I've been chipping away at a couple for the Mares hurdle for a couple of months and I'm confident that of all the festival races it offers the best ante post opportunities.
The market has been 8/1 the field for a while now and the majority of bookies were still quoting Black Tears at the top of the market until recently (a couple still are) despite Elliott saying she's been retired to be a brood mare.
The current market has best prices available as
- Black Tears 8/1 (admittedly with two firms only) - Retired
- Echoes in Rain 8/1 - Going down open company as it stands so only if she proves not up to it will head for this over the Champion and Willie doesn't have much else for the Champion other than a couple who've already come up short on numerous occasions.
- Telmesomethinggirl 8/1 - Won the novice race last year and HdB confirmed this is her target
- Concertista 10/1 - Willie has said she's going novice chasing so as with EIR, she'd only revert to this is failing at that discipline but has already come up short in the race
- Stormy Ireland 10/1 - Seems rejuvenated and Willie has said this will be her route
- Shewearsitwell 12/1 - Another who's heading this way according to the stable tour but she's yet to tackle this level of company and hasn't been seen since the injury
- Elimay 12/1 - Surely goes for the mares chase again, which was the comments in the stable tour
- Gauloise 14/1 - Another WPM likely to be aimed at this but is she good enough ?
Of all the races at the meeting, the Mares hurdle is one that rarely sees something come from left field so of the likely runners;
Telmesomethinggirl 8/1
Stormy Ireland 10/1
Shewearsitwell 12/1
Gauloise 14/1
Offers a great dutching opportunity, with focus on the top two as the most likely winners
