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In recent times the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle has been in the firing line as it's deemed to be a race that dilutes the Festival as it takes away the quality Mares who could run in the Champion races like the Champion Hurdle or Stayers'. For me, this is one of the best races of the week and we should enjoy it.
This year's renewal is top-class. We have so many quality mares on show. Will it be a winning farewell from Honeysuckle, or will one of the new up-and-comers steal her thunder?
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Cheltenham 4:10 – Marie's Rock 9/4 (2pt)
I'll kickstart the Preview with Brandy Love. This horse is definitely better going left-handed, so to see her running at Cheltenham will see her in a better light. She has jumped violently to the left in the past and does tend to hang to that side as well. She battered Love Envoi when they met last year at Fairyhouse, but hadn't been seen for a while until showing up a couple of weeks ago at Punchestown when finishing 3rd.
She was carrying a big weight that day due to the penalty for her Grade 1 win, so was always going to be a tough task, but I think she had to do much better that day if she wanted to put her claims forward for winning today's race as I don't think Queen's Brook is as good as what others make her out to be and Anna Bunina isn't a Grade 1 Mare either and she passed her close home. She definitely would've needed the run, but I wanted more from her that day. Paul Townend rides, which isn't a shock, but I'd rather ride another Mullins horse if I was him.
Echoes In Rain is a good horse on her day and would be a big player in this if she settles. She has a high cruising speed, as we saw in the Fairyhouse Grade 1 when she fell a couple from home. She was going to play a big part in that race, which saw Honeysuckle lose and Teahupoo win. She was too free in this race last year which was won by Marie's Rock, and on soft ground, she might struggle to stay the trip.
I'm sure many of you reading will want Honeysuckle to win. She has been a legend of the sport and has hit the front and back pages of many newspapers over the last couple of years with her partner in crime, Rachael Blackmore. However, she is on the decline, and even though she is still running well in defeat, I think her time has come to pass the crown on. I think she will run a big race like she has done in the last two races when she was beaten.
She is a previous two-time Champion Hurdle winner, but in hindsight and I might get a lot of hate for this, but was she really that good, or was she lucky to be around at the time of a poor 2m – 2m 4f division? I thought she was lucky to not get beat in this race in 2020 when Benie Des Dieux finished second. I thought Rachael stole that race when going up the inside, she obviously went on a huge win streak after that, but I think there is at least one better horse in this race today.
Marie's Rock is the real deal in my eyes. I was always against her in recent times as she was known to be quite keen through her races, and that really put me off, but she has matured a lot and has learned to settle. She won this race last year, ruining my day when beating my tip Queen's Brook in the final furlong, but after that, I then realised how good this Mare is. She then went to Punchestown to collect a second Grade 1, winning in strong staying style as the leader was 10L ahead when turning for home, she beat Epatante that day, and I can't see a reverse in that form either. She handles soft ground, as we all saw when she battered the Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, winning by 6L and winning it under hands and heels. That form isn't fantastic by any means, but I think she's hit new heights of form and will be tough to beat if repeating anywhere near that level.
You have horses who will want the rain to keep falling like Love Envoi, but I don't think she's that good. She won the Mares' Novice race last year and is 2/2 this year, but I think people think she is better than what she is. Her form isn't out of this world, and though she is a strong stayer and will love the ground, she lacks the class in my opinion. She might grab a place if lucky.
