Mares Hurdle 2021

[Lobos]

Remember Benie going to Carlisle a few years ago for a Listed chase and she was very good.

What a bet she must have been that day!

[jono]

Just the news of Honeysuckle staying hurdling felt like the first bit of National Hunt 'action' to get me excited since the festival

I've taken the 7/2 for Honeysuckle here following the news.
I think it's a decent price, as much as 7/2 can be this far out.

Her and Benie des Dieux are way ahead of the rest of the Mares. And despite the likes of Concertista, Dame de Compagnie and Burning Ambition all bringing festival wins into the division next season, I can see that gap staying put. They'll have a strong challenge just to get to the level of the likes of Stormy Ireland and Elfile first and we know those 2 are well held at the head of the division.

I had Benie Des Dieux down as a banker last season BUT I did say prior to the race that really 3 miles is her ideal trip. Now she can still compete at a high level over shorter but against the very best, I think it just becomes a slight negative. And I think for all the talk of race tactics that day, she may well have come across those circumstances in Honeysuckle. A horse who you'd say looks to have the intermediate distance as her optimum. That is only going to increase going into the new season given their respective ages.

For all I am certainly not dismissing Benie, a 10 year old mare (who can often be a little more quirky as they get older), who has her stand out form over 3 miles is on a different trajectory to Honeysuckle.

7/2 in a 2 horse division, where the other leading contender has been beaten and has question marks to consider...


I've also had half a point on the Honeysuckle (here) and Benie (mares chase) double Kev mentioned.
I do remember connections stating her wellness and recovery between races was helped switching back to hurdles.And that prior to that she had had a few issues training:

Benie Des Dieux jumps a fence brilliantly but the problem she has is when she jumps, she puts so much pressure on her hind-quarters and has the equivalent of a muscle tear.

She is undefeated for us but has only run over fences until today. It was that sort of thing that led us to believe that we can't keep her straight - we really wanted to run her in the Ryanair and, order to keep her sound, we decided that we would give hurdles a go.

Which would be in the back of my mind for Benie going for the Mares chase and makes me fairly reluctant to get too involved with her for it...for now. Approaching 10 years old. That concern, and possibility is only have going to increased you'd imagine?

The flip side to that is the race may look there for the taking, given the news on Honeysuckle and with the pair well clear of any mares currently in training (Epatante aside). We know Willie Mullins has no concerns with going to the festival without a run (albeit primarily over hurdles), especially Mares and of course Benie herself in 2019. She's only had 1 run pre-festival in the last 2 seasons. She's got chasing experience already so the likelihood of sending her straight to the festival for the Mares chase could easily come into play and this could alleviate the concerns they once had.

And although it hasn't happened (so you can probably just ignore this ) the comments at the back end of the 2018 and 2019 seasons have pointed to her going back over fences so it clearly something connections have kept on their minds.

May 2018

Mullins replied: "I want to see what there is over fences for her. Are there races for her over fences that I want to go for?"

Owner Rich Ricci would certainly love to see her back over fences. He said: "She was very good and it was a great win. I've always liked the mare and would like to see her back over a fence. That's her game.

May 2019

Mullins added: "I would definitely be tempted to send Benie over fences again at some stage, but we will have to wait and see how she is next season. I don't like to look too far ahead with her."

I'd be shocked if she were to be in training for the 2021/22 season at 11 years old so it's surely going to be her last season in training.
So now more than ever they may well be looking towards the easiest race for her. Which would have to be the Mares chase all things considered.

[Saxon Warrior]

I just picked up the WPM stable tour from ten days pre-Festival (29th Feb 2020) On Racing TV site.

Relating to Benie De Dieux, Willie said.

“I curtailed her chasing career because it is easier to win money and keep them sound over hurdles.
She has not raced a lot and that is because I had soundness issues with her.

It is all very well planning difficult races for her, but I have got her to a stage now where I can run her two or three times a year, and I would like to stay at that.

If she ever went chasing again, she could line up in a Gold Cup any day of the week. Three miles and two furlongs would not be any trouble to her.“

It doesn’t rule out chasing but places keeping sound by running over hurdles above going chasing.

Who knows whether he is of the same mind after losing to Honeysuckle narrowly 10 days later.

[ComplyOrDie]

I just picked up the WPM stable tour from ten days pre-Festival (29th Feb 2020) On Racing TV site.

Relating to Benie De Dieux, Willie said.

“I curtailed her chasing career because it is easier to win money and keep them sound over hurdles.
She has not raced a lot and that is because I had soundness issues with her.

It is all very well planning difficult races for her, but I have got her to a stage now where I can run her two or three times a year, and I would like to stay at that.

If she ever went chasing again, she could line up in a Gold Cup any day of the week. Three miles and two furlongs would not be any trouble to her.“

It doesn’t rule out chasing but places keeping sound by running over hurdles above going chasing.

Who knows whether he is of the same mind after losing to Honeysuckle narrowly 10 days later.

If the Gold Cup wouldn't be a problem then the Stayers' has to be on the cards too. She'd get her Mares allowance also.

I cashed out my Honeysuckle (Mares), BDD (Stayers') and Shishkin (Arkle) Trixie just last week as too many unknowns now that news

May have to go back in now!

[Lobos]

Just the news of Honeysuckle staying hurdling felt like the first bit of National Hunt 'action' to get me excited since the festival

I've taken the 7/2 for Honeysuckle here following the news.
I think it's a decent price, as much as 7/2 can be this far out.

Her and Benie des Dieux are way ahead of the rest of the Mares. And despite the likes of Concertista, Dame de Compagnie and Burning Ambition all bringing festival wins into the division next season, I can see that gap staying put. They'll have a strong challenge just to get to the level of the likes of Stormy Ireland and Elfile first and we know those 2 are well held at the head of the division.

I had Benie Des Dieux down as a banker last season BUT I did say prior to the race that really 3 miles is her ideal trip. Now she can still compete at a high level over shorter but against the very best, I think it just becomes a slight negative. And I think for all the talk of race tactics that day, she may well have come across those circumstances in Honeysuckle. A horse who you'd say looks to have the intermediate distance as her optimum. That is only going to increase going into the new season given their respective ages.

For all I am certainly not dismissing Benie, a 10 year old mare (who can often be a little more quirky as they get older), who has her stand out form over 3 miles is on a different trajectory to Honeysuckle.

7/2 in a 2 horse division, where the other leading contender has been beaten and has question marks to consider...


I've also had half a point on the Honeysuckle (here) and Benie (mares chase) double Kev mentioned.
I do remember connections stating her wellness and recovery between races was helped switching back to hurdles.And that prior to that she had had a few issues training:



Which would be in the back of my mind for Benie going for the Mares chase and makes me fairly reluctant to get too involved with her for it...for now. Approaching 10 years old. That concern, and possibility is only have going to increased you'd imagine?

The flip side to that is the race may look there for the taking, given the news on Honeysuckle and with the pair well clear of any mares currently in training (Epatante aside). We know Willie Mullins has no concerns with going to the festival without a run (albeit primarily over hurdles), especially Mares and of course Benie herself in 2019. She's only had 1 run pre-festival in the last 2 seasons. She's got chasing experience already so the likelihood of sending her straight to the festival for the Mares chase could easily come into play and this could alleviate the concerns they once had.

And although it hasn't happened (so you can probably just ignore this ) the comments at the back end of the 2018 and 2019 seasons have pointed to her going back over fences so it clearly something connections have kept on their minds.

May 2018


May 2019


I'd be shocked if she were to be in training for the 2021/22 season at 11 years old so it's surely going to be her last season in training.
So now more than ever they may well be looking towards the easiest race for her. Which would have to be the Mares chase all things considered.

Fabulous write up. Clearly Benie could turn up anywhere but for me her best chance and maybe her swansong will be the Mares Chase and possibly even without a run as you say. Personally think they will be heading down the Churdle route with Honey but I don't think she'll be quick enough to beat the best and will slip back into the Mares Hurdle for the festival.

[Hardy Eustace]

If i had to rank the likelyhood in order of what race I think Bennie will end up in I would go:

1) Mares Hurdle
2) Stayers Hurdle
3) Champion Hurdle
4) Mares Chase
5) Gold Cup

Just how I see it 8 months out and plenty could change!

[Faugheen_Machine]

If i had to rank the likelyhood in order of what race I think Bennie will end up in I would go:

1) Mares Hurdle
2) Stayers Hurdle
3) Champion Hurdle
4) Mares Chase
5) Gold Cup

Just how I see it 8 months out and plenty could change!

I'd have it similar HE, although CH least likely for me. Think it just shows how risky it'll be backing her ante post

[Saxon Warrior]

If i had to rank the likelyhood in order of what race I think Bennie will end up in I would go:

1) Mares Hurdle
2) Stayers Hurdle
3) Champion Hurdle
4) Mares Chase
5) Gold Cup

Just how I see it 8 months out and plenty could change!

I had
1) Mares Hurdle
2) Stayers Hurdle
and that’s it.

[nortonscoin200]

I still think it's odds-on that Benie turns up in the Mares Hurdle again.

Look at the evidence.

This has been the race chosen by Willie for the last three years - and Benie could have already notched a hat-trick but for a last flight fall and alleged pilot error in March.

Why change her programme at the age of ten?

I reckon Willie will think Benie can beat Honeysuckle given a better ride so that won't put them off the MH.

Will they risk her in the Mares Chase. I'd be surprised. For a start that strategy would surely involve at least one prep race, maybe two, and heighten the possibility of injury before Cheltenham.

The Mares Chase surely has to be Benie's least likely target even though she's far classier than Salsaretta. There's very little in it for Rich Ricci to pitch them against each other. Would you, if they were yours?

More likely is a tilt at the Stayers Hurdle but Benie's age must count against the likelyhood of this happening.

Surely they will take the pragmatic approach and go with the tried and tested. Benie went off 4-6 for the MH and both Willie and Ruby were clearly irritated that she didn't win on the day because of perceived jockey error. Even then, she only went down by 1/2 a length.

If Benie turns up in the Mares Hurdle next year she'll probably go off around evens - maybe a shade of odds-on - with Honeysuckle at 6-4.

It would be a virtual coin toss two-horse race - unless something like Marie's Rock enters the equation.

And imo Willie will plot a conservative path towards that goal rather than risk an injury no show or a tilt at the Stayers where her victory chances - though good - would certainly not be even-money.

[Lobos]

Apart from Irish Field the Honeysuckle news appears to have gone unnoticed? Nothing in Racing Post or Sporting Life yet and bookmakers certainly haven't reacted. She remains 16/1 in Churdle, 4/1 Mares and Salsaretta and co haven't moved in Mares Chase market ???

[Saxon Warrior]

Apart from Irish Field the Honeysuckle news appears to have gone unnoticed? Nothing in Racing Post or Sporting Life yet and bookmakers certainly haven't reacted. She remains 16/1 in Churdle, 4/1 Mares and Salsaretta and co haven't moved in Mares Chase market ???

Racing Post have confirmed Honeysuckle is staying over Hurdles, tonight, with quotes on splitting the season in 2, start as last year in Hattons Grace, and depending on how things go they could end up with another destination.

I think they are suggesting trying 2M mid-season and if it worked even better than this year, then the Champion Hurdle could open up as a possibility.

[Kevloaf]

I still think it's odds-on that Benie turns up in the Mares Hurdle again.

Look at the evidence.

This has been the race chosen by Willie for the last three years - and Benie could have already notched a hat-trick but for a last flight fall and alleged pilot error in March.

Why change her programme at the age of ten?

I reckon Willie will think Benie can beat Honeysuckle given a better ride so that won't put them off the MH.

Will they risk her in the Mares Chase. I'd be surprised. For a start that strategy would surely involve at least one prep race, maybe two, and heighten the possibility of injury before Cheltenham.

The Mares Chase surely has to be Benie's least likely target even though she's far classier than Salsaretta. There's very little in it for Rich Ricci to pitch them against each other. Would you, if they were yours?

More likely is a tilt at the Stayers Hurdle but Benie's age must count against the likelyhood of this happening.

Surely they will take the pragmatic approach and go with the tried and tested. Benie went off 4-6 for the MH and both Willie and Ruby were clearly irritated that she didn't win on the day because of perceived jockey error. Even then, she only went down by 1/2 a length.

If Benie turns up in the Mares Hurdle next year she'll probably go off around evens - maybe a shade of odds-on - with Honeysuckle at 6-4.

It would be a virtual coin toss two-horse race - unless something like Marie's Rock enters the equation.

And imo Willie will plot a conservative path towards that goal rather than risk an injury no show or a tilt at the Stayers where her victory chances - though good - would certainly not be even-money.

That somewhat ignores where she would have been aimed if this Mares Chase excisted already?

She also is unlikely to go off shorter than Honeysuckle, and if she did Honeysuckle would be the bet.

[Lobos]

Racing Post have confirmed Honeysuckle is taking over Hurdles, tonight, with quotes on splitting the season in 2, start as last year in Hattons Grace, and depending on how things go they could end up with another destination.

I think they are suggesting trying 2M mid-season and if it worked even better than this year, then the Champion Hurdle could open up as a possibility.

As I thought. She'll be found out over 2 and inevitably slip back into the Mares Hurdle.

[Saxon Warrior]

As I thought. She'll be found out over 2 and inevitably slip back into the Mares Hurdle.

I can understand them trying it, knowing that they can revert back to 2M4F.

Honeysuckle is only 6, and has already won 4 Grade 1 hurdles, the same as BDD, but three years younger.

2 of the 4 Grade 1s are against the geldings too, Including the Irish Champion, c/w BDD’s 1 against all-comers, and their best ever ratings are similar.

I think that the distance Honeysuckle beats BDD in the Mares Hurdle will grow this year if they both line up.

[Lobos]

Racing Post have confirmed Honeysuckle is staying over Hurdles, tonight, with quotes on splitting the season in 2, start as last year in Hattons Grace, and depending on how things go they could end up with another destination.

I think they are suggesting trying 2M mid-season and if it worked even better than this year, then the Champion Hurdle could open up as a possibility.

Still no market movement though. Honey still 16/1 in Churdle and Put The Kettle On still 10/1 with cash out in the Mares Chase.