Cheltenham Tips: Ruby Walsh’s 8/1 fancy for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle non runner money back

Ruby reckons Lot of Joy could be the one in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle on March 16th.

By / Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips / 1 year ago

Ruby’s Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle tip non runner money back

Lot Of Joy

The Cheltenham Festival 2023 is just four weeks away and jump jockey icon turned tactical guru Ruby Walsh and top pundit Rory Delargy are with us every week to hopefully get you more bang for your buck.

The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is the sixth race on Day 3 of this year’s Cheltenham Festival, and the lads have been looking at the markets to hopefully find you a winner as we pass the half-way mark.

Nicky Henderson’s Luccia is the current favourite at the time of writing but there are plenty of others who could be in the reckoning.

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Ruby Walsh: Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Ashroe Diamond sets the standard. She’s a very good mare and will have a penalty to carry because of her Fairyhouse win. That’s not necessarily a negative as Limini and Laurina both won at the Festival with penalties.

She was good at Fairyhouse when Danny Mullins rode and that was over 2m 2f and she toughed it out in a slowly-run race but quickened well to win. Before that, she came from a long way off the pace to finish third to Facile Vega and Il Etait Temps in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Night And Day had her first run in the Grade 1 Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse last Easter and won her maiden hurdle on her next run at Clonmel. She’s a filly who has always worked well and she’s going in the right direction.

Lot Of Joy was just touched off in the Cesarewitch. Danny Tudhope rode her from a bad draw and she ran really well. Her jumping let her down at Cork, she was too free over 2m 4f at Christmas but she looked more at home over 2m at Fairyhouse. She’s learning to settle. She’s a really good filly and a couple of runs over jumps have calmed her down a bit.

Nikini had a good run at Down Royal in November but hasn’t run since. Saylavee did well at Punchestown but maybe got a little bit found out in the race Ashroe Diamond won at Fairyhouse. Nikini may be open to more improvement.

Willie Mullins could run seven and most will have earned their place in the field!

Tony Mullins’ Princess Zoe would be a hell of a story and she brings incredible Flat form to the table. Some people might argue she’s regressed a little bit on the Flat but the emergence of Ballydoyle’s Kyprios has probably forced her to regress as races have been run a little bit differently.

Her jumping didn’t blow me away at Punchestown on her hurdling debut. Ladybank forced a dead-heat – Princess Zoe slowed down to jump the last but Rachael Blackmore dropped her whip on Ladybank. She has to improve a bit jumping wise. I know the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is on the New Course at Cheltenham and there’s only two hurdles in the last seven furlongs, but there’s three in a row down the back straight. If an inexperienced jumper ‘misses’ all three of those, it leaves you in such a bad position for the final two hurdles.

Henry de Bromhead’s Magical Zoe did well to win the Feathard Lady Hurdle at Down Royal. She came home really well to get the better of Nikini. I’m certain she wants better ground so Henry  pulled the plug on her over the winter and will be hoping to have her back in the Spring to go again.

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Ruby’s Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Tips:

Lot Of Joy

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