Mares Novices Hurdle Predictions, Betting Tips, Odds & Trends (Cheltenham 2025 - DAY 3)
- Written by David Bet
The Ryanair Mares Novices Hurdle is the newest race at the Cheltenham Festival and this will only be the seventh running of the race. Jeremy Scott's Golden Ace produced a fine display under Lorcan Williams to claim victory in last year's Mares' Novices' Hurdle at odds of 10/1. This article contains our Mares Novices Hurdle betting preview with free predictions, tips, best odds, free bets and no deposit bonuses on the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.
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MARES NOVICES HURDLE BETTING PREVIEW
It's a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race open to mares and fillies, run over two miles and one furlong, for horses aged four years and upwards. This race was created to attract the top novice mares in the United Kingdom, and presents a showcase of future mare talent that will be aimed at either the Mares Hurdle or the Champion Hurdle.
Hence, it is a great starting point for mares who are just short of top class, and unable to take on the boys in one of the open novice races.
And now we take a closer look at this year's Ryanair Mares' Novices Hurdle and try to determine which horse is likely to prevail.
Who will win the Mares Novices Hurdle 2025?
SIXANDAHALF achieved a high level of form on the Flat, winning three times as well as finishing a close third in the Irish Cesarewitch on the flat in September. He looked classy when scoring by 12 lengths on her hurdles debut at Fairyhouse.
MAUGHREEN has certainly made a promising start. Highly touted since winning a bumper at Punchestown last January, the six-year-old made her eagerly-anticipated hurdling bow at the same track recording an easy win last month.
JUBILEE ALPHA won both of her hurdles starts s at Taunton and Windsor. She had smart bumper form last season and was third in a Listed race at Newbury on her hurdles bow in November.
JP McManus' KAROLINE BANBOU has so far had two appearances in public after transferring from France in October. She was beaten at odds on in her first start in Ireland, headed in the final strides by Baby Kate and not completely fluent in jumping. She made no mistake at the second time of asking, making all for a comfortable victory at Fairyhouse last month.
McManus' colours could also be carried into battle by KOM TU VOUDRAS and VENUSIENNE, both of whom placed in French races before being sent to Willie Mullins.
AURORA VEGA has won back-to-back races, recently landing the SBK Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle for the duo of Paul Townend and Willie Mullins. There is plenty of room for improvement here, so we believe this horse is heavily overpriced.
Joseph O'Brien's GALILEO DAME is yet to win over hurdles but her 2nd place behind Hello Neighbour in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival was an impressive performance.
Dark horses?
JUST A ROSE won a point-to-point the previous December and produced an eye-catching performance on debut at Taunton while HOLLYGROVE CHA CHA recently won the Jane Seymour, the same race won by subsequent Mares' Novices' Hudle winner You Wear It Well two years ago.
Ben Pauling's DIVA LUNA has only won one of her three starts over hurdles but she beat Jubilee Alpha in the Grade Two Mares' Bumper at Aintree.
Henry De Bromhead's AIR OF ENTITLEMENT couldn't have been more impressive in making a winning hurdles debut at Down Royal over Christmas. She recorded a three-and-a-half lengths victory over Gordon Elliott's Ballybow without ever coming out of second gear.
Two-time hurdles winner BLUEY could run for Emma Lavelle, while other horse to follow are TAREZE, KARAMOJA, KIMI DE MAI and JANE EIRE.
Latest Odds
At the moment, the most backed horses are the following:
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MARES NOVICES HURDLE TRENDS
The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is one of the newest additions to the Cheltenham Festival, having only been introduced in 2016. Of course, there are not so many trends to take into account.
- 3 of the 8 favourites won
- 5 of the 8 winners returned 5/1 or shorter
- 5 of the last 8 winners won last time out
- 6 of the 8 winners were trained in Ireland - five by Willie Mullins - bet the last two in UK
- All 8 winners had never won at Cheltenham before - only two had run
- 5 of the 8 winners were rated 140 or higher
MARES NOVICES HURDLE PREDICTIONS
Find here our recommended bets on the Mares' Novices' Hurdle 2025. Feel free to copy our Cheltenham Festival free picks and get the highest odds available on the market by clicking the 'Bet' button! Plus, we invite you to follow our Horse Racing NAP of the Day section.
Ruby Walsh's Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tips
Cheltenham Festival’s winning-most jockey turned TV pundit Ruby Walsh have shared his tips:
"Paul Townend has gone for Aurora Vega over Maughreen, probably because she has more experience. I like AIR OF ENTITLEMENT each-way for Henry de Bromhead. Her form from Down Royal on St Stephens’ Day is pretty strong. She’s a strong stayer and you need stamina on the New Course."
2025 MARES' NOVICES HURDLE FREE BETS
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2025 CHELTENHAM DAY 3 TIPS AND PREDICTIONS
Are you looking for all the 2025 Cheltenham predictions? Visit our Cheltenham betting tips section here!
2025 MARES' NOVICES HURDLE FAQs
What time is the Mares' Novices Hurdle?
The Mares' Novices Hurdle is the 1st race run on Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival. That falls on Thursday March 13, 2025 and the official starting time is 1:20pm.
How many obstacles are jumped in the Mares' Novices Hurdle?
There are 8 obstacles to jump for the Mares' Novices Hurdle runners
What is the distance of the Mares' Novices Hurdle?
The Mares' Novices Hurdle is run on a distance of 2 miles and 1 furlong
What is the prize money for the Mares' Novices Hurdle?
The total prize money on offer for the Mares' Novices Hurdle at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival will be £105,000.
Who won the Mares' Novices Hurdle last year?
Last year's renewal was won by Golden Ace at SP of 16/1, trained by Jeremy Scott and ridden by Lorcan Williams.
What weights are carried for the Mares' Novices Hurdle?
11 st 2 lb (5yo+). 10 st 9 lb (4yo).
Who is the leading jockey in the Mares' Novices Hurdle?
The now retired Ruby Walsh has won the first two editions of the race. His substitute Paul Townend won the 2018 renewal.
Who is the leading trainer in the Mares' Novices Hurdle?
Willie Mullins trained 5 out of 9 winners so far. Four years ago Henry de Bromhead saddled the first and second, while last year he saddled the third.
