Mares have the grandest stage to themselves as support for programme bears fruit

Cheltenham's season is almost at an end, with only the hunter chase evening at the end of this month to follow after Thursday's card, which is the now-traditional all-mares raceday.

Harry Skelton and Brian Hughes, battling it out for the jockeys' title, will be present to add to the drama and two quality handicaps will be shown as part of ITV4's coverage.

"It's great to see these races being so well supported. We're continuing to play our part in supporting the mares' programme," said Cheltenham's clerk of the course Simon Claisse, who pointed in particular to the juvenile handicap hurdle, which has attracted a competitive field of nine headed by the Joseph O'Brien-trained Scholastic.