Mares' Novices' Hurdle 2022 Entries: Allegorie De Vassy and Brandy Love head entry list
Allegorie De Vassy emphatically beat stablemate Brandy Love earlier in the season, and the pair are set for an epic battle at next month's Cheltenham Festival, as both feature among the entry list for the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, which will be run on March 17...
A winner by over three lengths in the Grade 3 Solerina Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Fairyhouse in late January, Allegorie De Vassy made it two wins from two starts for Willie Mullins, and the Closutton handler, who has won five of the six renewals of the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, will have another strong team heading to Prestbury Park next month for this event. Around the 3/1 mark at the moment, Allegorie De Vassy is sure to be one of the leading players for the Mullins team, but prior to that Fairyhouse defeat Brandy Love had made an impressive debut over timber winning at Naas, and despite her defeat she remains the 9/2 second favourite.
A 15 length winner of a Clonmel maiden hurdle earlier this year, Dinoblue could be another shot fired by the Mullins gun, and the JP McManus-owned mare is a 6/1 chance, and she has to be given the utmost respect in what is set to be a race full of potential.
Dan Skelton's Elle Est Belle is one of the more experienced contenders set to take her chance, and she could fly the flag for the British charge. Around the 8/1 mark at the moment, Skelton's raider was last seen winning the prestigious Sidney Banks at Huntingdon, and last season's Champion Bumper third has to be a major player, if taking her chance.
A winner of a Grade 3 event at Down Royal back in October, Colm Murphy's Impervious was unable to land a blow against the boys when fifth in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse back in November, but a return to the mares division should see her in a much better light and she's another eye-catching entry.
Others that catch the eye include Statuaire, who was a sparkling winner of that aforementioned Royal Bond, but the seven-year-old was unable to follow up when beaten comfortably by Sir Gerhard on her last outing. Gordon Elliott's Party Central was beaten by Impervious earlier in the season, but since then she has racked up a brace of victories and looks to be one of those on a steep incline and is hovering around 8/1 mark.
Sixth in the Champion Bumper last season, Grangee was expected to blossom over hurdles this term and she has shown some signs she could be a smart hurdling prospect, and she adds more depth to the Mullins team, while the likes of Love Envoi and Get A Tonic add more depth to the list of entries.