Cheltenham Festival 2021 tips: Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle antepost betting preview

Racing betting tips: Cheltenham Festival antepost

1pt win Dame De Compagnie in Mares’ Hurdle at 8/1 (NRNB)

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With Benie Des Dieux ruled out of Cheltenham on Tuesday evening, Nicky Henderson's DAME DE COMPAGNIE (8/1 Sky Bet, Paddy Power, Betfair NRNB) could well revert to timber in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, and the current odds should be taken.

A switch back to hurdles looked most unlikely after last year’s Coral Cup winner had slammed the 159-rated hurdler Cornerstone Lad on her chasing debut ay Ayr in January, but an unfortunate unseat in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown has seemingly prompted a rethink.

The fact she was pitched straight into Grade One company there speaks volumes and she certainly wasn’t out of place on official ratings, being sent off a 15/2 chance compared to eventual winner in the same JP McManus silks - 14/1 shot Sporting John.

Dame De Compagnie has lots of Cheltenham experience having made five Prestbury Park appearances across both the New and Old courses in total, her form figures over the intermediate distance of the ‘David Nicholson’ reading an unbeaten 111.

Willie Mullins might not have Benie Des Dieux for the race but he has seemingly aimed Concertista at this event all season and with Elimay potentially bound for the Dawn Run Novice Chase at Limerick and possible not travelling to England in March, the trainer might revert to type and seize the opportunity to have a top-class animal in each Cheltenham race.

Dame De Compagnie’s Coral Cup form is just about on a par with that of Concertista’s Daylesford Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle win last March, and while the latter has clearly enhanced her reputation in a couple of starts on home soil so far this term, the same can also be said of the selection.

She may officially have around 5lb to find on the bare figures but this is a lightly-raced eight-year-old with, you’d imagine, her best days still ahead of her. Take the 8s on offer with the firms offering Non Runner No Bet which acts as the perfect safety net in this case.

Elsewhere in this antepost market, Honeysuckle (Champion Hurdle) and Roksana (Stayers’ Hurdle) appear more than likely to head elsewhere, while Verdana Blue has not looked particularly on her game this time around and could ultimately end up in handicap company from her reduced mark of 151.

Last season’s Martin Pipe heroine Indefatigable remains of some interest despite not quite kicking on as hoped in the current campaign, but she seemed to benefit from the ground really drying out at the end of the week at the last Festival and she’s not expected to get her conditions if having a tilt at this day-one target.

Henry De Bromhead’s Minella Melody looks well held by Concertista, as does Dolcita who has had a breathing operation since switching from Paul Nicholls to Fergal O’Brien.

They’re up against it if the protagonists all turn up and a bigger threat could be posed by the Gordon Elliott-trained Black Tears.

She was beaten two and a quarter-lengths by Dame De Compagnie when second in the Coral Cup and will be 4lb better off if reopposing. She’s not really made the grade in a couple of nice mares-only races this winter, including when third to Concertista last time, but could have been prepared for the spring all along and I wouldn’t be dismissing her out of hand at 25/1.

She’ll probably be given a handicap option or two as well, though, so it’s the Henderson horse who merits a bet at this stage but Black Tears one to keep in mind at a price closer to the day.

Published at 0850 GMT on 17/02/21

More Cheltenham Festival previews & tips

Matt is assessing the 2021 Cheltenham Festival markets and will be publishing his antepost previews in the build-up to the big meeting over the coming weeks. Click here or on the image below for the full schedule.

Already advised...

Wednesday February 3

• 1pt Ashdale Bob to win any race at the Cheltenham Festival at 14/1

Wednesday January 27

• 1pt win Ganapathi in Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at 33/1

Wednesday January 20

• 1pt e.w. Abacadabras in Unibet Champion Hurdle at 16/1 (1/5 1,2,3)

Wednesday January 13

• 1pt e.w. Sams Profile in Festival Novices’ Chase at 100/1 (1/5 1,2,3)

Wednesday January 6

• 1pt win Saint Calvados in Ryanair Chase at 10/1

Monday November 16

• 1pt win Protektorat in Marsh Novices’ Chase at 25/1

Wednesday November 25

• 2pts Cyrname to win 2020 King George VI Chase & 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup at 25/1

Wednesday December 23

• 1pt win Lord Du Mesnil in Randox Health Grand National at 66/1

Wednesday December 16

• 1.5pt win Ronald Pump in Stayers’ Hurdle at 20/1 & 0.5pts win Honest Vic in Stayers’ Hurdle at 100/1

Wednesday December 9

• 1pt win Duc Des Genievres in Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at 20/1