The Ryanair Mares Novices’ Hurdle is registered as the Dawn Run Mares Novices’ Hurdle, named after the legendary mare.
In 2023 the race was renamed the Jack de Bromhead Mares Novices' Hurdle in memory of the son of trainer Henry de Bromhead, who tragically died in a pony racing accident.
It was introduced in 2016 as an alternative option to the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle for novice fillies and mares.
Its addition to the Cheltenham Festival was one of various measures introduced to bolster the numbers of jumping mares in training.
There are penalties of 5lb for winners of a Class 1 hurdle, or 3lb for winners of a Class 2 hurdle or a Class 1 handicap hurdle.
MARES NOVICES’ HURDLE 2024 ODDS
MARES NOVICES’ HURDLE TRENDS
Just like with the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle on Day 1, Willie Mullins has dominated this race - winning the first five (all with horses rated in the 140s).
He has had a total of 29 runners in the seven renewals thus far, including a 1-2 in 2019 and a remarkable 1-2-4-5 in 2020.
However, he's saddled a total of 10 entries in the last two runnings with just one placed.
Nicky Henderson has yet to win the Mares Novices’ Hurdle (11 runners), including hot favourite Epatante who was 9th in 2019 - the year before winning the Champion Hurdle.
But his 50/1 shot, Ahorsewithnoname, finished second in 2022.
LAST 5 WINNERS’ DATA
PREVIOUS WINNERS
You Wear It Well 2023
You Wear It Well - Jack De Bromhead Mares’ Novices' Hurdle 2023#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/PvAfUkMQvu
— Cheltenham Festival Fans (@cheltfestfans) August 3, 2023
Love Envoi retained her unbeaten record to win the Mares Novices' Hurdle in 2022.
She is owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate, headed by the former jumps jockey (who landed this race on Eglantine Du Deauil before retiring in 2019):
Telmesomethinggirl came home five and a half lengths clear of stable companion Magic Daze in a 1-2 for trainer Henry de Bromhead in 2021:
Runner-up in 2019, Concertista bolted up a year later despite still being a maiden:
It was a memorable 1-2 for Willie Mullins in 2019, with Eglantine Du Seuil and Concertista going off at 50/1 and 66/1 respectively.
The winner had been off the track since the previous September, while the runner-up was making her hurdling debut:
Laurina lived up to her reputation to fully justify odds of just 4/7 in 2018, winning by 18 lengths despite an error at the last:
Let's Dance 2017
Limini 2016