What are the trends ahead of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle? Read here for race statistics, a history of the race, and the trainer with the most wins in the race.
A Grade 2 race first introduced in 2016, the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle doesn’t have the extensive history of some of the other races at the Cheltenham Festival. However, there’s still enough information for Cheltenham bettors to absorb, which can help to inform decisions when looking at Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle betting markets.
Key Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle trends to be aware of
So, what do the stats say about what makes a Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winner? In a nutshell:
Every victor here has been five or six years old
All of the winners finished in the top three in their previous race
Curiously, the majority of winners have competed without any head gear
In general, horses that have fared well in this race have competed in the last 30 to 60 days
Meanwhile, fitness is a key component, so it’s paramount that the horses you pick are experienced in competing in races over two miles. Equally, make sure you look into the track record of the competing horses in similar races – this has generally been a good indicator of success, with recent form making a significant difference.
Does the favourite usually win the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle?
No, the favourite doesn’t usually win in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. In fact, you have to go back to 2018 for the last time the favourite won this event. The last three race winners have been 10/1 or longer and in 2019, Eglantine Du Seuil won as a 50/1 outsider.
The favourite won the first three events – including odds-on favourites winning two of these (Limini winning in 2016 and Laurina winning in 2018) – but we haven’t seen a favourite win the race in the last seven years.
Interestingly, the favourite finished as runner-up in 2024 and 2025, though. Meanwhile, Minella Melody’s 18th in 2020 is the worst performance by a favourite in this race and the only time the favourite has finished outside the top 10.
What is the average age of a Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winning horse?
The average age for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is 5.6 years. Each of the first four winners were five years old; but since then, all six race winners have been six years old. Bettors should keep this in mind when analysing the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle markets.
How many Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winners won last time out?
Seven of the 10 winners in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle won their previous outing, though all 10 of the winners of this event finished in the top three in their last race.
Form is pivotal for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle; in the race’s relatively short history, recent victories have been a good indicator of performance.
When did Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winners last compete?
Four of the last five Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winners have had between 28 days and 39 days since their last race – and eight of the ten winners raced within the last two months.
Air Of Entitlement, the 2025 winner, ran its last race two-and-a-half months before the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. In 2024, Golden Ace competed 36 days before the race, while 2023 champion You Wear It Well had exactly a month between winning at Sandown and winning the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
With 180 days since its last race, 2019 victor Eglantine du Seuil had the longest gap between races before winning the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
Are Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winners usually British or Irish trained?
Interestingly, seven of the ten Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle winners so far have been Irish trained – of which five came in the first five editions of the race, through Willie Mullins’. Henry de Bromhead also trained winners in 2021 and 2025.
Harry Fry, Jamie Snowden, and Jeremy Scott account for the three wins by British trainers.
Which trainer has had the most success in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle?
Willie Mullins is by far the most successful trainer in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, with five wins to his name – which came between 2016 and 2020 with five different horses (Limini, Let’s Dance, Laurina, Eglantine du Seuil, and Concertista).
Why is it important to consider Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle trends?
Trends and statistics should be a cornerstone of any bettor’s research when looking to wager on the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle. Previous results can help to predict future outcomes and can provide angles to analyse.
For instance, horses need to have a track record over a race of this distance, but need to have had at least a month since their last outing. It’s rare that horses with a break longer than two months have won this race.
Equally, the majority of winners have won their last race, and every previous winner has at least been competitive of late. Neglecting these facts make it much harder to properly evaluate the betting markets. Of course, you can also absorb more expert analysis through our Cheltenham blog!
