Cheltenham Festival: The market mover our traders hope won’t win the Mares’ Hurdle

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

Frank Hickey has revealed that the Paddy Power traders are hoping Concertista fluffs her lines and fails to win the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old is the antepost favourite for the Grade 1 contest, having claimed the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Prestbury Park in 2020, but was priced as big as 10/1 when the market opened last year.

Concertista’s chances have been boosted with Honeysuckle targeting the Champion Hurdle, while Mullins’ record in the race (nine wins in 13 events) has convinced punters to get on board – shortening her odds to 11/10.

Speaking on the latest episode of our ‘Countdown to Cheltenham’ podcast, Frank detailed the chunky liability Concertista represents to our bean counters in this renewal.

In the antepost book for the Mares’ Hurdle our two significant losers are Marie’s Rock, who won’t be running, and Concertista.

Concertista was put in at 10/1 when the market was created last March and now she is 11/10, so that’s not looking great for us there.

In the non-runner money back book, we’ve got three losers – Concertista again, Black Tears and Dame De Compagnie.

None of them are crazy liabilities though because once we got to the non-runner money back stage (in January), people had already latched onto Concertista and she wasn’t a wild price – maybe 7/2 – so not too much damage done.

However, looking at the Mares’ Hurdle from an antepost point of view, if Concertista wins then we lose. We lose quite a bit on that race.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

When is the Mares’ Hurdle?

The Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle takes place on Tuesday March 16, on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival 2021. It’s scheduled to start at 15.40.

Mares’ Hurdle winners at the last five festivals

2020 – Honeysuckle (Horse), Rachel Blackmore (Jockey), Henry de Bromhead (Trainer)

2019 – Roksana, Harry Skelton, Dań Skelton

2018 – Benie Des Dieux, Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins

2017 – Apple’s Jade, Bryan Cooper, Nicky Henderson

2016 – Vroum Vroum Mag, Ruby Walsh, Willie Mullins

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL‘S BIG RACES

March 16 – 13.20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 16 – 13.55 – Arkle Chase latest odds and tips

March 16 – 15.05 – Champion Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 17 – 13.20 – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 17 – 13.55 – Festival Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips

March 17 – 15.05 – Queen Mother Champion Chase latest odds and tips

March 18 – 13.20 – Marsh Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips

March 18 – 14.30 – Ryanair Chase latest odds and tips

March 18 – 15.05 – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 19 – 13.20 – Triumph Hurdle latest odds and tips

March 19 – 14.30 – Albert Bartlett Novices’ Chase latest odds and tips

March 19 – 15.05 – Gold Cup latest odds and tips

March 19 – 16.15 – Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase latest odds and tips

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY ONE SCHEDULE

13:20 – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

13.55 – Arkle Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

14.30 – Ultima Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f

15.05 – Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y

15.40 – Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 3f 200y

16.15 – Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 87y

16.50 – National Hunt Chase (Grade 2) 3m 5f 201y

*Paddy will be all over your telly box throughout the Cheltenham Festival sponsoring ITV’s live coverage from Prestbury Park – and you can get free and exclusive tipping columns EVERY DAY from Ruby Walsh, Matt Chapman and Mick Fitzgerald here on PP News.

Read More on Cheltenham 2021

• Cheltenham Festival dates, race times and antepost tips from our experts
• Cheltenham Festival fans allowed to attend Prestbury Park?
• Cheltenham Festival: Ruby Walsh reveals what makes a top-class Champion Hurdle horse
• Cheltenham tips: Honeysuckle leads Irish charge in Champion Hurdle
• Cheltenham tips: 6 favourites worth following
• Cheltenham tips: Mick Fitzgerald’s 5 to thrive at 2021 Festival

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