Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is the opening race on day 3 at the Cheltenham Festival. The race was first established in 2016 as a new race to expand the festival schedule to 28 races. It is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle that is open to both mares and fillies. Former jockey Ruby Walsh is the only rider to taste victory more than once in this race.

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Overview

The Dawn Run Mare’s Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 2 hurdle open to fillies and mares aged four years or older and is run over a distance of 2 miles and 179 yards on the new course during which there are eight hurdles to be jumped.

The winner’s prize money is likely to be around £59,000 and the race is run on day three of the Festival, usually as the sixth of seven races. The race is named after Dawn Run who was the most successful mare in National Hunt history winning not only the Champion Hurdle but also the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Betting Trends and Statistics

• Ireland won the first 6 runnings of this relatively new race, but Britain has taken the last 3 renewals with Golden Ace winning the latest renewal in 2024.
• All 9 winners have been aged 5 or 6 years old.
• Willie Mullins won the first 5 runnings but has been out of luck since.
• Nicky Henderson has a poor record in the race which reads 0-13 including two beaten favourites in Epatante and Luccia whilst leading owner J P McManus is 0-9.
• Five of the nine winners were unbeaten during that current season.
• Surprisingly 4 of the 9 winners were second season novices.
• French breds have a decent record in the race winning 4 of the 9 renewals with 5 starting their career in France.
• Favourites won the first three renewals, but the last six runnings have been a mixed bag with a 16/1 and 50/1 winner amongst them.
• The winner is likely to be seen back the following year to challenge for the Mares’ Hurdle.

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle History

One of the newest races at the Festival, the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle was first run in 2016 expanding the meeting to 28 races (four days of seven on each). The race was sponsored by Trull House Stud for the first three years followed by Tattersalls before Daylesford took over for the 2020 renewal. Parnell Properties sponsored the race in 2021 before Ryanair stepped in to sponsor in 2022 and has done so since.

The 2023 renewal was named in memory of 13-year-old Jack De Bromhead, son of trainer Henry, who sadly lost his life in a point-to-point accident whilst racing on Rossbeigh Beach the previous year.

Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Winners