15:00
Newbury
Odds correct as of 11:57am 17th Mar
Just because the Cheltenham Festival is over for another year, that doesn’t mean that we’re finished with National Hunt racing this season. There’s still plenty to look forward to, including some competitive action at Newbury on Saturday.
The Grade 2 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is the series final and there’s a decent prize pot of £65,000 on offer. Liam Bramall likes the look of a 14/1 shot who Willie Mullins used to train and she could be on a very nice mark here. Check out our free tips page for daily content across British and Irish racing.
Kom Tu Voudras (14/1, bet365) is half-sister to six winners, including the Joseph O’Brien-trained Entoucas, who won a maiden hurdle and placed in several decent handicap chases. This daughter of Martinborough made her debut in a Fontainebleau bumper for Daniela Mele in 2023.
She ran on well to finish third that day but was a little outpaced over 1m5f and didn’t have the clearest of passages through the race. Clearly Willie Mullins though plenty of her as he started her off in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in April.
Things didn’t quite go to plan that day and she was well beaten pretty far out, eventually being pulled up by Simon Torrens. Third in a Tramore maiden hurdle after that, she had no chance with the impressive winner but finished well clear of the fourth.
Owner JP McManus sent her to Faye Bramley after a poor display at Fairyhouse but she took an enormous step forward to get off the mark on stable debut at Huntingdon. An opening mark of 106 looks very workable and there could be any amount of improvement to come, now tackling handicaps.
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