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Cheltenham Festival: I’m not convinced by Maughreen yet – 10/1 shot appeals more for Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle

Ruby Walsh

Cheltenham Festival, Horse Racing Tips

7mo ago

*Odds quoted on the widget are Future Racing / Antepost prices which means that if your selection does not run in the race for whatever reason – you will lose your stake under traditional Antepost rules.

Paddy Power Media’s ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ podcast ‘Cheltenham Countdown’ is back as host Tom Nugent picks the brains of the Cheltenham Festival’s winning-most jockey turned TV pundit Ruby Walsh and well-known journalist and broadcaster Rory Delargy.

In the third episode of this year’s series, the gang have looked at the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle ahead of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival.

RUBY WALSH

*The show was recorded on Monday before Maughreen won at Punchestown later in the afternoon …

Maughreen doesn’t appeal to me this morning anyway (before Maughreen won on debut).

Willie Mullins trains her so Cheltenham is absolutely not out of the question if she gets beaten at Punchestown, bar she falls out the back of the television and then you’d have to be scratching your head. Should she go down a neck or three parts, you’d be hoping there’d be the natural improvement and she’ll still give herself a shot.

But does that mean she’s a shorter price than she is this morning? Definitely not. She has to go and win impressively to be any shorter than she is right now.

*Paddy cut her to 3-1 favourite from 4-1 favourite after the win and she is now 10-3 favourite

Her bumper form is fine, she has to do it for me. I’m not convinced just yet.

Impressive Sixandahalf

Sixandahalf looked fairly good and I love the way she progressed as she went through the race at Fairyhouse jumping wise. She half came off into the back of the third last hurdle and when Keith Donoghue stoked her up, she was straight back on the bridle and she was really impressive down the straight.

To me, she was the best mares novice in Ireland this year unless you chucked in maybe a Saint Lucie or something as a juvenile if you thought this was easier than the Triumph. It’s not something Willie does but it could be an option too.

Quevega’s daughter up against it

Aurora Vega was probably more impressive in the Solerina than she was on New Year’s Day, but some of Willie’s other fillies blew out – Baby Kate, Fancy Girl didn’t run their races at all. I don’t even think Mongibello ran as well as she did at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day.

Look she’s getting the job done, but do I look at her and think ‘Jesus, you’re a ringer for your mother?’ I don’t.

The leading contenders

Watch Maughreen – Sixandahalf sets the standard in Ireland and it would be Jubilee Alpha for me in the UK.

There’s no doubt Willie will enter Saint Lucie in this race because she’s a mare, she qualifies, he’ll enter her and that will have an impact on the market, but whether his intention is ever to run her or not?

I’d nearly be siding with Jubilee Alpha. I just loved her in the last 100 yards in Windsor.

It’s not a massive race for ante-post betting, but Jubilee Alpha and Sixandahalf would be good dockets to be holding.