2017 Mares Hurdle

[Kevloaf]

Definitely has said "stick to her own sex" ... cut across the board for OLGB mares race too... not concrete I suppose.

A contest? I don't want that... It is the double or nothing race Quevega saved many a first day before I knew what I was doing... (debatable haha)

[jono]

Ah yes I do remember that quote now. Have to be honest I quickly took it as reverting to mares races just to get her back on track but no reason to say that's the case.

Haha!! No need to rely on the mares race this year...just stick it all on the best mare there is - Annie, in the race beforehand

[Kevloaf]

Yeah to be honest you're probably right! I forget sometimes that not every single quote is about Cheltenham...

I hope Limini or VVM turn up from my pockets point of view! I might need a bit on Karalee though because if Limini is being saved for a few races on the flat, and VVM is needed elsewhere, and Annie is defending her crown.... 12s available...

Also, interesting that Kotkikova is a sea of blue too.... Billymag opened this thread up with 16s and now in to 10s... must be a good sign?

[billymag]

Hoping the money yesterday is a sign she is going here, with Bloody Mary out injured it would make sense to go for this race, but she's a grade 1 winner over fences, so it really is up in the air unfortunately. Nicky said before the season he was favouring the mares race but needed to talk to JP, so have to sit this one out for a while yet! But ive said before if we knew her target was this race she would be my best bet of the festival at or around the current prices.

[Kevloaf]

I hope you're right billy because I followed you in at 16s!

Nicky and JP don't really rush any horse do they, and having a go at breaking the Mullins monopoly on this, now grade 1, wouldn't be the strangest thing ever... any news on declarations for the horse

?

[jono]

She's Otto runs today in the 12:40 at Fairyhouse. She was flagged up by Patrick Mullins a month or so back saying if she was with their yard she'd be right up there with the best of theirs. Could be a contender for the Mares Novice race, especially if she was to turn over the favourite today

[Kevloaf]

Looked held today by Asthuria.... she was around 12/1 or 10/1 before that race today for the mares novice... now 6/7/8s ... still some 10s available...

Interesting to see if Patrick talks it up again, as he did rate She's Otto on the FF podcast.

[jono]

I'm yet to watch the race but very keen to as from the sounds of it Asthuria was hugely impressive. There's not much to go on on form yet but if She's Otto does turn out to be good then Asthuria could be a very talented horse. She beat She's Otto by 6L and they were 27L's ahead of the third place horse.

The form of She's Ottos win at Gowran in February doesn't jump out at you but has included 3 wins and 7 placed horses (from 29 runs) so ok. The main attraction was the impression she made on Patrick Mullins. I take quite an interest in jockeys that are in a big stable, get a ride outside of the yard and then specifically mention them. There's so much talent in the Mullins yard, especially mares that to highlight another when they can relate them back to all the horses they have is worth taking note for me (also another plus into why i'm liking Jenkins)

So this has made me take notice of the winner today Asthuria (to be honest hadn't heard of her before today) - she was pitched straight into a grade 1 on her first run early this year so clearly made a strong impression in the yard and although she finished 13L back in third the winner Jers Girl is having her form franked lately (O O Seven at Cheltenham)

Looking forward to watching the race over later tonight

[jono]

Just watched the race, very taken with Asthuria.

Couldn't think of backing her antepost though. It's bad enough there are at least 5-6 contenders from just the Mullins stable who could target the novice mares race, then add in horses like La Bague Au Roi from other stables. Now to make it even harder there's talk of Asthuria potentially going for the longer 2m4 trip and the Mares race on the Tuesday.

[Kevloaf]

Same conclusion. If thought of as good enough for the mares race the mares novice race odds of 10s (genreally 8s) will look good but no interest to me...

In that novice race I am on Camelia de Cotte at 33/1 ... .backed it after reading the Ricci blog and it is now 8/1. Mental, not heard a peep about it other than Ricci eluding to it shortening and him not knowing why... anyone know why it shortened? (Was it just mug punters like me backing it based on the owners comments?)

"A filly by Laveron who will be aimed at Mares novice hurdles this season. Raced once in
a 3yo fillies hurdle last December at Pau where she ran an eye catching race. Given time
to mature she will stick to mares’ novice hurdles this season and it would be nice to think
she could make up into a Dawn Run horse, or indeed the Fairyhouse Grade 1 at Easter
over further."

[jono]

I remember Ricci saying that on ATR, can't argue with that price at all Kev.

Talking of Mares and linking back to Asthuria - anyone know anything about Jers Girl long term aim? Has the Mares Hurdle been raised or are the aiming higher? To me she seemed to relish the 2m4 trip at the backend of last season. She missed her intended run last weekend and a few days ago the trainer came out with

She's in the Morgiana next week, hopefully she'll go there,

If not, she may go to Fairyhouse (Hatton's Grace), but hopefully the Morgiana. Hopefully we'll have her right for next week and long term it shouldn't make too much difference.

She's versatile regarding trip. She stays well but she doesn't lack gears, either option is fine for her.

I don't know how heavy she needs it - she was very good at Punchestown on nice ground

So it could be the Morgiana against Annie or the Hattons Grace against Faugheen so being thrown into the deep end in open company!

[Vanilla]

I hope it's the stable's money which has caused the shortening of Camelia De Cotte's.

Her race video is on youtube. Fast finishing into third.

I am on board also.

[Kevloaf]

JP certainly isn't scared of taking anything on is he.

I suppose results will determine her long term aim, pretty hard one to predict at the moment.

You got a link for that video Vanilla?

[Aldie1988]

Augusta Kate penciled in for Thurles 2pm tomorrow @ 2m 7f ?? Didn't see that trip coming for her!

[Kevloaf]

Doesn't look like she is up against much.... might win in spite of the trip?