Dawn Run Novices' Hurdle 2023 Racecard

The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, also known as the Dawn Run Mares' Novices' Hurdle, is the newest race at the Cheltenham Festival.

4:50 Thu 16 Mar DAWN RUN NOVICES' HURDLE Distance: 16f 179y Age: 4yo + Prize: £105,000 Going: Soft Analyst's Verdict Another big field for the Dawn Run but it is very hard to get away from the claims of LUCCIA, who maintained her unbeaten record in effortless fashion at Exeter last month, is open to bundles more improvement after just 4 career starts, and has all the attributes to cope with a more demanding test at the Festival. Magical Zoe's Down Royal win back in November has worked out well and she's another exciting prospect, with Halka du Tabert, Lot of Joy and Under Control a trio of others to consider.

ENTRY FORM	SILKS	HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER	AGE WGT		ODDS
1		1. LUCCIA J: Nico de Boinville T: Nicky Henderson	5 11-7		BET
Looked an excellent prospect when winning both bumper starts last season and has very much confirmed that impression over hurdles, making it 2-2 in impressive fashion in 6-runner listed event at Exeter (16.7f) 32 days ago, travelling powerfully and jumping well in the main. Very exciting prospect.
2		2. MAGICAL ZOE (IRE) J: A. P. Heskin T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland	5 11-7		BET
Won her only start in bumpers in the style of a useful prospect and has made an equally promising start over hurdles, impressing greatly with the turn of pace she displayed to overcome a less-than-ideal position in Grade 3 event (form working out) at Down Royal back in November. Exciting prospect.
3		3. YOU WEAR IT WELL J: Gavin Sheehan T: Jamie Snowden	6 11-7		BET
Bumper winner who readily landed first 2 starts over hurdles in the autumn and ran well to finish runner-up behind Hermes Allen in Grade 2 Challow at Newbury. Resumed winning ways back against her own sex in Sandown Grade 2 since and is a strong each-way contender despite the drop back in trip.
4		4. BELLE THE LIONESS (IRE) J: D. J. O'Keeffe T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland	6 11-5		BET
Successful on her sole outing in bumpers and didn't need to improve on her first 2 starts over hurdles to open her account in 10-runner maiden at Thurles (15.5f, soft) in January. Remains with potential but has plenty to find at this level.
5		5. AHORSEWITHNONAME J: Sean Bowen T: Nicky Henderson	8 11-2		BET
Useful performer on the Flat who is still a maiden over hurdles following 7 attempts but was an excellent second in this corresponding event 12 months ago. Found to have bled when pulled up at Wincanton on her only outing in this sphere since.
6		6. BANNTOWN GIRL (IRE) J: Keith Donoghue T: Stephen Gerard Carey, Ireland	8 11-2		BET
Bumper winner who ran right up to her best back over hurdles in first-time cheekpieces when third of 22 in a valuable Leopardstown handicap (17.7f, good to soft) 39 days ago. Has much more on her plate on these terms, however.
7		7. ENDLESS ESCAPE (IRE) J: Ben Jones T: Ben Clarke	7 11-2		BET
Likeable type who extended her unbeaten hurdling record to 4 without needing to improve in 8-runner novice at Newcastle (20.3f) 19 days ago, asserting run-in. Her winning run will surely come to an end now upped markedly in grade, though.
8		8. FOXY GIRL (FR) J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland	5 11-2		BET
Showed near-useful form on her sole start for David Cottin in France and confirmed the promise of her yard debut in good style when winning 18-runner maiden at Limerick (16f, heavy) on Boxing Day, pushed out. This obviously asks for more but she should be up to holding her own up in grade.
9		9. HALKA DU TABERT (FR) J: Davy Russell T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	6 11-2		BET
Successful on her sole outing in both points/bumpers and looked a good prospect when drawing clear of a subsequent winner on her 2m Naas hurdling debut in December. Ran a fine race for one so inexperienced when third to Ashroe Diamond in Solerina at Fairyhouse since and remains open to improvement.
10		10. JETARA (IRE) J: S. F. O'Keeffe T: Mrs J. Harrington, Ireland	5 11-2		BET
Fairly useful dual bumper winner who was unlucky to bump into a potentially smart one on her hurdling debut at Leopardstown and confirmed that promise when second to Ashroe Diamond in Solerina at Fairyhouse (18.5f). Open to further progress.
11		11. LADYBANK J: Aidan Coleman T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland	5 11-2		BET
Showed much improved form to grab a share of the spoils with Princess Zoe in 9-runner maiden at Punchestown (20.3f, heavy) 45 days ago. Open to further progress but looks firmly up against it hiked up in class.
12		12. LOT OF JOY (IRE) J: P. Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	5 11-2		BET
Useful Flat winner who opened her account over hurdles at the third attempt when cruising clear in 15-runner maiden at Fairyhouse (2m) 36 days ago. Open to plenty more improvement.
13		13. MULLENBEG (IRE) J: Harry Cobden T: Milton Harris	6 11-2		BET
Useful dual bumper winner who completed a hurdles hat-trick when taking a 2m Ludlow handicap in November. Came up short when bidding for the 4-timer at Cheltenham but resumed progress back from a break when second in Grade 2 Dovecote at Kempton. Should be well suited by this sort of scenario.
14		14. NIKINI (IRE) J: Mr P. W. Mullins T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland	6 11-2		BET
Fairly useful bumper winner who came out on top first 2 outings over hurdles and then was collared only in the final 50 yds in her hat-trick bid by Magical Zoe in a Grade 3 contest at Down Royal (16.9f) on her most recent outing in November. Open to further progress and shouldn't be underestimated.
15		15. POETIC MUSIC J: Paddy Brennan T: Fergal O'Brien	5 11-2		BET
Successful on 3 of her 4 bumper starts last season and is also 2 from 4 over hurdles, not needing to be at her best to defy a penalty in 7-runner event at Carlisle (19.3f) last month, suited by emphasis on speed up in trip. This is a much stiffer task, however. Wears first-time cheekpieces.
16		16. PRINCESS ZOE (GER) J: D. E. Mullins T: Anthony Mullins, Ireland	8 11-2		BET
High-class Group 1 winning stayer on Flat at her best who dead-heated with Ladybank in 9-runner maiden on her Punchestown hurdling bow (20.3f) in January, joined line after losing momentum last. Has scope for plenty of improvement, especially now faced with a more competitive, big-field scenario.
17		17. SHECOULDBEANYTHING (IRE) J: Jordan Colin Gainford T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland	6 11-2		BET
Easy winner on sole outing in points and won first 2 starts under Rules in ready fashion at Limerick (bumper/maiden hurdle). Has run well in stronger events the last twice but this drop back in trip is unlikely to suit.
18		18. STILL CIEL (IRE) J: Shane Fitzgerald T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland	6 11-2		BET
Thurles maiden winner exposed as fairly useful so easily passed over.
19		19. THE MODEL KINGDOM (IRE) J: Sean Flanagan T: Noel Meade, Ireland	6 11-2		BET
Useful in bumpers (won all 3 starts) and of a similar level over hurdles, showing a good turn of foot to double her tally in 6-runner event at Punchestown (2m) in November. Understandably no match for the hugely exciting Impaire Et Passe on her most recent start and arrives with each-way claims.
20		20. INSPIRATRICE (IRE) J: Sam Twiston-Davies T: Nicky Martin	4 10-6		BET
Caused a huge shock (200/1) when landing a Taunton juvenile event at the end of December. Ran at least as well in defeat on completed start since but makes no appeal in this company.
21		21. UNDER CONTROL (FR) J: M. P. Walsh T: Nicky Henderson	4 10-6		BET
Successful on her only start in France in December and looked something out of the ordinary when maintaining her unbeaten record in 9-runner juvenile at Newbury (16.3f, good to firm) 13 days ago, jumping impeccably and travelling powerfully. Exciting prospect.
Betting Forecast : 9/4 2.25 LUCCIA, 15/2 7.5 LOT OF JOY, 12/1 12 YOU WEAR IT WELL, 14/1 14 PRINCESS ZOE, 14/1 14 UNDER CONTROL, 16/1 16 HALKA DU TABERT, 18/1 18 MAGICAL ZOE, 28/1 28 FOXY GIRL, 28/1 28 THE MODEL KINGDOM, 28/1 28 JETARA, 33/1 33 MULLENBEG, 33/1 33 NIKINI, 33/1 33 LADYBANK, 40/1 40 AHORSEWITHNONAME, 40/1 40 SHECOULDBEANYTHING, 50/1 50 ENDLESS ESCAPE, 50/1 50 POETIC MUSIC, 80/1 80 BELLE THE LIONESS, 100/1 100 BANNTOWN GIRL, 125/1 125 STILL CIEL, 250/1 250 INSPIRATRICE

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 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.