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Mares Hurdle 2020

She would have beat Roksana.

Her best form over 3m is clear of Honeysuckle. I just don't think 8/11 is value if Honeysuckle turns up here.

BDD is in a quite a few of my multiples and from that perspective, I'd prefer Honeysuckle not to turn up. From a racing perspective, I want Honeysuckle in here so BDD can put up a high mark over the intermediate trip.

I think her best form over 2m4f is clear on Honeysuckle too.

It doesn't mean Honeysuckle can't beat her though, and she'd be well deserving a high mark if she did.

At the prices, if they got closer together, I'd want more and more on Benie Des Dieux though, as Honeysuck;e sprice would be assuming too mcuh that she can reach BDD's level, which we haven't seen in any of her form yet - that's the point I'm making.

If they went 11/10 the pair I tihnk you'd be bananas to back Honeysuckle.
 
It would be a brilliant race if they lined up against each other.
That would be the saving grace vs any bets made.

I'd prefer one or the other to run in the champion but only from my betting point of view.
 
Softer ground sees Honey move to Champion, especially with Epatante now dating Samcro in the asthma clinic.

Benie goes here, listen to about 90% of Ricci's opinions and most of them resemble an owner who hasn't a clue. He listens to Willie and that's that. Cheltenham winner over prize money. She's a different scenario to Annie Power anyway, AP had shown more over shorter trips than Benie has. Whereas Benie has shown herself more of a stayer.
 
Honeysuckle has been noticeably weak in the Mares Hurdle market since yesterday evening, matched at 5s on the exchanges.

It isn't really reflected in the Champion Hurdle market so it's maybe just a case of People keeping their powder dry until a decision is announced.
 
Peter Moloney has just tweeted she will go for the Mares and not the Champion Hurdle
 
Peter Moloney has just tweeted she will go for the Mares and not the Champion Hurdle

Thats great news for the Mares Race, and gives more clarity to the Champion Hurdle too.

5-Day Decs out tomorrow for Day 1 so more revealed on remaining candidates for both.
 
Peter Moloney has just tweeted she will go for the Mares and not the Champion Hurdle

This is probably a cheap shot but how good can Honeysuckle really be if they don't think she can win this years champion hurdle ?
Still think Benie will boss the mares and all this has done is ensured there could be some value in Benie's price...
 
Love this decision personally, financially it is the best option for me.
 
Have to agree strange to put it out day before decs are released. Anything could happen between now and next Tuesday.

They surely don’t think by doing so it will ‘scare’ BDD off to the Champion?!

Willie will want to win this race back after BDD falling last year. Been over this so many times but honey has it all to prove, including never ran at Cheltenham before. Soft ground 2m 4f I can’t see past BDD.

Definitely good for the race though so let’s have fingers crossed BDD is not supplemented for the champion.
 
Can't wait to see Benie coast past her up the hill :)
 
Can't wait to see Benie coast past her up the hill :)

Can't help feeling that with Honeysuckles connections did what they did today hoping that opens the Champion's door to BDD.

As such, and rather like a boxer at a weigh in, Honeysuckles connections have blinked first and revealed their hand. Hope BDD's connections call their bluff and we have a great race and a fantastic match-up. I'm in the Benie camp but will happily stand back and applaud if Honeysuckle is the victor.
 
Can't help feeling that with Honeysuckles connections did what they did today hoping that opens the Champion's door to BDD.

As such, and rather like a boxer at a weigh in, Honeysuckles connections have blinked first and revealed their hand. Hope BDD's connections call their bluff and we have a great race and a fantastic match-up. I'm in the Benie camp but will happily stand back and applaud if Honeysuckle is the victor.

I'd say they would have next to no chance, if that was their plan, as far as I'm aware, hearing from jockeys and connections at previews you'll have more chance of Benie going to the Stayers than the CH, and I don't see that happening either.

They won't be worried about Honeysuckle, not one bit.
 
Lot closer on betfair right now the big two.
 
Lot closer on betfair right now the big two.

Yep, and there’s 2lb between them on RPR’s so should be the first Mares Hurdle for many a year when it didnt loom to be a walkover.

Hopefully the first of many great battles for the race, as the number of mares rated over 150 rises, from the enhanced mares race programme bearing fruits.
 
should be the first Mares Hurdle for many a year when it didnt loom to be a walkover.

Of course two of the walkovers weren't won by the favourite but I guess Apples Jade's win against Limini and Vroum Vroum mag was the last time we had the best mares race against each other...