Cheltenham Festival clues on offer as Gauloise lines up in red-hot novice hurdle

1.58 Fairyhouse
Race Displays Mares Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m2f | 4yo+ | RTV

This contest has been a stepping stone to stardom for a whole host of top-class mares that includes Honeysuckle (2019), Laurina (2018), Shattered Love (2017), Limini (2016) and Gitane Du Berlais (2014), and this year's edition looks well up to scratch.

It is not overly easy to come to a firm conclusion about who will win, but what you can guarantee is that there will be a major shake-up in the market for the Dawn Run Mares Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham no matter what the outcome.

Gauloise is currently favourite for the festival event at 5-1. She is unbeaten in her career and two from two for Willie Mullins, while the most recent victory came at the expense of Mighty Blue in a Listed event at Thurles the week before Christmas. She posted an RPR of 132 there and a repeat performance would make her hard to beat.

Mighty Blue, rated 104 on the Flat, reopposes and has three lengths to find from their Thurles tussle. Settling better would help erode some of that deficit.

Mighty Blue (far side): seen finishing second on the Flat at KillarneyCredit: Patrick McCann

The Peter Fahey-trained Royal Kahala has looked the real deal lately. Her 140 RPR when scooting away from Hook Up over this course and distance earlier in the month, and the fact that all three of her recent wins have been at the track, certainly strengthen her claims.

She's no bigger than 9-1 for the aforementioned Cheltenham heat and victory here would almost certainly see her assume favouritism.

Brave Way, who like Gauloise is owned by Kenny Alexander, could only take third behind Skyace in a Grade 3 at Down Royal but that form has been franked since and she looks the type to keep progressing.

While, Delvino should not be underestimated either. She sprinted away from Castra Vetera when winning her maiden hurdle at Naas, but did not look the same mare when she finished just fourth behind Royal Kahala on her most recent appearance.

Indeed, Castra Vetera is worthy of a second look. There were a number of hurdles not jumped at Naas and we will get a better handle on her potential here.

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What they say

Peter Fahey, trainer of Royal Kahala
She's in brilliant form and we know she loves the place. This will certainly establish the pecking order of the novice mares in Ireland.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of The Sliding Rock
She's a nice mare who is progressing all the time. She stayed on nicely in a Listed race last time at Punchestown, but this looks quite a hot race.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Gauloise
She put in a good performance last time at Thurles but will need to improve again to beat Royal Kahala on a track she’s clearly very happy on. It’s a big step up in class, taking on what looks one of the best novice hurdling mares in Ireland right now.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Castra Vetera and Mighty Blue
Mighty Blue ran well at Thurles last time. She's in good form since then. It looks a very hot race but I think she'll run well. The ground will be very heavy so hopefully she will handle that. Castra Vetera ran in a very hot maiden at Naas last time. We think she's improved and she should give a good account of herself.

Dermot McLoughlin, trainer of Delvino
I was disappointed with her last time, she just never jumped a hurdle – that's not her at all. We couldn't find anything wrong with her afterwards. We've done plenty of jumping with her since and she's been great. If she came back to the form of her maiden hurdle win at Naas, she would have a chance.

Read a selection of our Saturday tipping . . .

Members' Club: Tom Segal thinks favourite might not be best handicapped horse in Sky Bet Chase

Members' Club: Paul Kealy had 18-1 and 11-2 winners on Friday – now he's taking on Cap Du Nord

Members' Club: Irish expert David Jennings is sweet on a mare at a double-figure price

The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tip on Saturday afternoon

Saturday's free horse racing tips: top betting advice from our expert team

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