2024 Mares' Hurdle Tips - Is Lossiemouth impossible to oppose?

Jon Vine

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Last updated: 05 Mar 2024

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Jon Vine 05 Mar 2024

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Free guide to the 2024 Mares' Hurdle
This Grade One takes place on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday 12th March
Lossiemouth and Ashroe Diamond feature in our verdict

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Paul Townend riding Lossiemouth (pink) clear the last to win The Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham. (Getty)

The last of four Grade One races on Champions' Day at Cheltenham is the Mares' Hurdle. It's been six years since Willie Mullins last lifted the David Nicholson trophy, but you'll get very short odds on Ireland's Champion Trainer ending that drought in 2024.

Here's our free guide to the 2024 Mares' Hurdle. You'll find our best betting tips in the verdict section below.

2024 Mares' Hurdle Tips

Lossiemouth ran out an impressive winner of the Triumph Hurdle last year and couldn't have produced a better reappearance performance when running away with the Unibet Hurdle. Willie Mullins decided not to run his mare during the first half of the season and Lossiemouth clearly benefitted from that tactic when thrashing Love Envoi by nine lengths at Cheltenham.

Lossiemouth's dam was a middle-distance horse on the flat in France and she's by Great Pretender, who sired a former winner of the Mares' Hurdle in Benie Des Dieux. Willie Mullins has no concerns about Lossiemouth seeing out this two-and-a-half mile trip. The favourite looks rock solid.

Willie won't enter this year's Mares' Hurdle single-handed, despite the overwhelming strength of the odds-on favourite. Ashroe Diamond progressed nicely as a novice last season, winning the Grade One at Fairyhouse run over this trip, and Patrick Mullins' mount showed she had plenty of gears when beating Under Control and Gala Marceau over two miles at Doncaster last month.

Echoes In Rain also looks likely to run, but she isn't at her best over this distance. Gala Marceau plummeted down the Cheltenham betting after a terrible performance in the Quevega Hurdle at Punchestown. Willie could also switch Brandy Love back to hurdling, following two underwhelming runs over fences.

Hispanic Moon bolted up in the Quevega Hurdle and she looks set to represent Henry De Bromhead. Stablemate Magical Zoe sits higher in the market, but she looks set to go down the County Hurdle route. De Bromhead could also run Telmesomethinggirl and Lantry Lady on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. Whether either is good enough to challenge Lossiemouth, I'm not so sure.

None of the home challengers appeal to me. Love Envoi benefitted from a fantastic ride from Jonny Burke when finishing second to Honeysuckle 12 months ago and she won't get away with that again. Marie's Rock has become unpredictable and her win at Doncaster last time won't be good enough. West Balboa has completely lost her way this season, and I can't see the likes of Nurse Susan or Under Control getting involved.

Verdict

2024 Mares' Hurdle

Lossiemouth is fully deserving of her current odds-on price and she's undoubtedly the most likely winner of the Mares' Hurdle. This contest looks like a two-horse race to me, and I'd give Ashroe Diamond a very good chance.

I won't be backing Ashroe Diamond to win now, as I fancy you could get a better price than 4/1 on the day of the race. When I do back her, I might also explore the cover bet market. A reverse forecast involving Ashroe Diamond and Lossiemouth could prove profitable.

Ashroe Diamond

2024 Mares' Hurdle Best Bet

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