Stamina or speed? Benie and Honeysuckle meet in the Mares' Hurdle middle ground

4.10 Cheltenham
Close Brothers' Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m4f | Old Course | 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

The debates over which race Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle should have run in can be shelved. They are no longer relevant, albeit worth noting as a guide to how far ahead the pair are in a race that tends to attract big fields with few who are genuinely up to the grade.

Purely on visual impressions from her last two runs, it would be impossible to oppose Benie Des Dieux. She won the Grande Course de Haies d'Auteuil readily in May and cruised away from a classy field, including 2018 Stayers' Hurdle winner Penhill, in the Galmoy Hurdle last time.

Those runs were over staying trips and stamina is clearly her strength at this sort of distance. She had to work harder to get past Stormy Ireland over 2m4f at Punchestown in May, two weeks before she won in France.

Honeysuckle maintained her unbeaten record in last month's PCI Irish Champion HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann

The question over the Galmoy is its depth. Plenty of her rivals are regressive big names. Apple's Jade bombed out and Penhill and Killultagh Vic, while high-class in their time, have looked well on the retreat in quite a few runs this winter.

In terms of trip, Honeysuckle approaches from the other side. She won the Irish Champion Hurdle last time but before that had been more impressive at around 2m4f, including a sweeping success in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle.

The form of her biggest win is also open to question. Darver Star and Petit Mouchoir were notably close up and neither would be regarded as particularly strong contenders in the Champion Hurdle 40 minutes before this race.

What settles it between the big two might be to what extent the emphasis is on stamina or speed. Given likely conditions the market probably has it right with Benie Des Dieux as favourite, while it is felt her ability runs that little bit deeper, too.

While there has long been a fixation on Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle, there are a couple of others worth bringing up. Roksana won the race last year, albeit she was gifted it as Benie Des Dieux had her number when falling at the last. Her class is not doubted, as she was beaten just a head in the Liverpool Hurdle against geldings next time.

Popular northern raider Lady Buttons is also Grade 1 class, at least against mares. Her best chase form would put her right on the heels of the first two, but as she is such a proficient jumper of fences it would be stretching it to imagine she can run quite that well over hurdles. She is at her best with ease in the ground, though, so should give a good account.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

Mares' Hurdle heartbreak: Benie out to complete unfinished business

In boxing they say it's the punch you don't see coming that knocks you out. The memory of punters left flat on the canvas after recent runnings of the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle will be to the fore once again, providing hot favourite Benie Des Dieux leads approaching the last hurdle.

It was at this stage 12 months ago that the most talented mare in jump racing had the prize in her pocket, set to make it back-to-back wins in the season's premier hurdling event for mares.

However, for the first time in six starts for trainer Willie Mullins,
Benie failed to win.

It was the second bitter pill to swallow in four years for the same connections, with remarkable subsequent Champion Hurdle heroine Annie Power infamously coming to grief at the same hurdle in the same race in 2015 – a fall that reportedly saved bookmakers a £50 million payout.

The Cheltenham faithful's reaction to both instances was almost as intriguing to witness as watching the closing stages of their respective races that got away.

Within a split second the grandstand's frenzied excitement became a percussive groan. Ecstasy to anticlimactic agony.

Mullins and Paul Townend have spoken of unfinished business with this race for their outstanding 2018 festival winner and both men know what it takes to win this Grade 1, the champion trainer seeking his tenth Mares' Hurdle trophy.

However, should unbeaten challenger Honeysuckle produce her brilliant best the biggest danger to Susannah and Rich Ricci's star will undoubtedly be in full flight on four legs, rather than the 3ft 6in obstacle planted 200 yards from the line.

Chris de Burgh said don't pay the ferryman until he gets you to the other side, but plenty of punters will have no trouble paying Benie's general price of 4-6 to navigate old troubled waters.

What they say

Paul Townend, rider of Benie Des Dieux
It’s good to have Benie as an anchor on the first day. She has a bit of unfinished business here but is an incredible mare. She is so versatile, but it won’t be simple with Honeysuckle in the field, and Willie has two other decent mares in Stormy Ireland and Elfile. Hopefully it will be a truly run race. We'll keep it as simple as we can. She obviously stays well but this is probably her best trip and it’s against mares as well.

Phil Kirby, trainer of Desaray Girl and Lady Buttons
Realistically Lady Buttons has to improve on everything she's done in the past to get past Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle but her last two runs have been her best and she deserves to give it a go. She didn't give her running in the race last year. I don't know why but she was beaten too far out for it to be ability. There's nothing to suggest the track doesn't suit her and trip and ground won't worry her. I'm not there to make up the numbers. Desaray Girl is a really nice novice but I thought the novice race would be too sharp for her. She's not a complete mug but is probably a bit inexperienced to get too involved.

Danny Mullins, rider of Elfile
She will want every single drop of rain that falls. The softer the ground, the better chance she has. She was good at Punchestown last time and I like her.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Honeysuckle and Popong
Honeysuckle has travelled over well and we're looking forward it. Everything has gone to plan since winning the Irish Champion Hurdle and hopefully she can do us proud again. Popong is a lovely mare who faces a tough task but fingers crossed she can give a good account.

Roksana will bid for back-to-back wins in the race for Harry and Dan SkeltonCredit: Edward Whitaker

Dan Skelton, trainer of Roksana
She's been a little forgotten about in the betting because Honeysuckle and Benie Des Dieux have achieved a little more than her. That said, I think she's in better form this year compared to when she won the race last year. The other two mares might potentially be better, but I couldn't be more pleased with her.

Robbie Power, rider of Stormy Ireland
She’s a nice ride to pick up. She’s had a great season and likes to get on with things. Benie Des Dieux is going to be very hard to beat but she should run her race.
Mark Boylan

Spotlight verdict

Clear preference is for Benie Des Dieux, who was on course for a decisive win in this last year when falling at the last and has looked even better in three wins since. Last year's mishap is the only time she has failed to complete in 15 starts over obstacles and she sets a very high standard on form, so the decision to run in this instead of higher-profile races at this meeting can pay dividends. A record of seven from seven under rules means triple Grade 1 winner Honeysuckle has to be seen as the main danger, although she still has to prove definitively that she is as good going this way round. On the other hand, she is not fully exposed and the return to this trip is a plus. Stormy Ireland, second to Roksana in this last year, is a slightly better mare this season and may be third best.
Mel Cullinan

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