The E.B.F. Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle Series culminates in a final which is run over two miles and about four and a half furlongs at Newbury on Saturday, March 23rd, 2019.

Qualification for the final requires horses to have finished in the first six in an E.B.F. Mares’ ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ or a Maiden Hurdle Race Series Qualifier during the current season.

Many decent mares have progressed through the training ranks after featuring in this final, none more recently than Roksana who won the OLBG Mares’ Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) at the recent Cheltenham Festival.

Mares Novices Hurdle

 

  • Age – 11/12 winners were aged 5 or 6.
  • Price – 5/12 favourites/joint favourites have won, 8/12 winners were in the top 3 in the horse racing betting.
  • Rating – 10/12 winners were rated 120 or higher.
  • Last Run – 6 of the last 12 winners won on their last run before the Mares Novice Hurdle Finale
  • Previous Course Form – 4/12 winners had at least 1 previous run at Newbury, 0/12 winners had at least 1 previous win at Newbury.
  • Season Form – 11/12 winners had at least 3 runs that season, 12/12 winners had at least 1 win that season.

 

Runner-By-Runner Guide:

Annie Mc (Jonjo O'Neill)

Won by an impressive 18 lengths at Chepstow in January but failed to produce anything like that in her following race at Exeter, where she went off the 11/8 favourite.

Owned by the Coral Champions Club, the mare will have to put her last race to bed quickly to figure here.

 

Our Dot's Baby (Jeremy Scott)

Winner of two of her five career starts already and a winner at Newbury last time out.

She is definitely a horse in good form at the moment, but at the age of seven does not fit the usual age profile- unless she does a Briery Queen (2016).

 

The White Mouse (Lucy Wadham)

Winner of a three runner affair at Doncaster at the start of March beating Oscar Rose by a comfortable 4 lengths.

Her trainer enjoyed a rich vein of form in February but the winners have dried up a little bit in the last couple of weeks. Has to be respected.

 

A Little Chaos (Stuart Edmunds)

Started the season off slowly before the penny finally dropped and she won her last two races. Has scope for improvement and may well get overlooked in the betting.

 

Outofthisworld (Harry Fry)

So this mare could potentially be Noel Fehily’s last big race winner right?

Noel hangs up his boots at the end of proceedings on Saturday after riding this two-time winning mare to victory. Who writes these fairytale endings?

 

Oscar Rose (Fergal O'Brien)

Forever the bridesmaid but never the bride since her win at Wincanton back in October. She is certainly one of the most experienced mares in the field but may just come up short again. One for the forecast backers.

 

Off The Hook (Nick Alexander)

A rare venture down south for this trainer which is highly significant point in itself.

Off The Hook was last seen in January when winning a seventeen runner National Hunt Maiden at Ayr and has not been placed out of the top three in her last seven starts. Daughter, Lucy Alexander takes the ride.

 

Millarville (Oliver Sherwood)

Finished third to The Cull Bank at Fontwell and the latter franked that form again this week. Owned by the Million In Mind Partnership who have tasted successes at Newbury before.

 

She Mite Bite (Nicky Henderson)

Six-year-old mare out of Scorpion who has made a decent enough impact in her fledgling career thus far.

Held every chance when she was brought down last time and there is no reason why she shouldn’t bounce back. Hails from a stable you simply cannot ignore.

 

Maebh (Seamus Mullins)

I was lucky enough to see this mare win on her second start at Wetherby and have followed her fortunes ever since.

She finished last season being highly tried at Aintree in the Grade 2 Mares’ NH Flat race where she finished down the field, but so did quality horse like Posh Trish.

Never competitive over 3 miles at Doncaster last time but will appreciate the drop back in trip. Holds a big priced each-way chance.

 

Sweet Verdare (Victor Dartnall)

Victor Dartnall told Paul Webber that this mare was the best he had ever trained when she dead-heated with Webber’s runner, so make of that what you may.

Knocking on the door on her last two runs, she has to be given some consideration.

 

Etamine Du Cochet (Harry Skelton)

Trainer is doubly represented this year and will hoping for a repeat of last year’s success.

Looks a little bit too short in the betting given that one or two of these have already finished in front of her this season.

 

Bee Crossing (Michael Scudamore)

Changed stables over the summer and has not been seen since finishing in fifth place at Kelso in December. Looks up against it in this company.

 

Meep Meep (Tom Lacey)

Finished a close fourth in the Aintree NH Flat race mentioned earlier and has run with credit against some useful types this season.

Can be forgiven her last performance in desperate ground at Haydock and her trainer knows how to ready one for the big occasion.

 

Sixty's Belle (Alan King)

Ran with promise behind Loveherandleaveher at Huntingdon last time and is entitled to come on for that run. Favourably weighted and could run a big race.

 

So Lonely (Dan Skelton)

Trainer/jockey combined last year to take this race which gives punters an element of hope. Six times a runner-up in eleven starts is the big worry however.

 

Conclusion:

Mares’ Hurdles are difficult at the best of times but a Mares’ Final is one hell of a conundrum, but we all love a challenge!

Maebh gets my main each-way vote based on the reasons stipulated above, while Meep Meep will also be joining her on my betting slip as a second each-way alternative.

888sport suggests: Maebh and Meep Meep (e/w).

Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.