Race 6 · St. Patrick's Thursday · Thursday, 12 March 2026 · ~4:50pm
Mares' Novices' Hurdle
Live betting odds for the Grade 2 novice hurdling championship for mares — 2m 1f · Grade 2 · Old Course
Live betting odds for the Grade 2 novice hurdling championship for mares — 2m 1f · Grade 2 · Old Course
Compare the latest odds for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle. Updated as we approach St. Patrick's Thursday on 12 March 2026.
Leading racing analysts, journalists and tipsters share their views on the 16:40 Pertemps Final on St. Patrick's Thursday 2026.
Tony Mullins
"I've told the owners that Letos is definitely running in this. We've freshened him up since Naas and we think he's good. It's very competitive but he'll definitely be competitive."
RacingTV — Josh Stacey
Each-way at 10/1 on Supremely West: "The form of his Cheltenham qualifier in October is unbelievable. The winner that day, Ma Shantou, is now rated 154. The runner-up, Electric Mason, won the Betfair Stayers' Handicap Hurdle at Haydock. Supremely West is very interesting."
Sportingnews.com
Ace of Spades: "Progressive runner who travels well in big fields. Has already won round Cheltenham and Huntingdon in January. A real value angle — could upset the odds with a place at 12/1, maybe even the win."
Racing Post — Paul Healy
Backing Bold Endeavour each-way.
The Mares' Novices' Hurdle is a dedicated championship for novice mares hurdlers — a Grade 2 contest over two miles and one furlong that provides the next generation of female hurdlers with their own Festival stage.
The race provides a dedicated opportunity for mares in their first season over hurdles to compete against their peers, rather than having to tackle the open Supreme Novices' Hurdle or Ballymore Novices' Hurdle against colts and geldings. The slightly extended trip of two miles one furlong suits mares who have shown their best form at around this distance during the season.
Willie Mullins dominates this race just as comprehensively as he does the other mares-only contests at the Festival. His novice mares — many of whom have come through the bumper ranks with outstanding form — regularly arrive at the Festival as short-priced favourites, and the challenge for opposing punters is identifying whether any of his main rivals represent a genuinely credible alternative at a bigger price.
The Mares' Novices' Hurdle has tremendous predictive power for the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle in future seasons. Many winners of this race go on to develop into top-class mares hurdlers who eventually compete — and win — the senior championship in subsequent years. Identifying an outstanding Mares' Novices' winner is therefore a valuable piece of ante-post information for future Festival betting.
