Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Betting Odds & Preview – 4:10 Cheltenham 2022 – March 15th, 2022

A look at the Mares' Hurdle from the opening day of Cheltenham 2022

Black Tears / Close Brothers Mares ©IMAGO / Shutterstock 16.03.2021

The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle is a fascinating contest happening on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival 2022.

This is the fifth race of the day and follows on from the big Champion Hurdle on the day’s card.

This is another of the big Grade 1 races from the opening day of the Festival and while it is one of the newer races to have worked its way into the Cheltenham Festival, it is already hugely popular, having been bumped up to its current status in Grade 1.

With 2020 winner Honeysuckle having gone on to dominate the Champion Hurdle at last year’s Festival, it is a race to keep an eye on as we get to take a look at some of the top fillies and mares around.

We are still at the ante-post Cheltenham Festival betting point at the moment and therefore the market will settle down closer to the date when all of the final declarations are in.

So stay tuned for our Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle tips.

In this Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle preview we look back through some of the history of the race, the key contenders for this year’s contest and the latest betting odds and trends for the Grade 1 race.

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Details

Date: 15th March 2022
Time: 4:10
Grade: Grade 1
Distance: 2m 3 1/2f
Age: 4 year olds plus
Entries: 25

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Favourites and Outsiders

Our Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle preview will be taking a look through some of the key contenders who could be heading to the start of the race in this top fixture from Cheltenham Day 1.

It is one of those races which perhaps hasn’t formed enough history to piece together big trends.

Our betting experts will look through the field to pick out some recommendations both from those at the front of the market and some each-way options as well.

There has been just one winning favourite getting their nose in front on the last seven renewals of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle.

Last year’s winner was a bigger 11/1 success in the form of Black Tears, which means that two of the last three to be victorious in this field have done so by at least a 10/1 SP.

So that suggests that another wide 0pen content could be coming, even though the ante-post betting market has shown some strong support for one particular horse, Telmesomethinggirl.

We will have a full Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle tips preview closer to the start of the Festival, but for now, we look at the ante-postofferings.

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Odds Cheltenham 2022

While we can take a look at the ante-post Mares’ Hurdle odds for 2022, the market will likely take on a different complexion closer to the start of the Festival. When the final declarations for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, which happens 48 hours out, are in, punters will know exactly who is going to the start.

For now, here is a list of current Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle odds taken at the time of writing.

Telmesomethinggirl 11/4
Concertista 4/1
Royal Kahala 11/2
Stormy Ireland 6/1
Burning Victory 8/1
Echoes In Rain 8/1
Heaven Help Us 9/1
Mrs Milner 10/1
Marie’s Rock 10/1
Queens Brook 12/1
Indefatigable 14/1
Finest Evermore 16/1
Elle est Belle 20/1
Molly Ollys Wishes 20/1
Gauloise 25/1

* (odds recorded at 16:12 GMT on January 24th, 2022 at Betfred)

Bet at Betfred

About the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

Officially known as the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, the race gets its name through sponsorship from Close Brothers.

It is a contest for the girls only and 4-year-olds do get a weight allowance against the rest of the field.

The race is named in commemoration of David Nicholson, a former jockey and trainer who enjoyed a lot of success in both hats at the Festival.

The race was introduced in 2008 for the first time and it was originally on the New Course.

But it was moved over to the Old Course on an opening day the following year with a Grade 2 status.

It was moved up to its current Grade 1 standing in 2015.

Whiteoak won the inaugural edition of the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle and then along came Quevega who would go one of the greatest Cheltenham Festival winning streaks ever.

In the 2009 edition as a 5-year-old Quevega, trained by Willie Mullins won the race.

She would go on to deliver the same result for the next five renewals of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, each time with Walsh in the saddle.

That staggering six-race run at the Festival was something so special.

Things have been far more open since then, with no other horse managing to claim victory in the race on more than one occasion.

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle contenders – 15th March

TELMESOMETHINGGIRL is the current 11/4 favourite in the ante-post market for Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle betting* (odds recorded at 16:12 GMT on January 24th, 2022 at Betfred).

She was at last year’s Festival where she claimed a victory in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle to get off the mark on her British debut.

Telmesomethinggirl has yet to add to that Grade 2 success but will arrive as a genuine threat in the contest.

CONCERTISTA will head to the Cheltenham Festival with plenty of spring in her step after winning both efforts this season at Cork and Limerick.

Both of those were Grade 2 hurdles efforts. Concertista was second to Black Tears in last year’s Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle race and she won the Mares’ Novices Hurdle in 2020 as well.

ROYAL KAHALA had the beating of Telmesomethinggirl when they went up against each other at Leopardstown in late December.

She has taken a step forward with her form this season and put in an impressive performance to win a Grade 2 at Gowran Park in late January.

Things didn’t pan out for Royal Kahala in last year’s Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival, but she’s come a long way since.

STORMY IRELAND won at Cheltenham on the opening day of the new yard, and the Willie Mullins-trained 8-year-old got that done comfortably as well.

She was fifth in the 2020 Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival but didn’t go back to last year’s meeting.

Stormy Ireland was beaten a long way by Honeysuckle at Fairyhouse in November, but may well still enter calculations.

Bet at Betfred

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Trends Cheltenham 2022

For the next part of this Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Betting Preview for Cheltenham 2022, we are going to dive into some of the trends surrounding the event. To do that, we cast an eye back over the last 20 editions of this Grade 1 fixture.

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Trainer Statistics

The leading trainer from the last 20 editions of the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival is Willie Mullins. By some distance as well.

Mullins has won 9 of the 14 renewals, so naturally for Mares’ Hurdle betting 2022 whatever entries that he has put up for the contest should be looked at.

Six of the wins for Willie Mullins were with Quevega before he followed up with Glens Melody, Vroum Vroum Mag and Benie Des Dieux.

No other trainer in that sequence has landed the contest more than once. Nicky Henderson has sent 13 runners into this fixture before and has yet to get a winner.

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Jockey Statistics

The all-time leading jockey in the Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle is Ruby Walsh who picked up eight wins, six of those with Quevega.

Given that he has retired from the sport, it means that no active jockey has managed to win this contest more than once before. Last year’s winning jockey Jack Kennedy landed the win in just his second race entry.

Other Key Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Trends

What other kinds of trends could be featured to help out in Mares’ Hurdle betting at the Cheltenham Festival 2022?

Each of the previous winners of the race had won within their last three starts and have made between 2 – 7 winners in the previous 12 months.

Other trends see that none of the previous winners of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle had been bigger than 10/1 last time out and all had made fewer than six runs that season.

Three of the last four winners have been 7-year-olds also.

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle 2021 Review

It was Black Tears who came through the field to land the score last year in the Close Brothers for trainer Denise Foster, ridden by Jack Kennedy.

Black Tears was well-positioned in chasing the leaders when they turned for home.

She was travelling very well when she was a length down at the last but then ran in superbly as she caught Concertista in the final few strides.

Concertista missed out by just a head, after the line couldn’t quite come quickly enough for the favourite. 2019 Mares’ Hurdle winner Roksana was a distant third-place finisher in the field.

Cheltenham Festival 2022 Day 1

 

Day 1 Cheltenham Festival Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdles 2022

  • 13:30 The Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
  • 14:10 The Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase
  • 14:50 The Ultima Handicap Steeple Chase
  • 15:30 The Unibet Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy
  • 16:10 The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
  • 16:50 The Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
  • 17:30 The National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Steeple Chase

 

Bet at Betfred

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Former Winners

Year Winner Odds Jockey Trainer
2021 Black Tears 11/1 Jack Kennedy Denise Forster
2020 Honeysuckle 9/4 Racahel Blackmore Henry de Bromhead
2019 Roksana 10/1 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
2018 Benie Des Dieux 9/2 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2017 Apple’s Jade 7/2 Bryan Cooper Gordon Elliott
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag 4/6F Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2015 Glens Melody 6/1 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2014 Quevega 8/11F Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2013 Quevega 8/11F Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2012 Quevega 4/7F Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2011 Quevega 5/6F Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins

Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Betting Offers

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