The 2m 4f Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle (16:10) looks like a match on paper between Benie Des Dieux and Honeysuckle.
Preference is for the latter at the odds on offer during day one of the Cheltenham Festival this Tuesday.
Trained by Henry De Bromhead who is having a fine season, this six-year-old daughter of Sulamani is unbeaten in eight career starts.
Having beaten the very useful Annie Mc in an Irish point, Honeysuckle made an impressive Rules debut when bolting up by 12 lengths at Fairyhouse in November 2018.
She then took the step up into Listed company easily in her stride before landing a Grade 3.
The Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse has produced four subsequent Cheltenham Festival winners in recent years, so that form is respected.
Honeysuckle missed this meeting last year, however, because her handler wasn’t happy with her work at home.
She looked as good as ever when landing a Grade 1 at the Easter Festival back at happy hunting ground Fairyhouse when easily beating the re-opposing Elfile.
The runner-up has since landed three of her next four starts, including the Quevega at Punchestown.
Great in Hatton’s Grace
That meant connections had a serious hurdles prospect on their hands this season.
Honeysuckle has proven that by again bolting up in a minor event on reappearance at Fairyhouse before returning there and oozing class in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.
The way in which she cruised into the lead approaching two out and soon put the race to bed was hugely impressive.
Honeysuckle bested previous Grade 2 scorer Bacardys and multiple Grade 1 winning mare Apple’s Jade in really taking style.
She was dropped back down in distance for the Irish Champion Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out. Honeysuckle found enough to win that despite the trip being short of her optimum.
It’s no surprise to see connections step her back up for the Mares’ Hurdle. There is 4lb to find on official ratings with Benie Des Dieux, but Honeysuckle is three years younger than her main market rival and open to more progress.
Taking all that into account, plus the fact the favourite fell in this 12 months ago, she is the value play.
Honeysuckle is 5/2 with Unibet to continue her undefeated streak and land the spoils over what is her ideal trip.
Benie Des Dieux feared and a respected rival
The 2018 Mares’ Hurdle winner Benie Des Dieux would be bidding for a hat-trick in this if she hadn’t come to grief at the final flight last year.
Trainer Willie Mullins has farmed the race down the years too, so it’s no surprise she is the bookmakers’ odds-on favourite.
Now aged nine, Benie Des Dieux has had just one blip since joining the Closutton master from France.
After winning three chase starts, the daughter of Great Pretender only needed driving out to score in this by half-a-length from Midnight Tune two years ago.
Benie Des Dieux went on to follow-up at the Punchestown Festival in the Mares Champion Hurdle and has since landed that again.
Owners Rich and Susannah Ricci decided with Mullins to step her up in trip last summer and plunder the French Champion Hurdle.
She made the useful De Bon Coeur look very ordinary when ridden clear from the last to score more Grade 1 glory at Auteuil.
Benie Des Dieux goes well fresh and cruised to victory on her reappearance in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in January.
As she won eased down and was thus value for more than the 21 lengths winning margin, this was an authoritative display.
These recent victories have come over 3m, however, and Honeysuckle is a much bigger danger than she faced last time out. Benie Des Dieux is opposed on her 8/11 price with Boylesports alone.
She faced fully exposed rivals at Gowran, rather than a young mare on a serious upward curve who looks like she could give her a race here.
In-form Stormy Ireland best of rest in Mares’ Hurdle
With Roksana – last year’s beneficiary of Benie Des Dieux falling – not running up to form, other Mullins mount Stormy Ireland has solid claims of making the frame again.
The Sullivan Bloodstock owned six-year-old was runner-up in the Mares’ Hurdle 12 months ago and at the Punchestown Festival behind Benie Des Dieux.
Her back form also includes being runner-up to ill-fated 2019 Champion Hurdle hero Espoir D’Allen at Limerick. Stormy Ireland has been in fine form this season winning all three of her starts.
She was four lengths too good for Black Tears – winner of a graded handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival since – on reappearance when giving the runner-up 8lb and a four-length beating.
This daughter of Motivator then followed-up on that Punchestown victory with another in Grade 3 company at Leopardstown.
Stormy Ireland ran out an easy 5 1/2 lengths winner over aforementioned stable companion Elfile, who has won since.
She completed her hat-trick in the Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas against the boys when staying on well over a shorter trip for another facile six-length success.
Those runs give Stormy Ireland strong prospects of a place at 12/1 with BetVictor.
Don’t discount Mares’ Hurdle northern raider Lady Buttons
Lady Buttons is a very gutsy and likeable type who came fourth in the Mares’ Hurdle 12 months ago.
Although Phil Kirby’s stable star is the eldest in the line-up at 10, she maintains her form superbly.
After winning the same Listed race as last season on reappearance at Wetherby, Lady Buttons was fourth in a messily run renewal of the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. When back against her own sex, however, she proved her stamina.
Lady Buttons got up in typically tenacious style to land one of the most competitive mares’ chases ever staged at Doncaster.
She beat BetVictor Gold Cup heroine Happy Diva and Grade 1 winning novice La Bague Au Roi on Town Moor.
The daughter of Beneficial returned there over hurdles to land a second Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle from old rival Irish Roe.
This demands more, but Lady Buttons cannot be discounted if running nearer the pace this time at 20/1 with SportNation.
