The OLBG Mares’ Hurdle Race 2023 Betting Tips & Race Preview – Cheltenham Festival 2023

The Mares’ Hurdle race is one of the newer races to arrive at the Cheltenham Festival and it has been a welcome addition to the meeting. We have seen some great winners over the past few seasons and the race quality is seemingly getting better every year. Betting on the race is often quieter than other races at the festival, especially this early because many of the horses entered have other targets at the meeting which they may prefer nearer the time. In this text, you will find info about Mares' Hurdle Riders and much more.

The doesn’t stop the excitement building though and a lot of people will be hoping Apples Jade returns to the race this season to try and defend the crown she won in dramatic style at the 2017 festival. She is just one of a number of stars that may be heading to the race, and if they all turn up we are set for a fantastic Mares’ Hurdle 2021.

Mares’ Hurdle Tips – Day 1, 16:10

Favourites	Horse	Odds	Best Bookmaker	Mares’ Hurdle Tips
#1	Apples Jade	3/1		Read Apples Jade Preview Here
#2	Limini	6/1		Read Limini Preview Here

Mares’ Hurdle Cheltenham 2021 Preview

The Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle is often one of the most difficult races to work out at the festival because it is unknown for definite who will run in the race. Hopefully, Gordon Elliott will send out last year’s winner Apples Jade to defend her crown and she is sure to be the favourite if she runs. After Apples Jade, the Willie Mullins team have four or five potential runners in this race who would all have a chance if they ran in the race. It is unlikely that they will all run, and nearer the time we should hopefully get some information about which horses he is going to leave in the race. One of his that we really want to stay in the race is Limini, who has the ability to really challenge Apples Jade and over the course of this season, she will become clearly the best mare at the Mullins yard. Let's check more Mares Hurdle betting information.

Aside from Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins, no one else looks to have anything that can compete with the big guns so far and they look set for another season of dominating this race. It would be a huge shock if the winner came from anywhere other than those two yards.

Mares’ Hurdle Betting Tips – Cheltenham 2021

Apples Jade, Favourite #1

Favourites	Horse	Odds	Best Bookmaker	Bet Now
#1	Apples Jade	3/1		Bet Now

Apples Jade is the clear pick for the Mares’ Hurdle this season after lifting the crown last season. Horses behind her that day included Vroum Vroum Mag and Limini, and there is no reason to think either of those could reverse that form this season. At 5, Apples Jade is really coming into her own right now and could even come back this season a better horse than she was last season.

She was good enough to win this last season and there is no reason to oppose her this season, if she turns up then she could be a very short price on the day to land back to back Mares’ Hurdle titles. However, the one worry is whether or not she will turn up, she may look to the Champion Hurdle if her trainer thinks she is good enough to run well in that race.

Let’s hope Apples Jade tries to defend her Mares’ Hurdle crown, and if she does then she has a great chance of making it two out of two in this race. She is definitely one of the best Mares' Hurdle runners.

Limini, Favourite #2

Favourites	Horse	Odds	Best Bookmaker	Bet Now
#2	Limini	6/1		Bet Now

Limini looks to be the horse that can chase home Apples Jade or the one to win the race if she doesn’t turn up for any reason. Limini is a star horse herself and shouldn’t be underestimated because she has won four of her seven starts for Willie Mullins. Those include beating Apples Jade last season on one occasion, and winning the Mares Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham the year before, so she also brings course and festival-winning form to the table.

She is a very exciting horse and one that will eventually be the best mare in the Mullins yard by the time we get to Cheltenham. Hopefully, that will set up a clash between her and Apples Jade in what should be a great battle between the pair, although right now Apples Jade would be fancied to win if both of them met in the race.

Should Apples Jade not run in the Mares’ Hurdle, Limini is the next best choice and would have a great chance of racking up another victory for trainer Willie Mullins.

Mares’ Hurdle Betting Odds

Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle Winners

The history of this race all revolves around the wonderful mare Quevega, who won the race six times from 2009 to 2014. In total including those, Willie Mullins has won eight out of the last ten running’s of this race, it is clearly a race he cherishes and one he always sends a strong challenger to. Apples Jade was a first winner for Gordon Elliott in the race last season and I expect to see him and Willie Mullins dominate this race for years to come. The only English trained winner of the race came back in 2008 when Whiteoak won the race for Donald McCain and Jason Maguire.

Last 10 winners

Leading Trainers

Leading Jockeys

Cheltenham 2023 Mares’ Hurdle Race Conditions

The Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham has been very well received since it was introduced. This race gives the mares who are not top class the chance to compete for their own Grade One prize and moment of glory. It is run over the in-between distance of two miles and three furlongs, which means horses that run at both two miles and three miles can take part in the race, which is usually why we see a big field for it. This usually impacts Mares Hurdle odds.

The age limit of 4 years old and upwards mean that sometimes we will see novice mares taking on their elders in the race although this has changed in recent years due to the introduction of a Mares Novice Hurdle race at the festival.

The distance makes the race a test of both speed and stamina and you will have to be a class horse if you are going to take home the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle 2023.