16:10 Cheltenham

Tuesday 10 March 2020

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Grade 1) (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 8.73s

Benie Des Dieux⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 162| CD

4/6

Outstanding mare; winner in 2018 and fell when in control 12 months ago but has since won Grade 1s at Punchestown (2m4f) and Auteuil (3m1½f). Career best when easily winning a Grade 2 by 21L at Gowran Park (3m) on her return; the one to beat.

Form: 11/F-111

Cap Soleil³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130| BF| C

66/1

Triple Listed but has been found wanting against top-class opposition. Beaten 22L into seventh last year and was disappointing at Warwick (2m5f) on her seasonal debut (beaten 20L) recently and needs a big step forward to be involved.

Form: 212/70-5

Desaray Girl¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P A Kirby| OR: 133| D

100/1

Rattled off a hat-trick in first three hurdles, including a Listed event at Haydock (2m3f) in December. Below form at Warwick (2m3f) 18 days ago in a novices' Grade 2 but even a return to her best still leaves her with a difficult task.

Form: 0-01114

Elfile²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D E Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| D

16/1

Likeable mare with wins at Listed/Grade 3 level this season, including at Punchestown (2m4f, heavy) last time. Will need to continue her improvement here but yard have won this nine times and she has place claims if putting her best foot forward.

Form: 62-1121

Honeysuckle³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 158| D

9/4

Top-class, unbeaten mare; she has won Grade 1 races on three of her last four starts, including against the boys in the Hatton's Grace (2m4f) and Irish Champion (2m). Conditions will suit and she poses a huge danger to Benie Des Dieux.

Form: 111-111

Lady Buttons^p⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 150| D

20/1

Popular mare who mixes hurdles and fences who is unbeaten against her own sex this season (3/4). Grade 2 winner at Doncaster (2m) last time but was only fourth here last season, beaten 16½L, and her overall form leaves her with something to find.

Form: 42-1411

Popong¹¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 134| D

66/1

Lightly raced dual hurdles winner (2m4f) who posted a career best when narrowly defeated in a Punchestown novice hurdle (2m) last time. Whilst the return to this trip will help, she is likely to struggle against this calibre of opposition.

Form: 1-21532

Roksana⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 152| CD

12/1

Fortunate winner last year after the fall of Benie Des Dieux but confirmed herself top-class with a narrow Grade 1 defeat at Aintree (3m) behind If The Cap Fits. This will have always her target and will valiantly defend her crown.

Form: 312-252

Stormy Ireland⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: W P Mullins| OR: 153| D

7/1

Has improved since second 12 months ago; winning her last three easily (2m-2m4f) including defeat of Elfile by 5½L two runs ago. Doesn't match the market leaders in terms of form but isn't far away and has strong claims of making the frame again.

Form: 2-26111

Non-Runners

Crossgalesfamegame⁵⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Max Kendrick

Forecasts

Benie Des Dieux (4/6), Honeysuckle (9/4), Stormy Ireland (7/1), Roksana (12/1), Elfile (16/1), Lady Buttons (20/1), Cap Soleil (66/1), Popong (66/1), Desaray Girl (100/1), Crossgalesfamegame (200/1)

A high quality renewal of this contest where Willie Mullins has a strong hand to win the race for the 10th time. The charge is led by BENIE DES DIEUX, who would be bidding for a third win in this if not falling at the last 12 months ago and posted a career best when sauntering to victory last time. Her task will not be easy, however, with the presence of Honeysuckle, who has improved all season and has beaten the boys comfortably on her last two outings. Roksana has been laid out for this and Stormy Ireland has improved since last year, setting things up for an absolute thriller.