td>Trainer</td>
<td>Jockey</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2024</td>
<td>Lossiemouth</td>
<td>1211-1</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>8-13F</td>
<td>Willie Mullins</td>
<td>Paul Townend</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2023</td>
<td>Honeysuckle</td>
<td>-132</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>9-4F</td>
<td>Henry De Bromhead</td>
<td>Rachael Blackmore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2022</td>
<td>Marie&#8217;s Rock</td>
<td>317P1</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>18-1</td>
<td>Nicky Henderson</td>
<td>Nico de Boinville</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2021</td>
<td>Black Tears</td>
<td>22-331</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>11-1</td>
<td>Denise Foster</td>
<td>Jack Kennedy</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2020</td>
<td>Honeysuckle</td>
<td>11-111</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>9-4</td>
<td>Henry De Bromhead</td>
<td>Rachael Blackmore</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2019</td>
<td>Roksana</td>
<td>3-1112</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>10-1</td>
<td>Dan Skelton</td>
<td>Harry Skelton</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2018</td>
<td>Benie Des Dieux</td>
<td>33-1-11</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>9-2</td>
<td>Willie Mullins</td>
<td>Ruby Walsh</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2017</td>
<td>Apple’s Jade</td>
<td>1-2212</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>7-2</td>
<td>Gordon Elliott</td>
<td>Bryan Cooper</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2016</td>
<td>Vroum Vroum Mag</td>
<td>11-111</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>4-6F</td>
<td>Willie Mullins</td>
<td>Ruby Walsh</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2015</td>
<td>Glens Melody</td>
<td>4-7521</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>6-1</td>
<td>Willie Mullins</td>
<td>Paul Townend</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

Latest odds for the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival

Mares' Hurdle Odds 2025

Key trends
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">At least eight career starts, 9/10</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Top-four finish in a Grade 1 or 2 hurdle, 9/10</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Adjusted RPR of at least 156, 8/10</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Rated within 10lb of RPR top-rated, 8/10</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Won last time out, 7/10</li>
</ul>
Other factors
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">A runner priced 16-1 or bigger has finished in the first three in eight of the last ten runnings.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Willie Mullins has trained four of the last ten winners.</li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1">Quevega used to come here fresh when defending her crown but eight of the last nine winners had between two and five outings that season.</li>
</ul>
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Mares' Hurdle tips from our top racing experts for the 16:10 race on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Mares' Hurdle Tips 2025

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle Tips and Predictions

<span data-sheets-root="1" data-sheets-value="{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Not only do we bring you all of the best Mares' Hurdle tips, but we also have the best Cheltenham Free Bets and sign-up offers to go alongside them too!&quot;}" data-sheets-userformat="{&quot;2&quot;:1049089,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;23&quot;:1}" data-sheets-textstyleruns="{&quot;1&quot;:0}{&quot;1&quot;:87,&quot;2&quot;:{&quot;2&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:1136076},&quot;9&quot;:1}}{&quot;1&quot;:108}" data-sheets-hyperlinkruns="{&quot;1&quot;:87,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;https://www.racingpost.com/free-bets/horse-racing/cheltenham/&quot;}{&quot;1&quot;:108}">Not only do we bring you all of the best Mares&#8217; Hurdle tips, but we also have the best <a class="in-cell-link" href="https://www.racingpost.com/free-bets/horse-racing/cheltenham/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cheltenham Free Bets </a>and sign-up offers to go alongside them too!

Racing Post experts predict the likely big players and identify the each way value in the Mares Hurdle as well as analysing the trends and predicting the winner.

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1)

Constitution Hill was poised for greatness after a brilliant first season that culminated with his 22-length triumph in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and he duly
took his place in the hurdling pantheon with a second unbeaten campaign that peaked with his nine-length victory over State Man in last year’s Champion Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson’s superstar has stretched his 100 per cent record to eight races, first wrapping up last season with victory over 2m4f in the Aintree Hurdle and
then opening his latest campaign with another easy win in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Both of those performances were below par on Racing Post Ratings but
there is nothing to really test him in Britain and Willie Mullins’ State Man remains his only serious opponent. Unfortunate to be born in the same year as Constitution Hill,
State Man would have been a high-calibre divisional leader without him and has an outstanding record in his own right, having completed the same pre-Cheltenham
winning sequence for the past two seasons in the Morgiana, Matheson and Irish Champion Hurdles. Whether anything will change at Cheltenham is the ultimate issue
for him, however. Last year’s Champion Hurdle win took Constitution Hill to an RPR of 177 (which puts him 7lb ahead of State Man) and within touching distance of Istabraq’s top mark of 181. Many will be hoping he can go even higher this year. 

The unfortunate absence of Constitution Hill leaves the door wide open for last year's runner-up STATE MAN to go one better. The Willie Mullins-trained 7yo has been thoroughly dominant otherwise since racing at the top level and sets a clear standard in this field. Irish Point gained his Grade 1 hurdle wins over longer trips but he has shown versatility and, being a progressive sort who has built up a good winning sequence, looks the chief threat to the selection. Constitution Hill's trainer Nicky Henderson is left represented by Iberico Lord (third choice) and Luccia, who are not supersubs as such but they bring strong 2023-24 handicap form to this higher grade.

Willie Mullins has gone a couple of years without success in this race, having won five in nine years before that, but he has a powerful trio at the top of the betting in Ballyburn, Mystical Power and Tullyhill. Much will depend on whether Ballyburn, deeply impressive in a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival last time, runs here or steps up in trip to the Baring Bingham. He’ll be seen as a banker by many wherever he goes. Mystical Power and Tullyhill would be able deputies or second strings depending on how Mullins plays his hand. Gordon Elliott has Firefox, who became the only horse to beat Ballyburn when they met on their hurdling debuts in December, and Nicky Henderson looks to have the leading British contender in Jeriko Du Reponet, who like Mystical Power runs in the JP McManus colours. 

This year's Supreme has become more open with leading novice Ballyburn skipping the 2m option and heading for the Gallagher on Wednesday. Firefox and Slade Steel tie in with that horse and come here with strong claims on form, while Willie Mullins is typically well represented even without Ballyburn. As regards those Closutton runners, MYSTICAL POWER is particularly appealing. He is superbly bred, remains unbeaten and looks open to any amount of further improvement. Tullyhill (second choice) has progressed with each start over hurdles and holds a leading chance on ratings, while Mistergif is an interesting prospect. Jeriko Du Reponet is the pick of the British contenders and helps to give JP McManus, who also owns the selection, a robust hand.

Until the Dublin Racing Festival, this race looked to have a standout candidate in Barry Connell’s Marine Nationale, last year’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner
who had raised the excitement level for his chasing career with an impressive debut success over Christmas. The Irish Arkle threw a spanner in the works, however, as Marine Nationale trailed in fifth while the Willie Mullins-trained Il Etait Temps just got the better of Gordon Elliott’s Found A Fifty in a close finish. Horses can bounce back but the trends show it doesn’t happen often in the Arkle and Marine Nationale’s flat effort at Leopardstown has opened up this race. Il Etait Temps has put himself firmly in the reckoning but doesn’t have much in hand from the Irish Arkle and has to prove he can perform at Cheltenham after a couple of unplaced runs at the festival. There will be interest in others from the Mullins squad, principally the relatively inexperienced but highly promising Hunters Yarn and Irish Arkle third Facile Vega, and Ireland’s challenge could also feature Quilixios (Henry de Bromhead) and My Mate Mozzie (Gavin Cromwell). The leading British contender is last-time-out Grade 2 winner JPR One, whose trainer Joe Tizzard has a decent shot at a festival breakthrough in his second year after taking over the family stable from father Colin. 

Willie Mullins has won five of the last nine runnings and again holds a strong hand, with the mercurial Gaelic Warrior the pick of his three contenders and the one to beat overall as long as his erratic jumping passes its most searching test. However, in a more open Arkle than usual the suggestion is MASTER CHEWY, who had an excuse at Lingfield last time and had previously impressed with his sound jumping technique. A well-run 2m should suit him down to the ground and he may well record a personal best. Cases can be made for quite a few of the others, with Quilixios and Hunters Yarn next on the list. Dublin Racing Festival form is represented by Il Etait Temps and Found A Fifty, while JPR One and the selection's stablemate Matata are closely matched and impossible to rule out.

This prized 3m1f handicap chase has an illustrious roll of honour and last year Corach Rambler became the latest winner to go on to Grand National glory, joining
the likes of West Tip, Seagram and Rough Quest. Corach Rambler made it back-to-back wins for Lucinda Russell as 6-1 joint-favourite, edging out Fastorslow by a neck. The only others to achieve the feat were Sentina (1957 & 1958), Scot Lane (1982 & 1983) and Un Temps Pour Tout (2016 & 2017). With his second victory, Corach Rambler 
continued the long-established trend of second-season chasers doing well. This is one of the better opportunities for a trainer outside the big five to get on the scoreboard and among the leading fancies from Britain are Chianti Classico (Kim Bailey), Monbeg Genius (Jonjo O’Neill) and Theatre Man (Richard Bandey), while Irish possibles include Stumptown (Gavin Cromwell). Lurking dangerously, though, are Meetingofthewaters for Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer, who was fourth last year.

Last year's third Monbeg Genius would have outstanding claims if only he were able to recapture that form but he comes here on a downer after a recent Kelso defeat and it would be a work of magic if he could turn things round this quickly. THE GOFFER was unable to match the first three after the last fence in this race 12 months ago but it would be harsh to describe him as a non-stayer given the exceptionally high quality of that running and his challenge is likely to be delayed for longer this time. Soft ground will suit up-and-coming Meetingofthewaters and he is likely to be very dangerous, along with unexposed Chianti Classico but the latter's trainer Kim Bailey also holds a strong hand with Trelawne who should relish this first go in a staying chase. Stumptown also makes some appeal now he's found his form again with blinkers fitted, along with Gevrey if he is able to recapture his best.

First run in 2005, this is a fiercely competitive and often wide-open handicap hurdle for four-year-olds only. LAST YEAR’S WINNER Jazzy Matty scored at 18-1, becoming the third winner in the past six runnings for Gordon Elliott and the sixth in a row for Ireland (fifth was the best Britain could manage last year). He was the seventh French-bred to win in 19 runnings (a French-bred has finished first or second in all but one of the last ten). Irish trainers dominate the ante-post betting with Lark In The
Mornin for Joseph O’Brien, Willie Mullins’ Batman Girac and Ethical Diamond, and the Gordon Elliott-trained Wodhooh, Ndaawi and Mighty Bandit. The last home winner was in 2017 but there are decent hopes of another with Jane Williams’ Excelero and the Olly Murphy-trained Roaring Legend.

Lark In The Mornin has long been the talk of the town for this having hinted in his maidens that improvement is lurking, which could well emerge today on his handicap debut. However, there is no shortage of alternatives, with Milan Tino (second choice) temptingly treated, Ndaawi possessing potential and Palamon a lively one with his yard having punched above its weight in this race with a selective approach. The suggestion at greater odds, however, is the improving BRIGHT LEGEND (nap), who was reeled in by Eagle Fang at Naas last time in a race that has thrown up four of the last five Boodles winners. The selection deserves some credit for hanging around for second that day after such a bold front-running ride and, if his revs can be conserved for the business end this time, he just might be seen in a whole new light.

Gaillard Du Mesnil justified favouritism at 10-11 for Willie Mullins, although the result might have been different if clear leader Mahler Mission hadn’t fallen two out. The recent rise in quality is reflected in the ratings. Last year Gaillard Du Mesnil was clear top on the official figures on 155 and runner-up Chemical Energy was next on 147. Willie Mullins will have a major impact on the market here once he decides on running plans. Embassy Gardens will have strong claims if this is his chosen target. Another leading Irish novice who is shortest in the betting here is Corbetts Cross (Emmet Mullins).

It's a small but competitive field, with much less between all of them on form than the betting might suggest. Preference is for SALVADOR ZIGGY who has not raced since October but had almost exactly the same layoff before his excellent second here on soft ground in last year's Pertemps Final. He's taken well to fences. Embassy Gardens (second choice) shapes like he's probably the class act among them but it's interesting to see that he is today fitted with a hood, as is Corbetts Cross, so their connections presumably have a nagging doubt over whether they will settle well enough to see out this marathon trip. Kilbeg King may emerge best among the three who fought out the Reynoldstown finish at Ascot, while Mr Vango has to be given a positive mention as the only one who has proved himself over this sort of trip.

Like the Supreme, the shape of this contest rests on where Willie Mullins decides to run Ballyburn, the ante-post favourite for both races. It’s not an easy choice given that the Mullins number one showed an impressive turn of foot over 2m at the Dublin Racing Festival but had won over 2m4f before that. That combination of speed and stamina will make him a formidable opponent wherever he runs. The Irish contender with the best credentials after Ballyburn is Henry de Bromhead’s Slade Steel, runner-up to him at the DRF but also previously a 2m4f winner. Mullins has good back-up in Readin Tommy Wrong and Ile Atlantique, a close first and second in a Grade 1 at Naas, along with possibly Mystical Power and the less well-tested Billericay Dickie. The best British hopes are Gidleigh Park (Harry Fry), Handstands (Ben Pauling) and Captain Teague (Paul Nicholls). 

It feels somewhat reckless to suggest that this Grade 1 might elude Willie Mullins, particularly as his comfortable Grade 1 winner Ballyburn sets such a high form standard, but one from the home team with a sporting chance is JINGKO BLUE, who displayed major improvement when winning a Sandown handicap in the style of a Graded-level performer last month. He can reward each-way support, at least. Ballyburn is clearly the main danger, while his stablemates Predators Gold and Ile Atlantique have been placed in Grade 1 hurdle races this year and also have big roles to play.


Willie Mullins will be doing one of his juggling acts here and much depends on whether Dublin Racing Festival winner Fact To File runs here or in the Turners on
Thursday. He will be the one to beat in either race after his impressive display at Leopardstown. Other options for Mullins include Embassy Gardens, Nick Rockett
and Minella Cocooner. This is one of the best Grade 1 races for Britain with seven winners in the past decade, coming from six different stables, and there are
major home chances again with Stay Away Fay (Paul Nicholls) and Grey Dawning (Dan Skelton). Stay Away Fay won last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, with
several of his beaten rivals set to line up again here, and has excellent chase form at the track too, having finished third in open company in the Cotswold
Chase on Trials day. Grey Dawning went to Aintree instead of Cheltenham last spring but has good course form now, with a somewhat unfortunate second
place sandwiched between his two chase wins. The latest victory in a Grade 2 at Warwick was his most impressive yet, adding to his progressive profile. The best
Irish contender outside the Mullins stable looks to be the Henry de Bromhead trained Monty’s Star, who still has to prove himself at this level but looked good
when upped to 3m in a beginners’ chase at Punchestown last time. He has form that ties in with Stay Away Fay and Albert Bartlett third Sandor Clegane (Paul
Nolan) is set to renew rivalry too.

The buzz around Fact To File is understandable, given not only his connections but his obvious engine. He is still pretty raw and this race is often won by toughness and being street-smart over ability, just like last year when The Real Whacker beat Gerri Colombe. Preference is for STAY AWAY FAY, who has winning Cheltenham Festival form and bags of stamina. He will need a test, the fitting of cheekpieces acknowledges as much, but he showed when beating Giovinco at Sandown that he is not a complete slowcoach. The main threat could come from the unexposed Monty's Star, who is a half-brother to Monalee but brings to mind the same connections' Minella Indo even more strongly.


This highly competitive handicap hurdle was introduced in 1993 and regularly attracts a maximum field (currently set at 26). Last years winner Langer Dan (9-1) became only the fourth winner at singlefigure odds since 2004. The next four home were 16-1, 20-1, 50-1 and 22-1. Eleven of the last 14 winners had won or finished second last time out. Commander Of Fleet and Langer Dan did not fit that general trend in the last two years, although both had run in a Grade 2 last time. Langer Dan, back down to last year’s winning mark after a series of heavy defeats this winter, is set to head back here again for Dan Skelton, who also has Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle winner Jay Jay Reilly as an option. Doddiethegreat (Nicky Henderson), fourth in the Betfair Hurdle, could step up to this trip and Sa Majeste is in the picture for Willie Mullins.

Langer Dan's revivals in the spring are well known by now and last year's brought him a win in this race off the same mark as today, but this time round Might I might prove even more potent among the more established runners. Both face a host of far less exposed challengers. Sa Majeste, the ante-post favourite, is probably the pick of those but Built By Ballymore and Jigoro also deserve a high profile among the Irish and Lucky Place is a British novice to note. The latter is with Nicky Henderson, whose recent fortunes will hopefully take a turn for the better at the Festival and who could take this race with DODDIETHEGREAT, whose late gains in the Betfair Hurdle augured well. The chief threat may come from a less heralded Irish challenger in Zanndabad, who is 4lb out of the handicap but could be about to come into his own.


This was the last of the big championship races to be cracked by Willie Mullins but his breakthrough winner Energumene went back to back last year and, even though that one has been sidelined by injury, El Fabiolo has a strong chance of completing a Mullins hat-trick. Last year’s Arkle scorer has won all six chase outings and ominously went up nearly half a stone on Racing Post Ratings with a dominant display last time in the Dublin Chase at Leopardstown. His main rival is the Nicky Henderson-trained Jonbon, as he has been since their novice hurdling days. Over fences the British hope has been just a step or two behind El Fabiolo most of the way and he was beaten five and a half lengths into second in their Arkle clash, but there’s no doubt he’s a high-class two-mile chaser at his best, as he showed in his Tingle Creek victory in December. They’re the big two by far on form, but there are other Grade 1 regulars set to line up, notably 2022 Arkle scorer Edwardstone, back on winning form for Alan King in the Game Spirit at Newbury last time, and Henry de Bromhead’s Captain Guinness, runner-up in this race last year.

Barring mishaps, the finish to this year's Champion Chase could well prove a carbon copy of last year's Arkle in which EL FABIOLO drew clear to beat Jonbon. Those two are not bombproof on the jumping front but their completion records are still unblemished and, ability-wise, their ratings have progressed into the 170s. El Fabiolo has the higher figure and is a worthy favourite to extend his winning sequence, while Jonbon has never finished out of the first two and remains a respected contender assuming he doesn't repeat the Clarence House foul-up. Edwardstone may throw a spanner in the works, having been rejuvenated by a change of tactics in the Game Spirit, though another uncontested lead isn't guaranteed in this field.


Ireland has won 16 of the 19 runnings of this unusual event, introduced when the festival expanded to four days in 2005. Gordon Elliott’s Delta Work confirmed this as a race for specialists when he became the fourth multiple winner. Elliott has been the dominant force with five wins since the race was changed to a conditions event in 2016, having previously been a handicap (in 2021, while Elliott was suspended, Tiger Roll won in Denise Foster’s temporary care). Elliott is set to field a strong team again with hat-trick seeker Delta Work alongside Galvin, last year’s runner-up, and recent Punchestown banks winner Coko Beach. This has become a big target for Grade 1 winners once they hit the veteran stage and the latest in that mould is 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo, who shaped promisingly for Henry de Bromhead when fourth under 12st in a course-and distance handicap in December.

Gordon Elliott has an excellent record in this race, as does jockey Keith Donoghue, and the Cheltenham Festival has brought out the best in GALVIN over the years. He was runner-up to stablemate Delta Work 12 months ago on his cross-country debut and last month's staying-on fourth over an inadequate 2m5f in the Boyne Hurdle was a highly encouraging performance. The 11yo Delta Work is bidding to win this race for the third consecutive year and is feared most, ahead of 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo who was a promising fourth off top weight in a C&D handicap in December on his cross-country debut. Coko Beach and Foxy Jacks have been in the form of their lives this season and could also be involved.


With the switch from Friday to Wednesday, this hotly contested 2m handicap chase had a significant change three years ago by moving from the New course to the Old.
The Old course is sharper and tighter, favouring a quicker, strong-travelling type. Last year's winner Maskada scored at 22-1 for Henry de Bromhead, comfortably
clear of 7-2 favourite Dinoblue. Nine of the last 14 British-trained winners had won at Cheltenham before. Madara was a rare British runner at the Dublin Racing Festival and landed a notable victory for Sophie Leech, setting up a tilt at a first Cheltenham Festival win for the Gloucestershire trainer. Gavin Cromwell has been raiding successfully in the opposite direction this season and could send the novice My Mate Mozzie here. Ireland has won eight of the last 22 runnings, including four in the past ten years. 

A feature of MADARA (nap)'s wins in good handicaps here and at Leopardstown this winter has been the way he's powered clear from the last, suggesting he has more in the locker. Saint Roi (second choice) is well treated on last season's Grade 1 novice chase form and there's a good chance he's been laid out for this, while the unexposed Sa Fureur has a similar profile to Gordon Elliott's 2020 winner Chosen Mate. Last year's winner Maskada is another who could go well, while Harper's Brook is hardly one for maximum faith but there's every chance he'll be bang there at the last.


A Dream To Share was something of a fairytale success for John Kiely and the Gleeson family in last year’s race, even if ultimately he was owned by JP
McManus, but it won’t be a surprise if the big two Irish stables re-establish their stranglehold this time. Before A Dream To Share, Willie Mullins (four) and Gordon
Elliott (two) had won the previous six runnings between them and they have a host of leading candidates again. Elliott has a couple of the main fancies in
Jalon D’Oudairies and Romeo Coolio, plus the longer-priced The Yellow Clay, but the Mullins squad is even deeper. Highest in the ante-post market for the
12-time winning trainer are Jasmin De Vaux and Maughreen, while further down the list are You Oughta Know, Cantico, Fleur Au Fusil and Argento Boy. Britain
hasn’t won since 2016 but there are decent chances this year with Teeshan (Paul Nicholls) and Let It Rain (Dan Skelton). The always well-stocked Irish ranks
also feature Goldinthemountains (Martin Brassil) and Mywayofthinkin (Gavin Cromwell). 

Get set for the most open Champion Bumper since they went 7-1 the field in 2013. While British aspirations are higher than is often the case, Irish stables have not only won 24 of the 31 renewals but had the first two home in the last seven. Willie Mullins is responsible for the lion's share of those triumphs and his typically stocked-up team is spearheaded by impressive Naas winner Jasmin De Vaux, though it has often paid to see beyond his apparent first string and You Oughta Know has the more compelling form claims. However, Gordon Elliott may have an even stronger hand through Jalon D'oudairies, Romeo Coolio and THE YELLOW CLAY. Elliott has talked up the chances of all three, but The Yellow Clay's luck was out in Leopardstown's traditionally influential Grade 2 last month as, without suffering serious interference at a crucial stage, he could have finished ahead of You Oughta Know (second choice) and might well have given Jeroboam Machin something to think about. Bear in mind that the winner would have been a strong favourite for this had injury not intervened.


As with most of the novice races this will be shaped by Willie Mullins’ decision making and his big choice here is whether to run Fact To File, who came straight
from bumpers to chases this season and has been racing at this sort of trip. He has produced high-class form in his wins at Leopardstown over Christmas and
at the Dublin Racing Festival, albeit the second time he had only one rival and finished alone. The main one who looks to have been set up for a tilt at this race
is leading British hope Ginny’s Destiny, whose trainer Paul Nicholls won this with Stage Star last year. Nicholls has run him exclusively at Cheltenham this season,
including a last-time-out win on Trials day in the same race used as a stepping stone with Stage Star. There is plenty of class among the other possibles but no
clear idea yet which ones will run here. 

Having reportedly recovered well from his injury, the very promising IROKO is taken to build on his impressive Warwick win and register a second Cheltenham Festival success. Twelve months ago he landed the Martin Pipe, which has thrown up several subsequent Grade 1 winners over the years, and there's any amount of further progress in him. Facile Vega, a fascinating candidate over the new trip, is second on the list. The other main contenders are Ginny's Destiny and Grey Dawning who command plenty of respect and look set for an absorbing rematch that could go either way.

The eligibility rules for this 3m handicap hurdle, first run at the festival in 1974, were tightened again last year. Now horses must finish in the first four in any of the
scheduled qualifiers to be eligible for the final. Last year's winner Good Time Jonny scored at 9-1 for the shrewd Tony Martin, giving the trainer a seventh festival win (all in handicaps) and becoming the seventh Irish-trained winner of this race in eight years. Icare Allen hasn’t run since finishing third for Willie Mullins in an Aintree qualifier in November and is prominent in the ante-post betting. Gaoth Chuil (Ted Walsh) and Jody Ted (Eoin Griffin) have won Irish qualifiers. White Rhino is a 3m
winner on the New course this season for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero.

While lots of these are in with a shout, none has given such a firm impression of having more in the tank as CUTHBERT DIBBLE (nap). He's a second-season hurdler who is 2-2 in handicaps this term and had no difficulty with the trip when upped to 3m last time. Best of the other British runners may be White Rhino (a reserve) and Emitom but greater dangers probably come from the Irish contingent, principally perhaps from Gaoth Chuil (second choice) and Farouk D'Alene, who were first and second in the Leopardstown qualifier, even though Cleatus Poolaw is one of the least exposed and brings clear potential. Gabbys Cross and Anna Bunina could also go very well.

Allaho, the dominant winner in 2021 and 2022, is absent for a second consecutive year and that leaves the contest wide open again. Envoi Allen stepped up last year for Allaho’s owners with his third festival success and is a leading contender again for Henry de Bromhead, albeit with the age stat to defy now at the age of ten. The leading Irish contender according to the ante-post betting is Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge, who ended his novice campaign with a Grade 1 win at Aintree and improved again on his only start this season with victory over Pic D’Orhy at Kempton. He missed Cheltenham last year, though, and almost certainly needs good in the going description if he’s to line up. Paul Nicholls’ Stage Star, last year’s Turners Novices’ Chase winner, has strong Cheltenham form but questions to answer after being pulled up there last time. A host of other possibles make this one of the most fascinating Grade 1 contests.

Despite reaching the veteran stage, ENVOI ALLEN could well follow up last year's success and enhance his excellent record at this meeting. He retains all of his ability judged on last-time-out form. Banbridge, an ideal Ryanair type, is feared most assuming he gets suitable ground and takes part. Fil Dor, an interesting contender back up in distance, is third choice. Stage Star isn't certain to get an easy lead but he's strongly respected on other counts. Some of the other runners are smart but need to prove they are still effective at this sort of trip.

Gordon Elliott saddled beaten favourite Teahupoo in last year’s race but still won with the veteran Sire Du Berlais and he holds another strong hand. Teahupoo is one of the aces again as he tries to improve on last year’s close third off a quieter preparation, having been rested since his repeat win in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in early December. Soft ground looks crucial to his chance, though, and he still has to prove he’s fully effective up the Cheltenham hill. Elliott also has the year-younger Irish Point, who has come out of his Grade 1-winning novice campaign to strike at the top level as a stayer in Leopardstown’s Christmas Hurdle. That gives him strong claims but he’s in the same ownership as Teahupoo and it’s open to question whether both will run. The other main new challenger is Crambo, who won the Grade 1 Long Walk at Ascot and offers plenty of hope that trainer Fergal O’Brien can make his festival breakthrough this year. There are plenty of old faces too, including past winners Sire Du Berlais, Flooring Porter (Gavin Cromwell) and Paisley Park (Emma Lavelle) and several high-class performers who have switched from chasing back to hurdling for various reasons. The shortest-priced of them is Emmet Mullins’ 2022 Grand National winner Noble Yeats, who set up a tilt at this prize with victory over Paisley Park in the Cleeve Hurdle on Cheltenham’s Trials day. Festival winners Sir Gerhard and Monkfish have also been turned back to hurdling by Willie Mullins for last-time-out successes.

The Cheltenham Festival brings out the best in SIRE DU BERLAIS and he is taken to defy his advancing years and win this race for the second year running. No star candidate has emerged in the 12 months since and if he can reproduce last season's form he should be tough to beat. Teahupoo, who is also trained by Gordon Elliott, was a close third last March and this 7yo could build on that performance this time around, but Noble Yeats may be the chief danger. He was receiving weight when narrowly beating Paisley Park in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over C&D in January, but may well improve on that form now in cheekpieces, in which he won the 2022 Grand National. The highly progressive 7yo Crambo, who won the Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last time out, is another to consider.

Established in 1951 and traditionally known as the Mildmay of Flete, this is a highly competitive 2m4½f handicap chase that usually attracts a maximum field of 24. Seddon became a first festival winner for trainer John McConnell and conditional rider Ben Harvey with his 20-1 success. He was the fifth Irish-trained winner in eight years. Seddon was the fifth last-time-out winner to strike in the past eight runnings (one of the other winners had been second the time before). Leopardstown’s 2m5½f handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival is worth checking, not just the winner Heart Wood (Henry de Bromhead) but also unplaced horses like Inothewayurthinkin (Gavin Cromwell). Course regulars Ga Law (Jamie Snowden) and Il Ridoto (Paul Nicholls) could be in the home defence.

There is a lot to be said for the market leaders Crebilly and THEATRE MAN who have both done really well against up-and-coming novices over C&D this winter and preference for the latter is only slight. Although generally a neat jumper he lost some valuable momentum four out here on his latest start but his finishing was impressive up the final hill and on that run there are unlikely to be many who come home better. Crebilly can be the main danger ahead of Shakem Up'Arry, who was better than ever on this track last time, and Saint Felicien, with In Excelsis Deo also of interest.

Ireland took the first six runnings after this race was introduced in 2016 but the home side has hit back with consecutive wins for Harry Fry with Love Envoi and Jamie
Snowden with You Wear It Well. Those two came from further down the betting at 15-2 and 16-1 but Britain has one of the leading fancies this time in unbeaten course winner Dysart Enos, whose trainer Fergal O’Brien is seeking a first festival success and could have a big day as he’s also set to field Stayers’ Hurdle contender Crambo.
Of course the top Irish yards have plenty of ammunition and Jade De Grugy (Willie Mullins) and Brighterdaysahead (Gordon Elliott) are well ahead of Dysart Enos on
Racing Post Ratings. Those two are unbeaten and have won at Grade 3 level this season. Other possibles include Fun Fun Fun (Mullins), Joyeuse (Nicky Henderson) and
Queens Gamble (Harry Derham). 

Sky-high are reputations on the line. There's an infectious level of confidence behind BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD and Jade De Grugy, both unbeaten mares who haven't half looked good in bossing in their own backyards. Gordon Elliott has great belief in the selection who might just be the superior stayer under these testing conditions. Whether Golden Ace is quite up to this level remains to be seen, but the potential is there for sure.


A fourth success in five years for Ireland as 10-1 shot Angels Dawn became a first festival winner for trainer Sam Curling and rider Patrick King. The first seven were Irish-trained. There is a trend of Kim Muir winners bouncing back from disappointing efforts (14 of the past 23 winners had been unplaced on their previous run). Ireland has to be the first port of call and a chief fancy is Good Time Jonny, who looks set to bid for a second consecutive festival win after taking last year’s Pertemps Final Handicap Hurdle for trainer Tony Martin. Perceval Legallois (Gavin Cromwell) and Cool Survivor (Gordon Elliott) are likely types. Angels Dawn will have to defy a higher mark to make it back-to-back wins for Sam Curling. 

Four of the last five runnings have gone to Ireland and Irish-trained horses filled the first seven placings last season. The Irish contenders dominate calculations once more and top of the list is the Gordon Elliott-trained COOL SURVIVOR, who could rediscover the considerable promise he showed over hurdles now he is upped in trip. Stamina proved a strong suit for the unexposed Daily Present when he won on his handicap debut at Down Royal in January and he is feared most ahead of the 6yo Inothewayurthinkin, who has potential upped in trip. Last year's winner Angels Dawn is also respected, along with Whacker Clan and Where It All Began.

The standout performance in this division came on Cheltenham’s Trials day when the Nicky Henderson-trained Sir Gino overpowered previous Triumph favourite Burdett Road with a hugely impressive ten-length victory over course and distance. His trainer is the record-holder in this race and has excellent prospects of an eighth success with his latest highly promising recruit. The Spring Juvenile Hurdle, well established as the best proving ground in Ireland, did not produce anything that measured up to Sir Gino in quite a bunched finish. Several of the principals are likely to head here, although as with so many races the decision making of Willie Mullins will be crucial as he had the first four (Kargese, Storm Heart, Majborough and Bunting), albeit all with different high-profile owners. Salver (Gary Moore) and Liari (Paul Nicholls) are other British possibles. 

Sir Gino heads the ratings and left much the strongest impression with his win here in January but he is hard to recommend given the health issues which seem to have afflicted so many of his stablemates. Willie Mullins has to be the starting point for revised calculations but these are not straightforward given the air of unfinished business which surrounds the Grade 1 won by Kargese at Leopardstown, where she travelled clearly the best but finished with stablemates Storm Heart, MAJBOROUGH and Bunting on her heels. Others from that race also line up today, as does yet another Mullins horse in the ex-French Salvator Mundi, who is highly regarded. Nurburgring is a professional alternative to all of them but Majborough is the selection (ahead of Kargese) on the assumption that he will have come on significantly since Leopardstown, which was his first run for 307 days and only his second overall.

Faivoir struck at 33-1 for Dan Skelton, who has now won four of the last eight runnings. The Betfair Hurdle and the Liffey Handicap Hurdle at the Dublin Racing
Festival have been key pointers – ten of the past 23 winners had run in one of those. Iberico Lord is a clear contender for Nicky Henderson after his Betfair Hurdle victory at Newbury. Skelton had runner-up L’Eau Du Sud, as well as Faivoir in fifth. Willie Mullins has a host of novices and handicappers to juggle, including Zenta, Mistergif and Absurde.

The Gordon Elliott-trained novice King Of Kingsfield certainly catches the eye having finished third behind Ballyburn and Slade Steel in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown last month, while last year's Ebor winner Absurde is a fascinating contender for Willie Mullins off what could be an advantageous mark. However, preference is for the proven handicap hurdle form of L'EAU DU SUD (nap), who was an excellent second in last month's Betfair Hurdle when clear of Go Dante and Faivoir, who were the chief protagonists in Saturday's Imperial Cup. Despite Faivoir's big run at Sandown, and the fact he won this last year, Harry Skelton rides stablemate L'Eau Du Sud and the pair can enhance Dan Skelton's tremendous record in this race. Faivoir is second choice ahead of last year's runner-up Pied Piper. Go Scottish is well treated on his chase form and could be a danger, while the in-form Mr Freedom is an interesting each-way contender at big odds.

This is the most difficult of the Grade 1 novices to solve and big-priced winners are the norm, even for those who go on to reach great heights such as Gold Cup hero Minella Indo and Stayers’ Hurdle winner Penhill. Two of the key form races look to be the Grade 1 Lawlor’s of Naas in January (won by Willie Mullins’ Readin Tommy Wrong from stablemates Ile Atlantique and Lecky Watson) and the 2m6½f Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival, which had a Mullins one-two with Dancing City and Predators Gold. Mullins also has the fancied and unbeaten High Class Hero. The home team is not without hope – possibles include Challow winner Captain Teague (Paul Nicholls), Nicky Henderson’s pair Shanagh Bob and Jingko Blue, Gidleigh Park (Harry Fry) and Johnnywho (Jonjo O’Neill).

Experience - and lots of it - was always a big selling point in this race, yet lightly raced horses have joined the party in recent years. Regardless of background, sheer grit and determination are forever key attributes in such a war of attrition for novices. The imposing CHIGORIN showed those qualities in abundance in winning his maiden at Fairyhouse and, while others bring stronger form credentials, the same was true of stablemate Minella Indo whose profile was not dissimilar when a 50-1 winner of this in 2019. Readin Tommy Wrong and Lecky Watson (third choice) may fare best of the Mullins contingent, but the British have strength in depth, with Captain Teague, Shanagh Bob and Gidleigh Park all strong candidates with their Graded honours. However, Johnnywho (feared most) is equally as exciting over this new trip, while the Harry Redknapp-owned The Jukebox Man isn't without hope either.

Galopin Des Champs improved his already high level by half a stone on Racing Post Ratings with a supremely dominant performance in last year’s Gold Cup.
Willie Mullins’ superstar earned an elite RPR of 184 with his seven-length victory over Bravemansgame and after a couple of blips he matched it this season in
his brilliant Savills Chase win at Christmas. Having followed up in the Irish Gold Cup, he is emphatically the one to beat again. Martin Brassil’s Fastorslow, who beat the favourite twice in those blips, looks his biggest rival again as he tries this race for the first time, but now he has to turn around a four-and-a-half-length defeat in the Irish Gold Cup. There are other new challengers for this crown in the brilliant but sometimes moody Shishkin (Nicky Henderson), Gerri Colombe (Gordon Elliott), who had been on the rise until his distant second in the Savills, the recovered and resurgent L’Homme Presse (Venetia Williams) and the popular King George winner Hewick (Shark Hanlon). 

This Gold Cup is as good as it gets. 12 months ago the stamina of GALOPIN DES CHAMPS was questioned but, once over the last fence, down went his head and away he raced from Bravemansgame. His path hasn't always been smooth since but he was brilliant when beating Gerri Colombe after Christmas and he took his revenge for two defeats by Fastorslow when beating that one at Leopardstown last month. The latter has had wind surgery since and he looks a good bet to go very well today but spring horse Corach Rambler still qualifies as being unexposed over staying trips and his defeat of Fastorslow here last March puts him into the picture, too. Hewick, whose King George win bordered on the vaudeville, shouldn't be underrated if the ground is no worse than good to soft but the opposite is true for much improved Welsh National winner Nassalam, while L'Homme Presse has to show his stamina is equal to the task at such a high level. Bravemansgame should run his usual honest race without being a strong enough stayer to fancy for the win, but Gentlemansgame still has some potential in staying races.

There has been an even split of British and Irish successes over the past decade after the score was levelled last year by 66-1 shot Premier Magic from trainer-rider Bradley
Gibbs’s Herefordshire yard. Nine horses since 1956 have won the race twice – three of them (Salsify, On The Fringe and Pacha Du Polder) in recent years – and Premier Magic will be the latest to attempt the double. He was ten last year when he continued the recent run of success for older runners, being the ninth in a row aged in double figures. Before the recent upward trend, 14 of the previous 19 winners had been nine or younger. Premier Magic will be faced by a renewed challenge from Ireland,
led by top handler David Christie’s Ferns Lock. The seven-year-old missed last year’s festival but has improved in the meantime and warmed up with an impressive win at
Thurles. Emmet Mullins’ Its On The Line, runner-up last year, is set to return after a narrow prep win over Billaway, the 2022 winner for Willie Mullins. 

The smallest field since 11 ran in 1998 and this could be more open than the betting implies. Last year's runner-up Its On The Line doesn't always make life easy for himself and seems risky business as favourite, while it's a concern over today's trip that the hugely talented Ferns Lock has rarely looked the stoutest of stayers, a doubt that also dismisses Samcro. Past winners Premier Magic and Billaway should threaten again, while Time Leader is interesting despite having largely plied his trade at a lower level and over shorter distances. However, another surprise package could be SINE NOMINE, who is an improving mare with the wind in her sails after delivering her most convincing performance yet at Wetherby last month when making short work of last season's Aintree hunter chase runner-up Bennys King.

Willie Mullins won the first two runnings but had to settle for second last year with 13-8 favourite Allegorie De Vassy, who was beaten two and a half lengths by the Colm Murphy-trained Impervious, her main rival at 15-8. In fact, Mullins has had the beaten favourite in every running now and the one who looks set to carry that mantle this year is Dinoblue, who has been running well in open top-level company and is top on Racing Post Ratings. She led home a Mullins 1-2-3-4 in a Grade 1 at Christmas and then finished a respectable second to top-class stablemate El Fabiolo in the Dublin Chase. Next on RPRs and in the ante-post market is Allegorie De Vassy, who looks set to attempt to go one better than last year. Gavin Cromwell could be represented by Limerick Lace (below) and Brides Hill, while Gordon Elliott also has a couple of decent contenders in Riviere D’Etel, who was still travelling comfortably when falling three out in last year’s race, and last-time-out Grade 2 winner Harmonya Maker.

Much of the interest centres around whether the high-flier Dinoblue can muster the stamina for a return to this trip for the first time in two years. Her hurdle run in a Grade 1 that day was inconclusive but with that being her one and only attempt at 2m4f there have to be doubts about whether connections have faith in her over this far. Stablemate ALLEGORIE DE VASSY put up a stout show in this race last year, when it was just unfortunate that the winner put up a stouter one, and she has a good chance of going one better, although Limerick Lace has plenty going for her, too, with Riviere D'etel another to consider. Pink Legend has been placed in this race for the last two years but she comes here on a low this time.

Iroko was a first festival winner for joint-trainers Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero at 6-1, leading home a JP McManus one-two ahead of the Nicky Henderson-trained 14-1 shot No Ordinary Joe. Runners rated between 133 and 139 have won nine of the 15 runnings but four of the last six winners were rated 142-145. Five- and six-year-olds have won 13 of the 15 runnings. Ten of the last 13 runnings were won by Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls, Gordon Elliott or Joseph O’Brien. Ten of the 15 winners have been sent off at double-figure odds and Sir Des Champs in 2011 is the only successful favourite. Sa Majeste is a Willie Mullins-trained possible for last year’s winning owner. Gigginstown’s likely types include Mullins’ Quai De Bourbon and the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Cleatus Poolaw and Stellar Story.

Willie Mullins is doubly represented in his bid for a fifth Martin Pipe success but Quai De Bourbon's form lacks depth and Ocastle Des Mottes has stamina to prove upped in distance. Preference is for the Henry de Bromhead-trained WATERFORD WHISPERS who has a solid record this season, should be capable of further improvement and looks the perfect sort for this assignment. Answer To Kayf (second choice) and Yeats Star (third choice) are solid contenders who tie in with the selection, while Better Days Ahead is another Irish challenger who looks shortlist material. Thanksforthehelp, Sonigino and No Ordinary Joe look best of the British contestants.