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16:10 Cheltenham

Tuesday 12 March 2019

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

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

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 0.26s

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Selected odds by:

Alletrix^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R M Power| T: Mrs J Harrington| OR: 137| D

50/1

Fair handicapper, has found Laurina in her path in various attempts in graded company previously, as she did in Listed Punchestown race (2m4f, good to yielding) last month. That run gives her more than 6L to find on runner-up Stormy Ireland.

Form: 243-644

Benie Des Dieux³¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Ruby Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 151| CD

10/11

Unbeaten in five since joining Willie Mullins from France, she's equally at home over hurdles/fences. Beat a sub-par Apple's Jade to win this last year, then added Grade 1 at Punchestown. No prep run, but trainer has form for pulling this trick off.

Form: 31/1111-

Cap Soleil³⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 134| C

20/1

Dual Listed winner in bumpers and scored in that grade at Haydock (2m3f, heavy) as a novice last term. Last sighted following home Laurina (beaten 18L) here last March, she'll require plenty more to hold similar aspirations but is interesting.

Form: 11/1212-

Champayne Lady^t³⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D Meyler| T: A Fleming| OR: 129

100/1

Lightly-raced Fairyhouse maiden hurdle winner (2m, heavy) in February 2018, she ran a stormer to be third (80-1) in Mares' Novice here a year ago, leaving her closely matched with Cap Soleil. Hasn't raced since however and this looks much tougher.

Form: 180213-

Elimay⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: M P Walsh| T: W P Mullins| OR: 139

16/1

Bought for €310,000 having won in France and twice placed in Grade 3 company, she gave Good Thyne Tara a proper race at Christmas around Leopardstown (2m4f, good to yielding) with favourite Limini 5½L back in third. A potential improver here.

Form: 13222-2

Good Thyne Tara²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| D

25/1

She beat a few of these to win a Leopardstown Grade 3 (2m4f, good to yielding) at Christmas and perhaps paid price of going toe-to-toe with Laurina since at Punchestown. Plenty to prove with stablemate Stormy Ireland on previous form.

Form: 613216

Jester Jet²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey| OR: 146| D

25/1

Consistent and versatile performer, ended a run of four runner-up finishes (three over fences) when posting career-best to win Listed Haydock hurdles event (2m3f, good to soft). Won't be found wanting for stamina late and may have place claims.

Form: 222221

Lackaneen Leader²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: D N Russell| T: G Elliott| OR: 138| D

50/1

Enjoyed fine time of it as a novice last season, winning three times and runner-up in Grade 1 behind Laurina over this trip on testing going. Hasn't improved this season though and recent runs give her plenty to find against some of these rivals.

Form: 2P-47P5

Lady Buttons⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby| OR: 145| D

12/1

As tough as teak; has cemented her position as the star at Phil Kirby's fast-emerging Catterick yard with a hat-trick (hurdles & fences) since landing the 2m Listed Mares' Hurdle at Wetherby (good) in November; now faces a much tougher task.

Form: 14-1111

Limini⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D J Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| BF| C| D

9/1

Novice winner at 2016 Festival, mixed in good company since, including a win over Apple's Jade in February 2017 before going close (third) in this race. Unconvincing lately, she issued timely reminder when 2¼L behind Presenting Percy over 3m latest.

Form: 213/334

Momella^t⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 142| BF| CD

20/1

High class novice won three of first four (including soft-ground C&D win) before finishing third to Black Op in Aintree Grade 1 last April. Had wind operation in the off-season and has failed to complete in both starts since over 3m.

Form: 1213-FP

Roksana³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142

10/1

Rounded off by finishing an excellent second to Santini in the Grade 1 Sefton Hurdle at Aintree over 3m½f (soft). Hard to quantify reappearance third in Contenders Hurdle (2m, soft, heavy in places) as Buveur D'Air was toying with his prey.

Form: 31112-3

Slowmotion^b²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: J P O'Brien| OR: 140| D

50/1

Has some highly respectable form to her name but seems to have lost her way of late. Beat three of these when third at Punchestown over this trip last time, though was 6L off runner-up Stormy Ireland on better terms that afternoon, opposable.

Form: 36-46P3

Stormy Ireland²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 148| BF

7/1

French import had early hiccups but has got her act together. Easily beat stablemate Good Thyne Tara to win 2m2f good-ground Listed contest at Punchestown in November. Second to Espoir D'allen and Laurina since, doing nothing wrong, solid contender.

Form: U-13122

Non-Runners

Mia's Storm¹⁰⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 9

T: A King J: Wayne Hutchinson

Forecasts

Benie Des Dieux (10/11), Stormy Ireland (7/1), Limini (9/1), Roksana (10/1), Lady Buttons (12/1), Elimay (16/1), Cap Soleil (20/1), Momella (20/1), Mia's Storm (20/1), Good Thyne Tara (25/1), Jester Jet (25/1), Slowmotion (50/1), Alletrix (50/1), Lackaneen Leader (50/1), Champayne Lady (100/1)

He's won nine of the last 10 renewals and Willie Mullins launches a five-pronged attack now, spearheaded by last year's heroine BENIE DES DIEUX. She hasn't run this season but all reports are positive and she can channel the spirit of the great Quevega to win again. Stablemates Limini, a Festival winner, and Stormy Ireland are worthy rivals but the value might be Elimay. She ran a cracker behind Good Thyne Tara at Christmas on her first start after arriving from France and is open to plenty improvement for Ireland's Champion Trainer. Cap Soleil, Roksana and Lady Buttons are a trio of potential British-trained improvers that may go well.