Thursday 12th March 14:40
The Mares Hurdle takes place at 2:40pm on day three of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday 12th March 2026. Below you'll find our free betting tips for the Mares Hurdle from our expert horse racing analysts Will Smith and David Young.
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| Bookie | Selection | Best Odds | Market | Bet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Take No Chances | 11/1 | Win Mares' Hurdle |
Place Bet |
|
Jetara | 7/1 | EW 2 Places Mares' Hurdle |
Place Bet |
Date of Tips: 12/03/2026
Disclaimer The odds for these selections were correct at the time of publishing (07:00 12/03/2026) but may have changed since. Please check the latest price before placing your bet.
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With Lossiemouth, Brighterdaysahead and Golden Ace all contesting the Champion Hurdle, the Mares’ Hurdle this season is a pale imitation of the race it has sometimes been, and the two market leaders Wodhooh and Jade De Grugy look opposable at the prices.
Wodhooh will be Gordon Elliott’s banker of the week, and she dug him out of a hole last year and could easily do so again. She’s never uber impressive but does what she needs to do more often than not, but will a small field tactical race suit her and will she run below par like 95% of the stable’s horse have at the meeting so far?
Jade De Grugy was second in the race last year, at a respectable distance to the brilliant Lossiemouth, but given she has been chasing and might prefer softer ground, is she genuinely worthy of being a 5/2 shot compared with the 11/1 about Take No Chances, who was 1¾ lengths behind her last year when ridden to pick up pieces?
That 11/1 about Take No Chances looks a value play in my opinion as the Skeltons will see this as very winnable and might be her chance to bag the biggest win of her career. Take No Chances is very versatile tactically and regarding ground, but will enjoy the sound surface more than most in the field.
Since the spring last year, Take No Chances has been competitive in open company Graded staying races and running as if she has improved a little this season, and now has the chance to rubber-stamp that. At 11/1, she’s a 1-star * win only bet with the 7-runner field complicating each-way options.
Just 7 runners in here and with an odds-on favourite the bookmakers aren’t looking to offer extra places but in a race where I wouldn’t really want to oppose the front two the appears to be some value in the without without market for last season’s 4th JETARA who sports first time blinkers this year.
She’s certainly not the most consistent or reliable of mares in training, but on her better days she’s capable of putting up to all of these rivals, including the front two. The concession means it’s possible she could repeat her 4th placed effort from last year to show us a small profit but she might just need to go one better for us to land a winner, which is feasible in my eyes.
JETARA (W/O Wodhooh & Jade De Gruggy) – 0.5 STAR EW @ 7/1 (2 places 1/4)
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| Selection | Odds |
|---|---|
| Wodhooh | 4/6 |
| Jade De Grugy | 11/4 |
| Feet Of A Dancer | 7/1 |
| Take No Chances | 9/1 |
| Jetara | 20/1 |
| Dream On Baby | 25/1 |
| Murcia | 25/1 |
| Nurse Susan | 50/1 |
| La Pinsonniere | 100/1 |
| Lavida Adiva | 100/1 |
| Sunset Marquesa | 100/1 |
| Siog Geal | 100/1 |
| Mares’ Hurdle | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Time | Distance | Type |
| Thurs 12/03/2026 | 14:40 | 2m 4f | Hurdle |
The Mares’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 race that covers a distance of 2 miles and 4 furlongs. The race is open to mares aged four years or older and is run on the Old Course. It features 10 hurdles to be jumped and has been held since 2008.
The Mares’ Hurdle has produced some legendary winners such as Quevega, who won the race a record six times in a row from 2009 to 2014. Other notable winners include Apple’s Jade, Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle.
Will Smith and Dave Young assess every race at the Cheltenham Festival and will only put up a selection when they feel the price is right. The Mares’ Hurdle is usually one they pay close attention to, with the race often throwing up angles the market hasn’t fully caught on to. Both analysts have a solid record of spotting value in these slightly less headline-grabbing Grade 1s, so any Mares’ Hurdle tips from them are always worth a second look.
In the build-up to the Festival, you can expect the occasional ante-post view from Will or Dave if they’re confident a mare is priced a touch bigger than she should be. Their early takes can be especially useful in a division where form lines develop quickly throughout the season. If you prefer to wait, they’ll also have Mares’ Hurdle tips available once the final field is confirmed, giving you a clearer picture of the likely pace, ground, and where the value sits on the day.
Some of the stronger fancies for the Mares’ Hurdle may even appear in Will Smith’s daily EW Lucky 15 during Cheltenham week. His returns from those bets have been impressive in recent years and they remain one of the most-followed features on WhichBookie.
Don’t forget that our Festival coverage doesn’t stop there – you can also check out our Placepot tips and horse racing extra places pages for even more ways to find value throughout Cheltenham 2026.
The Mares’ Hurdle has been dominated by high-class performers. Fifteen of the eighteen winners had already placed in an open graded race, and sixteen of the eighteen had previously beaten geldings. Market position is a major guide, with sixteen of the last seventeen winners coming from the first four in the betting.
Willie Mullins has trained eleven of the last seventeen winners, and only four British-trained runners have even placed in the last six renewals. Fifteen of the eighteen winners were rated at least 147, and only two winners did not have a win over 2m4f before lining up, showing how important proven form at the trip has been.
The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle is run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs.
Yes, it is a Grade 1 race exclusively for mares.
The race was introduced to the Cheltenham Festival in 2008.
Yes, Willie Mullins has enjoyed significant success in this race over the years having trained eleven of the last seventeen winners.
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