16:10 Cheltenham

Tuesday 15 March 2022

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 45.4s

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Selected odds by:

Burning Victory^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143| C| D

6/1

2020 Triumph winner who was an excellent second in Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Flat last autumn. Back to winning ways over hurdles when seeing off Queens Brook at Punchestown latest. Should go well.

Form: 1/7-7031

Echoes In Rain^h,t³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150

7/1

Won Punchestown Grade 1 novice last spring. Has found life tougher in open company this winter but latest 7 lengths third to Honeysucke in Irish Champion very creditable. Up in trip.

Form: 111-343

Heaven Help Us³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D E Mullins| T: P Hennessy| OR: 147| C

22/1

Last year's Coral Cup winner. Not up to the Irish Champion at Leopardstown last time but prior to that she'd split Royal Kahala and Telmesomethinggirl there over Christmas. Place claims.

Form: 10-6425

Indefatigable³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: P R Webber| OR: 146| BF| CD

40/1

Won Martin Pipe at 2020 Festival and good fourth in this 12 months ago. Added to her very good track record when narrowly denied by Martello Sky in 2½m handicap in December. Should give running.

Form: 72-1623

Marie's Rock^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140| BF

18/1

Back on track since upped to 21f, winning Kempton handicap and Warwick listed event (badly hampered when pulled up early in between). This demands more but is unexposed at the trip.

Form: 3-371P1

Martello Sky⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 143| CD

16/1

Improving mare who received 5 lb when edging out Indefatigable in a course handicap in December. Made it 3-4 for the season with small-field Sandown listed event win since.

Form: 81-1411

Mrs Milner^t¹⁰⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Cooper| T: P Nolan| OR: 144| C

14/1

Bolted up in the Pertemps Final at 2021 Festival. Made a winning return in Limerick mares' listed event in autumn but off since 15¼ lengths fourth in 3m Newbury Grade 2 in November.

Form: 24F1-14

Nada To Prada^p⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: R Patrick| T: M Scudamore| OR: 126

300/1

Listed novice hurdle winner last term but hasn't gone on from a promising start over fences and faces a very stiff task back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 113-244

Queens Brook²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J W Kennedy| T: G Elliott| OR: 142| D

4/1

Saw off smart Ciel de Neige at Fairyhouse in November and warmed up for this with a good 1½ lengths second of 5 to Burning Victory at Punchestown (20.5f) last month. Heading in right direction.

Form: 123-212

Stormy Ireland⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: P Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 150| CD

7/2

Won at Fairyhouse and Punchestown last spring and back to that sort of level when landing Grade 2 Relkeel over 2½m here on New Year's Day. Another solid contender for the stable.

Form: 9211-61

Telmesomethinggirl⁷⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 145| C| D

4/1

2021 Dawn Run winner. Very good 1¼ lengths third to Royal Kahala and Heaven Help Us at Leopardstown over Christmas. Gave weight to the latter then and can turn the tables off levels. Leading claims.

Form: 1315-53

Western Victory⁴⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 137

200/1

Useful hurdler who ended her time with Declan Queally in top form but has struggled at Grade 2 level in 2 runs since joining this yard. Likely up against it again.

Form: 213143

Forecasts

Stormy Ireland (7/2), Queens Brook (4/1), Telmesomethinggirl (4/1), Burning Victory (6/1), Echoes In Rain (7/1), Mrs Milner (14/1), Martello Sky (16/1), Marie's Rock (18/1), Heaven Help Us (22/1), Indefatigable (40/1), Western Victory (200/1), Nada To Prada (300/1)

Last year's Dawn Run winner TELMESOMETHINGGIRL came out clear best at the weights when third in a Leopardstown Grade 3 over Christmas and a repeat of that form might be good enough here. Queens Brook may have just needed it when beaten by Burning Victory at Punchestown last month and can turn the tables on Willie Mullins' charge and fill the forecast spot. Stormy Ireland completes the shortlist.