Race 6 · Ladies' Day · Wednesday, 11 March 2026 · ~4:50pm
Mares' Chase
Live betting odds comparison for the Grade 1 mares' chasing championship — 2m 3f 200y · Grade 1 · Old Course
Live betting odds comparison for the Grade 1 mares' chasing championship — 2m 3f 200y · Grade 1 · Old Course
Compare the latest odds from all major bookmakers for the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham Festival 2026. Updated regularly as Ladies' Day on 11 March approaches.
Leading racing analysts, journalists and tipsters share their views on the 16:40 handicap chase on Ladies' Day 2026.
Ruby Walsh
"Downmexicoway was good at Gowran Park earlier in the season."
Lydia Hislop
"I'm just warily looking at Libberty Hunter. I'm going to make my mind up on the day based on whether he's there or not."
Johnny Dineen
"I'd nearly always go for one that's on the way up, and I'd go for Vanderpoel. He's definitely a smart horse."
Sportingnews.com
The Skelton-trained Be Aware is highly attractive — Dan Skelton specifically highlighted Be Aware as his "Grand Annual favourite" during a stable tour. The race requires a horse that can travel strongly at a high tempo.
Racing Post
Tom Segal likes Ballysax Hank; Paul Kealy likes Golden Joy and Ryans Rocket.
The Mares' Chase is the flagship mares-only chasing race at Cheltenham Festival, a Grade 1 contest over two miles three furlongs and two hundred yards that identifies the best female chaser in training.
The race was added to the Festival card as part of the continued expansion of dedicated mares' opportunities at the highest level of jump racing — a recognition that the quality of mares in the sport has risen to the point where they deserve their own championship race over fences at the Festival, just as they do over hurdles.
Willie Mullins has dominated this race since its inception, regularly producing mares of exceptional quality who have dominated the Grade 1 mares' chase programme throughout the season before arriving at Cheltenham as market leaders. His track record in this race makes his runners almost impossible to oppose on form, though the market price they command means finding value requires careful consideration of the alternatives.
The intermediate trip of two miles three furlongs suits mares who combine quality at two miles with the ability to see out a bit further when the pace dictates. The Old Course provides a thorough test, and mares who have won over this sort of trip at Grade 1 level during the season arrive with the strongest credentials.
