Thursday 12 March 2026 | 14:40 | Cheltenham New Course | 2m 4f 56y | Grade 1
For the first time in its history, the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle moves to Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival in 2026. The race has been a Day 1 fixture since it was introduced in 2008 but this year punters will wait until Thursday afternoon to see the best mares in training go head to head over 2 miles 4 furlongs on the New Course.
The race has also been reshaped by one significant absence. Lossiemouth – the back-to-back champion who has won this race in each of the last two years – takes her chance in Tuesday's Champion Hurdle instead. Her departure leaves a vacancy at the top of the market, and one mare has stepped forward to fill it emphatically.
Wodhooh goes to post at 8/11 with nine wins from ten hurdle starts and course and distance form already in the book. The question is not whether she is good enough. The question is whether anything in this field can beat her.
Key Trends
Mares’ Hurdle Key Trends Every Punter Should Know
The Mares' Hurdle has been dominated by Irish-trained runners since its inception. Apply the key historical filters to the 2026 field and the picture is remarkably clear:
- Irish Dominance: 15 of the 18 winners have been trained in Ireland. British-trained runners have won only three times in the race's history. Of the 2026 field, five of the seven are Irish-trained.
- Age: 14 of the 18 winners were aged between five and seven. Quevega and Honeysuckle are the only exceptions – and both were exceptional mares. All but two of the 2026 field fit the age profile.
- Official Rating: 13 of the 18 winners were rated above 150. Only Wodhooh and Jade De Grugy sit in that bracket in 2026 – a powerful pointer toward a two-horse race at the head of the market.
- Recent Form: Nine of the last 10 winners finished in the first three on their previous start. Six of those actually won last time out. All three of the leading market fancies – Wodhooh, Jade De Grugy and Feet Of A Dancer – won last time out.
- Market: Seven of the last 10 winners were returned at shorter than 5/1. Only three winners in the past decade came at double-figure odds, with Marie's Rock (18/1 in 2022) the biggest outsider to land the race recently.
- Willie Mullins: The Closutton handler has won this race 11 times from 18 renewals. He saddles Jade De Grugy in 2026 – his sole representative and a mare who finished runner-up in this race 12 months ago.
- Prep Race: Punchestown has produced more winners of this race than any other course – seven in total. Leopardstown is second with three. Runners freshened up from those tracks carry a strong historical record.
- One Stat to Avoid: No horse has ever won the Mares' Hurdle having run in a handicap last time out. Zero from 48 attempts. None of the leading 2026 contenders fall into that category.
Betting Odds
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle 2026 Betting Odds
Horse | Odds | Chance |
|---|---|---|
Wodhooh | 8/11 | 57.9% |
Jade De Grugy | 5/2 | 28.6% |
Feet Of A Dancer | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Take No Chances | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Jetara | 28/1 | 3.4% |
Dream On Baby | 33/1 | 2.9% |
Sunset Marquesa | 66/1 | 1.5% |
Tips
Mares' Hurdle Tips: Runner-by-Runner Guide
Wodhooh – 8/11 | Trainer: Gordon Elliott | Jockey: Jack Kennedy | Form: 1/112-11 | NAP
Nine wins from ten hurdle starts. The only defeat came at the hands of Lossiemouth – a two-time winner of this very race – in a Grade 1 at Aintree last April. Lossiemouth is now in the Champion Hurdle. Wodhooh is here. That context tells you almost everything you need to know.
Gordon Elliott's mare is two from two at Cheltenham, including a course and distance win in the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at last year's Festival. She backed that up with authoritative Grade 2 wins at Ascot in November and at Leopardstown over Christmas, where she gave weight and a beating to Feet Of A Dancer and Dream On Baby – two of her rivals again here. Jack Kennedy, a jockey with an outstanding Festival record, takes the ride.
She fits every key historical trend for this race: Irish-trained, aged six, rated above 150, won last time out, strong course form, multiple Graded wins. The Racing Post make her their selection and the BOYLE Sports team have been unequivocal in their assessment – she is ready to cash in on Lossiemouth's absence.
The concern: She goes to post at 8/11 – odds-on favourites do not always oblige and Jade De Grugy finished ahead of her in this race 12 months ago. The market has possibly left a touch too little room for error.
Verdict: Our winner pick.
Jade De Grugy – 5/2 | Trainer: W.P. Mullins | Jockey: Paul Townend | Form: 121-321
The strongest case against Wodhooh in the field. Jade De Grugy finished runner-up in this race last year, then went to Punchestown and won a Grade 1 – underlining that she belongs at the very top level. She has spent the winter mixing it in Grade 2 chases, showing admirable versatility, and now returns to hurdles for what looks her ideal conditions.
Willie Mullins has won this race 11 times and Paul Townend rode both of Lossiemouth's victories here. That combination arriving on a mare with rock-solid Grade 1 form demands the utmost respect. Her RPR of 160 matches Wodhooh's exactly and her Punchestown Grade 1 win afterwards proved last year's runner-up position flattered no-one.
The concern: Her form figures of 121-321 show a mare who has been placed more than she has won lately. She was third on her most recent start and needs to find a step forward to reverse form with Wodhooh.
Verdict: The only realistic danger to the favourite.
Feet Of A Dancer – 10/1 | Trainer: P. Nolan | Jockey: Sean O'Keeffe | Form: 343-121
A tough, consistent mare who has won a Listed race at Punchestown and a Grade 2 at Doncaster over 3 miles this season. She keeps finding and her stamina is not in question over this trip. Sean O'Keeffe is a capable partner and trainer Pat Nolan has her in good form.
The problem is the collateral form. Wodhooh gave her weight and a beating at Leopardstown over Christmas. To win here, Feet Of A Dancer needs to reverse that form on worse terms. That is a significant ask in a Grade 1 against a mare who has not been beaten by anyone other than Lossiemouth in a long time.
The concern: Already beaten by the NAP this season, giving weight. Her rating of 152 puts her below the 150+ bracket that defines most winners of this race historically.
Verdict: Honest and consistent but has too much to find on recent form. Place candidate at best.
Take No Chances – 10/1 | Trainer: Dan Skelton | Jockey: Harry Skelton | Form: 35-6233 | Each-Way
The each-way angle. Take No Chances has been placed in this race before – she finished third behind Lossiemouth here last year and ran well at Aintree too, consistently posting strong RPRs in the best mares' races all season. Dan Skelton won this race in 2019 with Roksana and he knows exactly what it takes to get a mare ready for this race.
Her RPR of 153 is respectable and she has proven Festival form over course and distance. In a small field of seven where the favourite could be odds-on and place terms are likely to be just two places, the each-way proposition at 10/1 is attractive if you believe she can run to her best. The Racing Post's selection specifically noted she may take third again – even that would be a decent result at the price.
The concern: Her form figures of 35-6233 show a mare who has been placed consistently but has not won since before this season began. She needs to find a gear she has not shown recently to trouble the top two.
Verdict: Our each-way pick. Proven Festival form, trusted trainer, and the 10/1 price makes her the most attractive each-way play in the race.
Jetara – 28/1 | Trainer: Mrs J. Harrington | Jockey: Sam Ewing | Form: 433-373
A Grade 1-placed mare over 3 miles who finished fourth in this race last year. The step back down in trip from her best recent form is a concern, and her season has been below expectations – hence the blinkers being applied for the first time today. When at her best, Jetara has the class to be competitive, but the form figures of 433-373 suggest she has not found her peak this term.
The concern: Below her best form this season and the blinkers suggest connections are trying something different. Hard to trust at the odds.
Verdict: Needs a return to her best form to feature. Others preferred.
Dream On Baby – 33/1 | Trainer: E. Mullins | Jockey: Donagh Meyler | Form: P22132
An improving mare who won a Listed race at Kempton and has been placed consistently through the winter. She was third behind Wodhooh at Leopardstown and second to Feet Of A Dancer at Doncaster – form that places her firmly in the 'place candidate' bracket rather than a realistic winning contender in Grade 1 company.
Emmet Mullins is a capable trainer and Dream On Baby clearly has ability, but her RPR of 148 puts her below the threshold that historical trends demand of winners here and she has already been beaten by both Wodhooh and Feet Of A Dancer this season.
The concern: Already beaten by the NAP and by Feet Of A Dancer this season. The rating gap between her and the top two is significant at Grade 1 level.
Verdict: Honest mare but faces too much on current form. Hard to recommend at 33/1.
Sunset Marquesa – 66/1 | Trainer: Joe Tizzard | Jockey: Brendan Powell | Form: 1F-3143
The British outsider. Sunset Marquesa has placed in Listed and Grade 2 mares' races and handles both soft and good ground. The step back up in trip from her most recent starts is a positive and she is not without ability at a lower level.
However, Grade 1 company at the Cheltenham Festival represents a massive leap in class from what she has faced. Her RPR of 142 is the lowest in the field and she would need a career-best performance by a considerable margin to feature in the shake-up.
The concern: RPR of 142 is well below the historical threshold for winners of this race. A huge class rise from her recent form.
Verdict: Hard to make a case at any price in this company.
Betting Offers
BOYLE Sports Betting Offers for the Mares' Hurdle
Money Back as a Free Bet if 2nd to the SP Favourite: BOYLE Sports will give you your stake back as a free bet if your selection finishes 2nd to the starting price favourite. Max free bet is £/€10. This applies to win singles and win part of each-way singles (outright) only. Full T&Cs apply.
With Wodhooh going off at odds-on, this offer is particularly valuable – if she is turned over by Jade De Grugy or anything else, you get up to £/€10 back as a free bet to reinvest on the remainder of the card.
Best Odds Guaranteed (BOG): Always take an early price with BOG in place. If the SP drifts bigger on the day, you get paid at the bigger number. In a small field where the market can move sharply in the hours before racing, taking Wodhooh or Take No Chances at an early price with BOG protection is always the smart play.
Predictions
Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle Prediction – Cheltenham Festival 2026
Lossiemouth's decision to take her chance in the Champion Hurdle has transformed this race from a potential two-horse match into a near-certainty for the horse who has been waiting in her shadow. Wodhooh has been beaten once in ten hurdle starts, by a mare who is not here. She has won at this course, at this distance, and her form this season has been impeccable.
The trends align perfectly. Irish-trained, aged six, rated above 150, won last time out, multiple Graded wins to her name. Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy arrive with a horse who has been quietly building toward this moment all season. The Champion is absent. Wodhooh is ready to cash in.
NAP: Wodhooh (8/11)
Back her with confidence. The odds-on price reflects her superiority in this field. Use the Money Back free bet offer as insurance – if the unthinkable happens and she is beaten, you get your stake back to fight another day.
Each-Way: Take No Chances (10/1)
Dan Skelton won this race in 2019 and Take No Chances has been placing consistently in the best mares' races all season. She was third here 12 months ago and her Festival form over course and distance is proven. At 10/1 each-way she is the most attractive play beyond the top two – a horse who can hit the frame even if the top two are out of reach.
About The Race
What is the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle?
The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle – registered as the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle – is a Grade 1 race run over 2 miles 4 furlongs and 56 yards at the Cheltenham Festival. Introduced in 2008, it is one of the most prestigious mares-only races in jump racing and regularly attracts the best hurdling mares in training from Ireland and Britain.
In 2026, the race moves to Day 3 of the Festival for the first time in its history, having previously been a Day 1 fixture since its introduction. The race is run over the New Course and features 10 hurdles.
History, Prestige & The Quevega Era
No race in jump racing has been more dominated by a single trainer than the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle has been by Willie Mullins. The Closutton handler has won the race 11 times from 18 renewals – a strike rate that borders on the extraordinary. His most famous servant in the race was Quevega, who won six consecutive renewals from 2009 to 2014, a record of Festival dominance that may never be matched.
Since Quevega's retirement, the race has continued to throw up high-class winners. Honeysuckle won back-to-back renewals in 2020 and 2023 for Henry De Bromhead, and Lossiemouth claimed the last two editions for Mullins. The race has an emerging Champion Hurdle connection – Honeysuckle went on to win the Champion Hurdle, and Lossiemouth's win in Tuesday's Champion Hurdle suggests connections believe this race is a genuine pointer to the very top level.
British-trained runners have won three times – most memorably Marie's Rock at 18/1 in 2022 for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville, and Roksana in 2019 for Dan Skelton. Both victories serve as a reminder that, while Irish domination is the norm, the race is not entirely closed to runners from across the water.
Bet on Cheltenham Festival Odds at BOYLE Sports
*Prices are subject to fluctuation.
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly.
