16:10 Cheltenham

Tuesday 14 March 2023

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

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

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 5.13s

1^st

Honeysuckle

911-5

9/4j

T: H De BromheadJ: Rachael Blackmore

Led until before 3rd, chased leader, challenged last, led flat, stayed on gamely

2^nd

1 ½

Love Envoi

711-5

11/1

T: H FryJ: J J Burke

Prominent, led after 3rd, ridden and pressed last, edged left and headed flat, no impression on winner towards finish tchd 10/1

3^rd

4 ¼

Queens Brook

811-5

16/1

T: G ElliottJ: D N Russell

Chased leaders, lost a place 4th, well in touch on outside 3 out, ridden after 2 out, edged right before last, 3rd and held last, kept on op 14/1 tchd 12/1 and tchd 18/1

4^th

Echoes In Rain

711-5

9/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Mr P W Mullins

Held up in rear, closed going well after 3 out, switched right after 2 out, no impression on leaders and disputing 4th last, one pace tchd 10/1

5^th

1 ¼

Brandy Love

711-5

9/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Paul Townend

Held up towards rear, last 3 out, headway and not much room final bend, no impression on leaders and disputing 4th last, one pace op 8/1

6^th

Theatre Glory

611-5

50/1

T: N J HendersonJ: D A Jacob

Held up towards rear, in touch before 2 out, driven and outpaced final bend, well held 7th last, kept on tchd 66/1

7^th

3 ½

Marie's Rock

811-5

9/4j

T: N J HendersonJ: N de Boinville

Mid-division, raced keenly, closed after 4th, not fluent 3 out, outpaced from final bend, no impression in 6th last op 5/2

8^th

Epatante

911-5

6/1

T: N J HendersonJ: Aidan Coleman

Held up in mid-division, raced keenly, some headway after 3 out, not much room after 2 out, switched right off final bend, soon weakened op 13/2 tchd 11/2

9^th

3 ¼

Shewearsitwell

811-5

28/1

T: W P MullinsJ: Danny Mullins

Prominent until before 2nd, chased leaders, not fluent 3rd, ridden and beaten after 2 out, weakened before last op 33/1 tchd 40/1

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Non-Runners

Midnight Ginger⁴²

Weight: 11-5| Age: 7

T: Andrew Martin J: Non Runner

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£3.25Pl:£1.20, £2.40, £3.50EX:£23.50Trifecta:£193.70Tricast:£321.23SF:£29.66Swingers:£4.90, £5.90, £14.20

Forecasts

Honeysuckle (9/4), Marie's Rock (9/4), Epatante (6/1), Echoes In Rain (9/1), Brandy Love (9/1), Love Envoi (11/1), Queens Brook (16/1), Shewearsitwell (28/1), Theatre Glory (50/1), Midnight Ginger (150/1)

MARIE'S ROCK showed her trademark turn of foot when landing this contest 12 months ago and Nicky Henderson's improving mare can utilise it again to telling effect to fend off former Champion Hurdle winners Honeysuckle and Epatante. Henry de Bromhead's outstanding mare is greatly feared now stepping back up in trip though, while Echoes In Rain is another who could enter calculations in a superb renewal.

MARIE'S ROCK (IRE)
HONEYSUCKLE
EPATANTE (FR)

Previous Winners

2022

Marie's Rock

Weight: 11-5 |Age: 7

J: N de Boinville | T: N J Henderson

18/1

Prize Money

1st: £72,024.002nd: £27,136.003rd: £13,581.004th: £6,784.005th: £3,404.006th: £1,702.007th: £844.008th: £435.00