Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle 2021 Racecard
The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, also known as the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle, is the newest race at the Cheltenham Festival.
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4:15 Thu 18 Mar DAWN RUN NOVICES' HURDLE Distance: 16f 179y Age: 4yo + Prize: £67,500 Going: Gd/Sft
ROSEYS HOLLOW's Solerina win is backed up by a really good timefigure, and she's taken to confirm superiority over Royal Kahala and end Willie Mullins' domination of this race. Gauloise lost her unbeaten record in the Solerina last time but is still capable of better, while Perfect Myth could go well at a big price. |
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Analyst's Verdict| ENTRY FORM |
SILKS | HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER |
AGE WGT |
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1 |
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1. GAULOISE (FR) J: P. Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
5 11-7 |
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| Bumper winner on sole start in France and winner of first 2 starts in this sphere at Thurles. Solid 3½ lengths third to Roseys Hollow at Fairyhouse last time and capable of better still. | |||||
2 |
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2. ROSEYS HOLLOW (IRE) J: M. P. Walsh T: Jonathan Sweeney, Ireland |
7 11-7 |
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| Third time lucky over hurdles in a Fairyhouse maiden in January. Improved when seeing off Royal Kahala and Gauloise in Grade 3 Solerina back there the following month and likely has more to offer. | |||||
3 |
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3. SKYACE (IRE) J: Jody McGarvey T: John Joseph Hanlon, Ireland |
6 11-7 |
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| Has taken sizeable steps forward the last twice, belying odds of 66/1 in a Down Royal Grade 3 prior to easily landing a listed race at Punchestown. More needed here, but shouldn't be underestimated. | |||||
4 |
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4. WILL VICTORY (FR) J: Gavin Sheehan T: Charlie Mann |
5 11-5 |
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| Flat/dual hurdles winner in France. Runner-up both completed starts over hurdles for new yard this season and wasn't beaten far in a jumpers bumper last time, but she looks up against it here. | |||||
5 |
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5. ALLAVINA (IRE) J: Aidan Coleman T: Olly Murphy |
6 11-2 |
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| Fairly useful bumper winner who chased home Martello Sky on hurdles debut at Fakenham in December. Winner of both subsequent starts and appeals as the type to go on improving. | |||||
6 |
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6. GLENS OF ANTRIM (IRE) J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr. T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
6 11-2 |
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| Has shown plenty of promise in a trio of maiden hurdles, well clear of the rest when chasing home a good prospect at Naas last time. Not ruled out. | |||||
7 |
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7. HOOK UP (FR) J: D. E. Mullins T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
5 11-2 |
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| Did the job well when opening hurdles account at Fairyhouse in November prior to chasing home Royal Kahala back there in January. Solid fourth in Grade 1 company latest and she needs considering. | |||||
8 |
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8. MAGIC DAZE (IRE) J: Robbie Power T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland |
5 11-2 |
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| Point winner who built on promise of Rules debut third at Leopardstown (beaten by two very promising novices) when landing the odds in a Clonmel maiden hurdle. Open to more improvement. | |||||
9 |
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9. MARTELLO SKY J: Bryony Frost T: Lucy Wadham |
5 11-2 |
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| Dual bumper winner who made it 2-2 in this sphere when landing a decent Market Rasen novice last month. This is a much stiffer assignment, but her form stacks up well and she remains with potential. | |||||
10 |
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10. MIGHTY BLUE (FR) J: J. J. Slevin T: Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland |
5 11-2 |
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| Useful performer on the Flat and has made the frame on each of her 3 starts since switched to hurdles, fourth in the Fairyhouse Grade 3 won by Roseys Hollow last time. Needs to raise her game. | |||||
11 |
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11. PERFECT MYTH J: Harry Skelton T: Neil King |
7 11-2 |
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| Progressive since returning to action in August, winning 3 times and fine second at Wincanton in November. Not disgraced in a jumpers bumper last time and she's not without each-way hope. | |||||
12 |
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12. PONT AVAL (FR) J: B. Hayes T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
8 11-2 |
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| Pulled up on hurdles debut at Limerick back from a 20-month absence in December, but left that form well behind when landing a big-field Punchestown novice next time. Open to improvement. | |||||
13 |
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13. ROYAL KAHALA (IRE) J: K. C. Sexton T: Peter Fahey, Ireland |
6 11-2 |
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| Decisive winner of first 2 hurdles starts and lost no caste in defeat when 2 lengths second to Roseys Hollow in a Fairyhouse Grade 3 latest. 9 lb better off with that rival now and she's a big player. | |||||
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14. TELMESOMETHINGGIRL (IRE) J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland |
6 11-2 |
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| Notched third hurdles success when making all at Listowel in September. Solid third back from a break in a big-field Leopardstown handicap and she's certainly not out of place in this line up. | |||||
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15. THE GLANCING QUEEN (IRE) J: Tom Cannon T: Alan King |
7 11-2 |
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| Useful bumper performer and successful on 2 of her 4 starts switched to hurdles this season. No match for Wilde About Oscar in a listed race at Exeter latest, but that was still a respectable effort. | |||||
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Betting Forecast : 5/1 5 ROYAL KAHALA, 6/1 6 HOOK UP, 13/2 6.5 ROSEYS HOLLOW, 9/1 9 GAULOISE, 12/1 12 THE GLANCING QUEEN, 12/1 12 GLENS OF ANTRIM, 14/1 14 SKYACE, 14/1 14 TELMESOMETHINGGIRL, 22/1 22 PONT AVAL, 22/1 22 ALLAVINA, 22/1 22 MAGIC DAZE, 33/1 33 MIGHTY BLUE, 33/1 33 MARTELLO SKY, 40/1 40 PERFECT MYTH, 50/1 50 WILL VICTORY |
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First run in 2016, when it expanded the Cheltenham Festival to 28 races, the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race open to fillies and mares aged four years or older.
It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about two miles and one furlong (2 miles and 179 yards), and horses will jump eight hurdles in total.
The race is for novice mares – those that haven’t won a race over hurdles before that season – and, much like the Grade 1 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, has been dominated by Willie Mullins since its inception.
It’s fitting that the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle has been dominated by Willie Mullins, as he is the son of Paddy Mullins who trained Dawn Run, the only horse to ever complete the Champion Hurdle/Gold Cup double.
Limini started the ball rolling when winning the 2016 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, though half the field were just making up the numbers.
Limini produced a useful effort when beating Dusky Legend by four and a half lengths, but she had to settle for third when beaten by Apple’s Jade in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle the following year.
Like Limini, the 2017 Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner Let’s Dance was owned by Rich and Susannah Ricci.
Let’s Dance was fourth in the previous year's Triumph Hurdle, and her relative experience for a novice proved advantageous as she prevailed by two and three quarter lengths over the fellow Irish-trained mare Barra .
The third Mares' Novices' Hurdle winner also had a name starting with ‘L’: Laurina .
Though it was the weakest race of the Festival, the heavily-backed winner scored in a fashion that suggests she'd have been competitive in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which would have been a more interesting proposition than this demolition job.
The 2019 edition threw up a surprise winner in the shape of 50/1-shot Eglantine du Seuil, with the 66/1 Concertista following her home, with both mares trained by Mullins.
In terms of Timeform ratings, only a useful effort has been needed to win the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.
Willie Mullins is the only trainer to have won the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, but two jockeys have shared the prizes.
Ruby Walsh is the most successful Mares' Novices' Hurdle jockey, with a brace of wins thanks to Limini (2016) and Let’s Dance (2017), while Paul Townend made the most of Walsh’s absence (had sustained an injury when falling on Al Boum Photo in the RSA Chase) when guiding Laurina to victory in 2018. Noel Fehily, at his final Cheltenham Festival before retiring, won the 2019 renewal on Eglantine du Seuil.
Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle 2022 FAQs
What is the distance of the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
2 miles and 1 furlong
How many obstacles are jumped in the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
8
What day of the festival is the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
Day 3
What time is the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
16:50
What weights are carried for the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
11 st 2 lb (5yo+). 10 st 9 lb (4yo).
What is the purse for the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
£90,000 (2018)
Who is the leading jockey in the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
Ruby Walsh
Who is the leading trainer in the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
Willie Mullins
Who won the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
You can check out our Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle results page here to see a list of previous winners.
Where can I compare the odds for the Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle?
Click the link to visit our Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle Odds Comparison page.
