Mares’ Hurdle: Henderson duo to take on Honeysuckle
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Honeysuckle is the 9/4 favourite in Coral’s Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle betting odds while Nicky Henderson has supplemented Epatante and Theatre Glory for a fascinating renewal on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
Henry de Bromhead’s Honeysuckle beat Benie Des Dieux in an epic running of the Grade One contest in 2020 before going on to claim back-to-back victories against the boys in the Champion Hurdle.
But having suffered defeat for the first time in her bid for a fourth Hatton’s Grace in December, and proved no match for State Man in last month’s Irish Champion Hurdle, the nine-year-old is set to go back against her own sex in an attempt to end her career with a fourth Festival success.
Like Honeysuckle, the 2020 Champion Hurdle heroine Epatante retains an entry in this year’s Champion Hurdle following Wednesday’s confirmation stage.
However, she has proved no match for stablemate and red-hot Champion Hurdle favourite Constitution Hill in either the Fighting Fifth or the Christmas Hurdle this season and, as expected, she has been added to the Mares’ Hurdle field at a cost of £4,599 following an impressive recent victory at Doncaster.
🔹🔸Big day for our team. Theatre Glory has been supplemented for the Mares Hurdle @CheltenhamRaces. To be in the company of Honeysuckle, Epatante, Marie’s Rock and the other top class mares is a dream come true for so many. #todream #comehomesafe 🔹🔸 pic.twitter.com/9nKN2XQsOe
— Canter Banter Racing (@CanterB_Racing) March 8, 2023
Connections of Theatre Glory have also stumped up the same figure following her runaway success in a Listed event at Warwick on her latest outing.
Henderson has a potential third string to his bow in the form of last year’s winner Marie’s Rock, but she also has the option of stepping up in trip for the Stayers’ Hurdle two days later.
Love Envoi is a leading contender for Harry Fry, while Willie Mullins has whittled his Mares’ Hurdle team down to Brandy Love, Echoes In Rain and Shewearsitwell.
Midnight Ginger (Andrew Martin) and Queens Brook (Gordon Elliott) are the other hopefuls.
Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle betting odds
9/4 Honeysuckle
10/3 Marie’s Rock
10/3 Epatante
5/1 Love Envoi
6/1 Brandy Love, Echoes In Rain
9/1 Queens Brook, Theatre Glory
12/1 Shewearsitwell
16/1 Bar
All odds and market correct at date of publication
