Thankfully something special looks to be on the cards for Cheltenham Festival 2020 betting. In Tuesday’s Mares’ Hurdle, we will get to see the big showdown between Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle.
They are both masterful horses and are dominating the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) for 2020. You often hear about a two-horse race. All of the focus for the fixture on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival 2020 depicts that it could be just that.
Cheltenham Tuesday 16:10
Benie Des Dieux 8/11
Honeysuckle 2/1
Roksana 8/1
Stormy Ireland 10/1
Lady Buttons 20/1
Elfile 20/1
Cap Soleil 100/1
Popong 10//1
Desaray Girl 100/1
Crossgalesfamegame 100/1
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 02:40 GMT on Monday, March 9th 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Bet365
Table of Contents
Benie Des Dieux
The question of where trainer Willie Mullins was going to send Benie Des Dieux at the Cheltenham Festival 2020 has been answered. At the 48 hour declarations, she has been left in the Day 1 Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle contest.
She is an outstanding mare, something really special and she won the 2018 renewal of the Mares’ Hurdle. She was entered last year but shockingly fell at the last when she was fully in control of proceedings again (much to bookmakers’ collective delight).
So there is some unfinished business for her. Benie Des Dieux has had the one run in 2020, which was at Gowran Park on January 23rd. She, of course, collected an easy win there at Grade 2 over a 3m trip in what was her seasonal opener.
Mullins has won 9 of the last 12 renewals and had there not been the final slip up from Benie Des Dieux last year, that would have been 10 easily.
She was a banker last year for punters in Cheltenham Festival 2020 and the nine-year-old will have massive backing again at 8/11* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 02:40 GMT on Monday, March 9th 2020).
Honeysuckle
While it is of course, really hard not heap praise and attention on Benie Des Dieux, by her own rights, Honeysuckle is something special as well. If Benie Des Dieux had gone elsewhere at the Cheltenham Festival 2020 then Honeysuckle would be one of the big Festival bankers.
But Henry De Bromhead, six-year-old, has to try and deal with Benie Des Dieux.
Honeysuckle is from the top-drawer of chase action. She will be defending an unbeaten career record and what a way to do it if she can win the Mares’ Hurdle over Benie Des Dieux.
With conditions favouring Honeysuckle, she is going to be a huge threat to the favourite.
Three of her last four runs have been Grade 1 efforts and in victories at the Hatton’s Grace and Irish Champion, she beat out the boys as well. Everything that is so impressive about Benie Des Dieux can be said of Honeysuckle.
This is going to be a battle for the ages and Honeysuckle is at 2/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 02:40 GMT on Monday, March 9th 2020).
Key Facts – Mares’ Hurdle 2020 Betting Tip
- Willie Mullins has won 9 of the 12 previous renewals
- Four of the last five winners of the Mares’ Hurdle have been seven-year-olds
- 9 of the last 12 winners were either first or second favourite
- 9 of the last 12 winners had won on their previous start
Roksana
Twelve months ago Roksana was the one who benefitted from Benie Des Dieux’s fall. She came through to claim the Mares’ Hurdle and she is back entered for a title defence.
Trained by David Skelton, she never really pushed on from that success which was really born out of fortune more than anything. The last race that she had was here at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day as she took on a Grade 2 2m 4f challenge in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle.
She looked pretty keen in the fixture and stayed on, but had nothing with which to challenge Summerville Boy in the final 100 yards and ended up two and a quarter lengths back.
An 8/1 quote in 2020 Mares’ Hurdle betting to get a title defence over two of the best in the business probably isn’t going to tempt too many punters* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 02:40 GMT on Monday, March 9th 2020).
Stormy Ireland
Trained by Willie Mullins, Stormy Island was second last year in the Mares’ Hurdle, which of course, would have been third had Benie Des Dieux not fallen.
She has actually come back into a nice bit of form this season has Stormy Ireland and could easily challenge Roksana for a place.
It has been three straight wins by Stormy Ireland, successes at Punchestown, Leopardstown and most recently Naas. Those have all been easy wins and at Leopardstown, she easily crushed Elfile out of sight by more than five lengths.
Unlikely to be enough there to get a win, but a place is a serious target however at 10/1* (betting odds taken from Bet365 at 02:40 GMT on Monday, March 9th 2020).
The Rest Of The Runners
There is not too much to talk about here in making up the numbers for 2020 Mares Hurdle Betting. Cap Soleil has never really managed to come up to speed when she has taken on any higher class company. She was beaten by 20l on her seasonal renewal recently as well.
Crossgalesfamegame has been lightly raced and won her first hurdles race at Market Rasen three starts ago. She was then sixth on her handicap debut and third in her most recent outing at Newbury. She’s probably going to be well out of her depth.
Desaray Girl burst into some really hot form in her first three tips over hurdles. Struggled a little bit in a novices Grade 2 at Warwick in her last race. Exciting horse, but not up to the level as the front runners.
Elfile, trained by Willie Mullins is still improving and could be an exciting entrant to watch after taking a win at Punchestown last time out.
Lady Buttons has won her last two runs and the versatile contender hasn’t been beaten by her own sex this season. She was fourth in last year’s Mares’ Hurdle renewal.
Popong is going to be up against it among such high-quality opposition. She has won a couple of hurdles and delivered a good run in second at Punchestown in a novice hurdle last time out.
Predictions & Tips
Make no mistake, Honeysuckle is a threat to Beanie Des Dieux. So much so that it is really hard to pick between the two of them. She has beaten the boys comfortably on her last two runs as well and is just a top-drawer performer.
Can she beat Benie Des Dieux?
Well, we will find out soon enough.
But the nod has to go towards the favourite. Mullins’ charge really should be looking for a three-timer here, but regardless of that was at career-best on her last run ahead of Cheltenham 2020. Benie Des Dieux can land it.
With all that in mind a straight forecast on Benie Des Dieux/Honeysuckle fits.
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