Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Anna Bunina: Rock solid mare has had a good season without winning, notably running close to Queens Brook in a Grade 3 contest here in February before solid handicap hurdle efforts at Cheltenham and Ayr. Drying ground will help but has plenty to find at this level.

Brandy Love: Hugely promising mare off the back of an eight-length success over Love Envoi in Mares Novice Championship Final at Fairyhouse last term (which came despite her jumping significantly left) but it hasn’t gone to plan for her this term, with a delayed return (third to Queens Brook here) a rather rushed preparation for Cheltenham, where she finished fifth in Mares Hurdle. She remains capable of a big performance, but perhaps more likely on a left-handed track.

Echoes In Rain: Talented mare looked to have improved on the flat through the summer by winning Connacht Hotel Handicap and finishing third in the lucrative Irish Cesarewitch. She fell just as she was getting into contention in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, before bolting up over two miles at Naas. The steadily run Mares Hurdle was a mess for her as she still pulls hard so she did well in the circumstances to come through for fourth. The same thing could happen here but it will be no surprise to see her involved more in the finish.

Epatante: Former Champion Hurdle winner finished third in this race last season but looks to have regressed since (6lbs lower rating now), well held in Mares Hurdle and when 12-length fourth in Aintree Hurdle, which she had won last season. She has the talent but looks to be going in the wrong direction.

Love Envoi: Seven wins from nine starts and second on the other two (both in Grade 1s), Harry Fry’s mare has been a model of consistency and progression through her career so far. Went close to toppling Honeysuckle under an excellent ride from the front by Johnny Burke in the Mares Hurdle. New rider today is a slight negative given Burke’s association, but she looks rock solid and looks the one to beat.

Queens Brook: Hugely consistent mare has never been out of the first three in 14 track starts and looks at least as good as ever this season, comfortably beating Anna Bunina and Brandy Love here in a Grade 3 in February before finishing valiant third to Honeysuckle and Love Envoi in Mares Hurdle. Second in this race last season and looks a solid option to put up another big performance.

Shewearsitwell: Fine start to the season with Pertemps qualifier win here over three miles and then claiming the scalp of Queens Brook in Leopardstown Grade 3. She is better than she showed at Cheltenham and finished relatively close to Marie’s Rock when fifth in this last season.

Conclusion:

There is not much between these mares, with 7lbs covering the top six rated. Queens Brook did best of the rest in the Mares Hurdle, and considering the nature of how that race was run, her effort deserves marking up. She has an excellent record at this track and can go one better than last year.