THE race more likely to be added to the Festival in the next few years, according to Cheltenham director Ian Renton, is a listed mares’ chase.

Here, too, caution is advised. A race should only be added to the Festival if there is a need for it, and if it can attract horses of a decent quality.

That is not yet clear from the general jumping scene in Britain and Ireland.

The point of creating a separate division of mares’ only races was a means to an end. To establish and improve a National Hunt broodmare band that can to the breeding shed with blacktype form on the track.

That has been done and mares’ races at the big festivals are now of a high class. They have come a long way from when Whiteoak won the first one at the Festival in 2008.

Mares have a further purpose beyond the racetrack. Once a mare has won a graded race over hurdles, she becomes a valuable prospect and running over fences creates an additional risk. We’ve seen a few owner-breeders lose nice mares over jumps. Given the rate of injury and sometimes worse, mares might well not run beyond the ages of nine or 10. We saw suggestions that Vroum Vroum Mag and Limini might be retired this week. Looking back at some talented mares of recent eras, Opera Hat ran until she was 11, Pomme Tiepy last raced at eight, For Bill also ran until she was eight. Galway Plate winner Blazing Tempo last raced at nine, as did Solerina.

There also has to be some justification for the argument that there should a stage when mares, having established themselves as the best of their sex, be forced into open company. They get a valuable 7lb from geldings in Grade 1 races.

Fayonagh was well able to take on males in bumpers last season, and would have been wasted in the mares’ novice at the Festival this season.

With Limini destined to miss Cheltenham, the Mares’ Hurdle looks at the mercy of Apple’s Jade, with only Let’s Dance up to her class.

We might never have a mare winning the Gold Cup again if there are too many options and trainers take the easiest one.