2014 Mares’ Hurdle Preview, Tips

Quevega – on a Mares’ Hurdle six-timer

2014 Mares’ Hurdle Preview, Tips

The Mares’ Hurdle is now in its sixth year and, since Whiteoak won the inaugural running, there has only been one further name etched on the pot: Quevega. That fragile but immensely talented lass has bagged the last five renewals and, as such, has made trends analysis somewhat pointless, for the win part at least.

Quevega bids for an almost imponderable six-timer in the 2014 Mares’ Hurdle and, if age has yet to catch up with her, she’ll be very hard to beat once more. So, from a trends perspective, I thought I’d look at the profiles of the placed horses – as well as Whiteoak and Quevega in winning year one – to get a flavour for what’s required to go close in the Mares’ Hurdle.

[Clearly, it’s far from a scientific basis from which to strike a wager, but it should be indicative at least.]

Specifically, then, we’ve got the first three from 2008 and 2009 (Quevega’s first win – we’ll include her once only); and the placed horses from 2010 onwards, for a total of fourteen in the sample.

The majority of win and placed horses were aged six and seven, with nine of the fourteen in the sample being in that group. Two five year olds have won it, Whiteoak and Quevega first time, but they’ve failed to add a placed effort to that.

On official ratings, of the thirteen in the sample with a rating, just six were rated 140+, with five of those rated 150+. The remaining seven were 139 or less, and they may offer some value as they include some big-priced beasts.

Only three of the fourteen had failed to win or place in Graded company previously, and two of those had Listed form. Ten of the fourteen had run over hurdles nine or fewer times.

Stamina is a key requirement here too, with twelve of the eighteen win/placed horses (including Quevega all starts) having won at further than the two and a half mile trip. Backing  two-milers in this may not be a smart move. And that’s interesting, because two of the next three in the betting – Cockney Sparrow and Down Ace – have yet to race beyond an extended two miles. Indeed, all of Cockney Sparrow’s hurdle form is on flat tracks and Cheltenham’s undulations will be a further – literally – challenge. She looks a place lay to me.

Down Ace does at least have a three mile point win in the bag, and looked to need every yard of it when just nailing Blue Buttons in a decent Listed novices’ hurdle at Taunton last time. She fluffed the last two flights there, though, and will need to be better. If she is, she has place prospects. Too much of an ‘if’ for me.

Vying for second favouritism, and a much more robust option than the Sparrow in my opinion, is the French raider, Sirene d’Ainay. She almost nicked it from the front last year, as Quevega got caught in traffic after four out. It was a most impressive effort from the champ to get up that day, and Sirene d’Ainay may have been flattered by her proximity. Nevertheless, she was two lengths and more too good for the rest, and comes over in equally good heart this term. Hers is an obvious podium prospect.

The trip will hold no fears for Glen’s Melody either and, if she lines up, this Grade 1 winner could give her Mullins stablemate something to ponder. She does seem to need soft ground to give her best but, with the rain still falling, that’s a possibility on the first day of the meeting.

I’m against any mare – except Quevega – coming into this off a break of longer than two months. A couple have made the frame, but absences longer than three months have proved insurmountable for all bar the mighty Mullins mare. So it is that Cailin Annamh gets the bullet, and she also has to have fast ground to show her best.

There’d be no such ground, fitness or stamina worries about Highland Retreat, and Harry Fry’s seven-year-old mare has been a star player for Team Seaborough this term, notching a hat-trick sealed with a Grade 2 win over three miles on heavy ground. Prior to that she’d won a Listed race over a similar trip on good ground and, though she may get outpaced mid-race, she’ll stay on far better than most. 20/1 is tempting, though that is without the non-runner money back concession.

Swing Bowler ran a better race in the Betfair Hurdle last year than she did this term before clunking in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and, while that might have been a blip – she was off for almost the whole year afterwards, implying injury – it’s hard to recommend her.

And then, of course, there’s the ten-year-old five-time winner, Quevega. As well as a nap hand here, she’s also registered Grade 1 successes at the last four Punchestown Festivals and, if she turns up within seven pounds of her best, she’ll win. She’s won this race by 14 lengths; 4 1/2 lengths; 10 lengths; 4 lengths; and a hampered-in-running one and a half lengths. She’s ten now, and that won’t make life any easier, but she has yet to show any sign of regression, and just might be value at 8/11.

I don’t have enough elevens to win a meaningful amount of eights, and for that reason wasn’t going to play this race at all. But then I saw Betfred’s refund offer (see below), and now I will be backing either Sirene d’Ainay (8/1) or Highland Retreat (16/1) win only, with Quevega on my side.

I may also place an exacta sort of bet, with Sirene d’Ainay and Highland Retreat (and perhaps Glens Melody) to grab silver. I may further play the trifecta, throwing a number of big priced ‘oily rags’ underneath.

Unless you have deep pockets and a strong nerve, this was a race to savour, as it may be the sixth coronation procession of the Queen of Cheltenham, HRH Quevega. But with the Betfred money back offer, we can both savour it and cheer for something else. Nice work, baldy!

Betfred – Money Back if Quevega Wins

Betfred are refunding all bets (as a free bet) up to £25 on the Mares’ Hurdle if Quevega wins. Offer applies to win stakes and the win part of each way bets, and it’s a bloody good one! Applies to new and existing customers. Click the link below to register if you don’t already have a Betfred account.