Cheltenham Festival: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Tips

Concertista was probably my best bet of the festival last year and her win in the Mares Novice Hurdle was certainly the most impressive, winning by half the track.

I think I backed her at about 15-2 for that race but sadly the cat is out of the bag now and we have nothing like those odds to get stuck into in a race which is harder to win.

I will be with her and have already put her into some multiple bets for the week but I won't advise a bet at a shade of odds on as she is just now.

If you can get a price boost or the bookies get carried away on Tuesday and offer 6/4 or higher then I would get involved.

Roksana is the main rival but I think she really wants 3 miles these days and Concertista will have far too much speed for her.

The sensible each way angle at the moment is perhaps BLACK TEARS who is a classy mare and ran well at the festival last year, just being edged out by Dame De Compagnie who also runs here but at a much shorter price.

I'm going to have a small each way on Black Tears because I think she is overpriced and if Concertista slips up for whatever reason I think she could take advantage.

It also looks like MY SISTER SARAH runs here which is a bit of a disappointment for me because I fancied her as a live shout for the County Hurdle on Friday.

She has been priced up at 50-1 which I think is very generous so I'll have to have a small each way bet on her.

Voice of  Value's Mares' Hurdle Tips

• Black Tears 1pt ew at 14/1 with William Hill
• My Sister Sarah 0.5pt ew at 50-1 with William Hill

It is hard to see past the Mullins-trained CONCERTISTA on the back of her towering performance in last year’s Dawn Run Novices’ Hurdle.

She has won both starts this campaign and is a very worthy favourite.

Dan Skelton’s Roksana has been a credit to the yard and probably arrives in better nick than last year, when only fourth to Honeysuckle.

Her third to Paisley Park and Thyme Hill at Ascot is top-drawer form and she is not to be under-estimated.

For each-way backers, Dame De Compagne and Black Tears, the first two home in last year’s Coral Cup, might be worth a dabble.

Dame De Compagne reverts to hurdles following two outings over fences, while Black Tears has twice gone well at the Festival, finishing fourth in the 2019 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (only two lengths adrift of runner-up Concertista).

Thommo's Mares' Hurdle Tip

• Concertista 11/10 (Casumo)

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