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

1^st

Honeysuckle

611-5

9/4

T: H De BromheadJ: Rachael Blackmore

Always prominent, shaken up to lead on inside turning in, soon ridden, big jump last, stayed under pressure flat, held on gamely op 5/2 tchd 11/4 and 3/1

2^nd

Benie Des Dieux

911-5

4/6f

T: W P MullinsJ: Paul Townend

Tracked leaders, switched outside 2 out, soon poised to challenge, every chance last, ridden and kept on under pressure flat, always just held op 4/7

3^rd

6 ½

Elfile

611-5

16/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Danny Mullins

Led to 2nd, remained prominent, driven and lost place after 2 out, soon outpaced, went 3rd before last, kept on, no chance with front pair op 20/1

4^th

4 ¾

Roksana

811-5

12/1

T: D SkeltonJ: Harry Skelton

Held up mid-division, tracked leaders before 2 out, outpaced turning in, soon ridden, kept on same pace in 4th from last, never on terms tchd 11/1

5^th

9 ½

Stormy Ireland

611-5

7/1

T: W P MullinsJ: R M Power

Led 2nd, joined before 5th, driven and headed turning in, no impression when lost place before last, weakened flat op 8/1

6^th

Cap Soleil

711-5

66/1

T: F O'BrienJ: P J Brennan

Held up in last pair, outpaced before 2 out, never able to challenge, weakened before last

7^th

8 ½

Lady Buttons

1011-5

20/1

T: P A KirbyJ: Thomas Dowson

Tracked leaders, driven after 3 out, lost place when ridden after next, weakened before last tchd 18/1

8^th

Popong

611-5

66/1

T: H De BromheadJ: Aidan Coleman

Held up mid-division, lost place approaching 2 out, soon behind, weakened before last op 100/1 tchd 50/1

9^th

Desaray Girl

511-5

100/1

T: P A KirbyJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Went left 1st, held up in last pair, driven before 3 out, lost touch before next, tailed off tchd 80/1

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Non-Runners

Crossgalesfamegame⁵⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: F O'Brien J: Max Kendrick

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£2.90Pl:£1.20, £1.10, £2.40EX:£3.90Trifecta:£23.10Tricast:£19.27SF:£4.65Swingers:£1.10, £3.50, £2.50

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.

Benie Des Dieux
Honeysuckle
Stormy Ireland

Previous Winners

2019

Roksana

Weight: 11-5 |Age: 7

J: Harry Skelton | T: D Skelton

10/1

Prize Money

1st: £67,524.002nd: £25,440.003rd: £12,732.004th: £6,360.005th: £3,192.006th: £1,596.007th: £792.008th: £408.00