Grade One Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle Fairyhouse Guide 2023

Danny Mullins is onboard Princess Zoe for this race, the eight-year-old mare for Anthony Mullins who has had two hurdling runs after being very experienced on the flat since her debut in 2018.

Won Punchestown maiden on her first hurdle outing over 2m 4f in a dead heat with Henry De Bromhead’s Ladybank, before finishing a decent fifth of 21 in the Grade Two Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month behind the likes of Luccia and Magical Zoe.

Should improve further on that run and is well weighted to do better in this contest and she shouldn’t be discounted on step up back to 2m 4f, which she won over on hurdling debut.

Another runner for Willie Mullins in this contest is Night And Day, who has had just two starts over hurdles since arriving at Mullins’ yard following four runs on the flat in France. Debuted in the Grade One Mares Novice Championship Final over 2m 4f here last April, finishing ninth of 15 and last of the runners who completed the race against some very good novice hurdlers.

2/5fav next time out, where she claimed her first victory in Clonmel maiden in January, beating Apples In Winter by 22 lengths and now returns to graded company on the back of that success. Six-year-old can improve more and run a better race this time after having that early experience in this type of company.

Willie Mullins’ six-year-old mare Ashroe Diamond arrives here having missed the Cheltenham Festival after winning a grade three here over 2m 2f in January, beating Jetara by just over a length at 1/1fav. That came after finishing third twice in a row here in the Royal Bond in December before third again at Leopardstown in Future Champions Novice Hurdle, behind Il Etait Temps and Facile Vega.

Is market favourite currently again here and with Paul Townend on board (Danny Mullins last time out), Ashroe Diamond will be looking to fend off 15 rivals and it would be a surprise if he wasn’t at least finishing in the places.

Got Glory makes her debut for leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins here after winning her only flat race in France at Clairefontaine over 1m 3f in July 2021. Very difficult to predict the five-year-old’s chances on hurdling debut.

Enters graded company on debut and this looks tough for a debutant.

Six-year-old mare Nikini arrives here after finishing 12th in the Grade Two Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over 2m at the Cheltenham festival last month. She had previously won a couple of races at Kilbeggan and Listowel before finishing a length behind Magical Zoe over 2m at Down Royal in November before her first appearance at the festival.

Needs to bounce back after that run at the festival but that run can be forgotten if she does well here. In good company however and other runners are in good form coming into this, so she will have to run well.

Pink In The Park runs over hurdles for the fourth time here after finishing second on debut to Kalanisi Star in Gowran Park maiden before again finishing second in Fairyhouse maiden behind fellow runner Harmonya Maker.

She was then fifth in Punchestown maiden before heading here and looks an unlikely winner of this race on the back of her form over hurdles so far. Of course, she is trained by Willie Mullins but others make more appeal on recent form.

125-rated hurdler Whatcouldhavebeen arrives here after five runs over hurdles for Jarlath Fahey, winning one of those starts at here over 2m 2f. Wasn’t too far behind a few here in Grade Three Mares Novice here in January (won by Ashroe Diamond) but disappointing fourth of eight last time out at Punchestown has her priced at around 50/1 for this race.

Can run better than her last run and should be able to improve further but winning and maybe placing might be a step out of reach.

Brian Hayes is booked to ride six-year-old mare Hauturiere for Willie Mullins here after she finished a narrow second to Eabha Grace in a grade three contest over 2m 6f at Limerick last month. Before that, she had run with a lot of promise on her first hurdling outings, winning here and at Punchestown against some decent runners.

Willie Mullins’ horses always must be considered, and the leading trainer will be hoping for her to continue her good form over obstacles, and she should be able to improve more ahead of her first grade one race.

Keith Donoghue rides Halka Du Tabert for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott here after finishing a good third behind Magical Zoe and You Wear It Well in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. That followed a third-place finish in Grade Three Mares Novice Hurdle here in January, finishing behind Jetara and favourite here, Ashroe Diamond.

She’s begun well over hurdles after winning debut bumper and another good run is expected from this six-year-old in grade one company again.

Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old mare Harmonya Maker is sent here after falling in Grade Three Mares Novice Hurdle over 2m 6f at Limerick last month, where Eabha Grace edged out fellow runner Hauturiere to claim victory.

Her early promise (two wins out of first three runs over hurdles) has diminished slightly after that run and unseating her rider at Punchestown in February but it’s still early days for her over hurdles and Elliott will be hoping she can get round unscathed and potentially push for the places at the very least. Other runners more likely to win.

Willie Mullins sends Eabha Grace here after her grade three win at Limerick last month, where she beat a couple of runners here in the form of Hauturiere and Harmonya Maker to claim victory. Had previously ran well in a few maiden outings at Naas and Punchestown before her step into better company but this will be her first at grade one level.

This is her toughest test so far and she has been a bit inconsistent in her hurdling career so far, but top yard must be respected always. She would be a somewhat surprising winner, though.

Henry De Bromhead sends six-year-old mare Rioga Choice here with Rachael Blackmore booked to ride after they finished third together over 2m 5f last time out in a Punchestown listed event over two months ago behind a few of these runners.

She hasn’t managed victory since winning 14-runner Roscommon maiden over 2m last August and looks an unlikely winner of this contest, despite Blackmore being on board.

Henry De Bromhead sends a couple of mares here for the Novice Hurdle in the shape of Magical Zoe and Rioga Choice. Magical Zoe comes into this contest rated at 137, after three promising runs over hurdles so far in her career.

She won on debut at Wexford in September before fending off nine rivals to claim grade three success at Down Royal in November over 2m. Willie Mullins’ Nikini was second that day and she then ran in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month finishing second of 21 behind You Wear It Well and ahead of the likes of favourite Luccia and Halka Du Tabert.

Leading player on her current form and she should be in the mix for a victory.

Gordon Elliott sends Shecouldbeanything here after finishing a decent sixth of 21 in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. She finished behind some good runners and beat some fellow runners in this race after second of eight at Punchestown in February and third of five at Punchestown again in January (behind The Model Kingdom and Ballymore winner Impaire Et Passe).

Her price in the market looks slightly harsh after those finishes and an each-way bet at around 33’s could be a decent play for this mare.

Five-year-old mare for Mrs John Harrington who won Navan bumper in November ahead of Lily Du Berlais before two second-place finishes over hurdles prior to running in the Grade Two Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, where she finished 11th.

She will be looking to bounce back here off 130 after that run at the festival but may find a few too good in this race.

This race is dominated by Willie Mullins mares and Lot Of Joy is another one of those runners here. Nicky Henderson’s regular jockey Nico de Boinville takes the reigns as the five-year-old looks to bounce back from finishing 14th in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month.

She had finished first and second (twice) on her first three hurdle outings prior to the festival and went to Cheltenham with high hopes (priced at 11/2) but disappointed on the day but she is open to more improvement, and Mullins will be hoping de Boinville can help get the best out of her here.