2023 Mares Hurdle

[Exar Essay]

Mullins is definitely shying away from confirming Brandy Love for the mare’s which is a slight worry.

On 2 occasions now, on sources released over the last 5 days,and readily available to watch on YouTube, he keeps reiterating he wants her “right for Punchestown……and I’d really like to get a run into her before then……”.

That run appears to be on Wednesday.

Let’s hope there’s another run on the 14th March.

Hang on, isn't the "Punchestown" he keeps mentioning the Quevega on Weds? That's what I'd assumed, not the festival.

[Quevega]

Mullins is definitely shying away from confirming Brandy Love for the mare’s which is a slight worry.

On 2 occasions now, on sources released over the last 5 days,and readily available to watch on YouTube, he keeps reiterating he wants her “right for Punchestown……and I’d really like to get a run into her before then……”.

That run appears to be on Wednesday.

Let’s hope there’s another run on the 14th March.

Read or watch it again and come back to the forum on it.
The clue is in Wednesday's race location.

[darlojim]

Bollinger its abit early to be on the sauce on a Monday lad

[Eggs]

….on ATR Stable Tour dared 14.02, Mullins said;

”The Mares Hurdle could be the hottest race of the Festival. I was thinking Brandy Love had a great chance of winning it, next thing is Epatante is coming back into it, then Honeysuckle. It’s going to be some race.”

[Benjy23]

4/7 Brandy Love seems very short given the race conditions, right handed course and it being her reappearance and prep run for a few weeks time. Half tempted to back Queens Brook on Wednesday to be honest.

As much as Brandy Love is (again) my main hope/concern for a big Cheltenham win.

[Lobos]

But Benjy....QB is proper poor isn't she ?? The Brandy just has to win this to be a big player imo.

[DenmanSacre]

But Benjy....QB is proper poor isn't she ?? The Brandy just has to win this to be a big player imo.

Why is she poor? Was only 2 lengths behind Marie's Rock last year in the Mares Hurdle. She's a decent yardstick for Brandy Love in open company. If she can beat her giving her 9 pounds and going right handed, then the others won't get near her in the Mares. Finishing within 5 lengths of her would be a decent enough first run if the season for me.

[Lobos]

5 lengths??!! That would be a hammering. I can't have QB at all. She looks to have gone backwards again this season.

[Benjy23]

QB has achieved her two highest career RPRs in her last two runs. Not sure that's going backwards this season tbh. Although her last run was slightly disappointing not to have won.

I'd be happy enough with a decent run in defeat. The fact that Cheltenham is left handed could be huge tbh. Bit silly to say she 'has to win' here given the completely different challenge.

[Eggs]

…Hills ‘win & MH’;

Brandy Love 11/2
Queens Brook 25-1

[Bollinger]

….on ATR Stable Tour dared 14.02, Mullins said;

”The Mares Hurdle could be the hottest race of the Festival. I was thinking Brandy Love had a great chance of winning it, next thing is Epatante is coming back into it, then Honeysuckle. It’s going to be some race.”

Though I fully appreciate I’m not, and never will be the most popular ‘poster’ of comments on here, I absolutely owe apologies to one and all here.

I’ve just taken the time out to indeed read the ‘ATR’ stable tour (of Brandy Love) for the very first time, and indeed, the quote is there.

The 2 sources I have/had watched on YouTube indeed quote Willie word for word, except (and it’s on both sources, readily available to view), but leave out (I found it interesting to leave out specifically the Cheltenham call) the ‘has a great chance of winning it’. It’s not audible in any shape, nor form.

My interpretation was that Punchestown meant the end of April and the ‘run we’d like to get into her’ was indeed Punchestown tomorrow, but that Cheltenham would come too soon as a grade 1 race.

It was just my interpretation, based on the audio available on YouTube. I reiterate, there isn’t a mention that Willie mentions her Cheltenham chances on videos I’ve watched (twice now, to make sure!).

Apologies, I’ve sincerely got it wrong. I do indeed hope she runs well tomorrow.

[FinalFurlong91]

But Benjy....QB is proper poor isn't she ?? The Brandy just has to win this to be a big player imo.

No she's not imo, she's a mid 140s mare on her day maybe a little better

And Brandy is having her first run, giving her 9lb and going the wrong way round

I'm staggered she's odds on

She's also giving 12lbs to Anna bunina who's 140

so she's wrong at the weights big time with both

Brandy has absolutely everything against her tomorrow

a win would be great but I'd be happy with a gentle ride round 2nd or 3rd to get her spot on for the mares hurdle

If one of those two runs to there mark Brandy will have to run mid to low 150s first time up going the wrong way round to win

I mean I hope it happens but I have much more realistic expectations

[Lobos]

She'll win FF.

[Kevloaf]

Sick all over the place when Queen's Brook wins tomorrow and everyone gives Brandy Love the 'moral' victory.

The sad thing is, she won't drift.

That Coral Cup entries don't scream confidence to me



.....and yes I have backed Brandy Love, and no I haven't backed Queen's Brook..... just living in the real world where anything but a win is not good enough.

Queen's Brook will be an also-ran in this years Mares Hurdle.

[Benjy23]

It absolutely depends what happens in the run like. If Brandy Love appears to run straight and doesn't win I'd be disappointed to be fair, despite the weights. Every chance she hangs left, runs an extra furlong because of it and still finishes a few lengths behind and I'm happy.

Coral Cup entry would be no concern to me. Her strength on the exchange for the Mares Hurdle has always had me confident.