Tips For The Mares Novices Hurdle 2022 – Another Mullins Win?

Formerly known as the Dawn Run, this race is open to fillies and mares aged four or older.

It is run on the New Course over a trip just longer than two miles. There are eight flights of hurdles to be jumped.

This is another race that has been dominated by Willie Mullins since its inception in 2016.

Four of the last six winners have been French-bred. A key trial for this race is the Solerina Hurdle where two of the last four winners have gone on to score here.

Previous Winners of the Mares Novices Hurdle

Runners To Watch

Below are selected runners who hold entries for the Mares Novices Hurdle 2022.

Karl Hedley provides some recent form notes to help point you in the right direction of identifying the winner.

DINOBLUE – WILLIE MULLINS

Dinoblue is a half-sister to the very useful jumper and 2019 Champion Bumper runner-up Blue Sari.

She was sent off at a short price when winning 13-runner maiden hurdle at Clonmel back in January.

She impressed with her jumping and drew some fifteen lengths clear from two out; the second and third have looked pretty useful since.

Completely unexposed and she looks a major talent.

BRANDY LOVE – WILLIE MULLINS

Brandy Love was an easy winner of her point and a bumper before finishing third to Grangee and Party Central in Grade 2 bumper last February.

She was sent off a short priced favourite and raced rather freely, making most of the running when scoring easily in 24-runner maiden at Naas in December.

She isn’t the most straightforward jumper of a hurdle and that could prove costly here.

PARTY CENTRAL – GORDON ELLIOTT

Party Central did well in bumpers and she’s 3-4 as a hurdler (when beaten by the re-opposing Impervious).

Her first two hurdle wins were at two-and-a-half miles, but she looked well suited by a strongly run race over an extended two miles in useful mares’ handicap at Leopardstown on her latest outing.

She attacked from off a strong pace in that last race and it would be foolish to dismiss her here.

GRANGEE – WILLIE MULLINS

Grangee was a distant sixth of fourteen in last year’s Champion Bumper.

She looked good when transitioning to hurdles, winning a maiden at Fairyhouse and then was fourth of six against male counterparts in Grade 1 at Leopardstown at Christmas.

Was arguably working her way into serious contention when she fell two out in Grade 3 at Fairyhouse last time, when the re-opposing Brandy Love was second.

She needs to continue improving to figure.

IMPERVIOUS – COLM MURPHY

Impervious won over hurdles on good to yielding at Cork and Listowel on first two outings.

She was then dropped to an extended two miles for a Grade 3 at Down Royal in October and found plenty for pressure to assert by five lengths in the end.

She was far from disgraced behind Statuaire and the males in Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in November, but hasn’t been seen since due to a minor setback.

If all is well she has a definite each way claim.

LOVE ENVOI – HARRY FRY

Love Envoi was a Wexford bumper winner who has flourished in mares’ novice hurdles on the Britsih mainland, winning four from four for Harry Fry.

She kept the well regarded Nurse Susan at bay in clear-cut fashion at Lingfield in January and her other hurdling wins were over two-and-a-half miles.

She clearly handles ground with plenty of give underfoot and connections will be doing a rain dance here.

Ticks The Right Boxes?

2022 Mares Novices Hurdle Tips & Key Trends

PARTY CENTRAL has done nothing wrong this season and brings her winning Graded form to the table here.

The mare has been ultra-consistent this season and can attack from off a strong pace.

Willie Mullins has runners galore in this and whilst Dinoblue looks incredibly smart, her lack of experience could count against here.

Love Envoi brings the best of the British form to the table and could well sneak a place.

Key Trends

• 4 of the last 5 winners were all second season novices
• 5 of the last 6 winners returned at an SP of 5/1 or shorter
• 3 of the previous six winners won a Graded race last time out

Odds With Betfred – correct at time of publication

• 5/2 Dinoblue
• 4/1 Brand Love
• 11/2 Party Central
• 8/1 Grangee
• 9/1 Impervious
• 16/1 Choice Of Words
• 16/1 Love Envoi