For our Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 2025 tips, we have asked Ciaran Murphy to run his eye over the Grade Two contest run over 2 miles 1 furlong on the New Course at Cheltenham.
As the name suggests, the race is restricted to mares and fillies which, before the start of the current season, had yet to win a race over hurdles; it was added to the Cheltenham Festival schedule in 2016.
Mares Novice Hurdle Tip – Karoline Banbou 10/1
She arrived from France with a big reputation and some smart flat form for the noteworthy team of JP McManus and Willie Mullins. However, she didn’t get off to an amazing start, losing on debut to stablemate Augusta Kate (who hasn’t done anything to frank that form). But watch that contest again and she travels beautifully into the race before being mugged late by that fast-finishing rival. She was entitled to come on from that race and while the form of her Maiden win isn’t amazing, she was giving 20 pounds to the runner-up and 8 to Swing Davis, who herself had a big reputation and who she comfortably had held when that rival fell. Her jumping needs to improve but there is no reason why it can’t and she certainly has a big engine. Another reason for this selection is that I am not in love with the top of the market. I think Maughreen is a nice horse but massively underpriced based on what she has done and who she is related to. Sixandahalf was impressive but again is short for a mare with one start over hurdles. Aurora Vega may miss this for Fairyhouse and the English are represented by 2 Paul Nicholas mares who I would be happy to take on.Cheltenham 2025 Bookies Free Bet Offers
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