When is the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham?

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Find out everything you need to know about the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival, including what it is, the date, time, and runners.

With Cheltenham Festival not far away, you might be curious about which race dates you should add to your calendar. Well, in this article, we’ve pulled together everything you need to know about the 2025 Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham – including the date and time, and where to watch it if you’re not able to be there in person.

What is the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham?

Introduced in 2016, the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle goes by a couple of names: its registered title, the Dawn Run Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, is in honour of the celebrated mare who remains the only horse to win both the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup, while it is also currently run under the title of the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, who have sponsored the event since 2022.

Open to mares and fillies aged four and over, it is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race spanning across a distance of approximately 2 miles 1 furlong with 8 hurdles needing to be jumped over the course of the race.

What date is the Cheltenham Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle?

Taking place on day three of the Cheltenham Festival 2025 schedule, the date of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle is set for the Thursday 13th of March.

Given the time of year, this can result in uncertain weather conditions whether that be sunshine, wind, rain, or potentially even snow. To avoid getting caught out, it’s important to check the forecast beforehand and wear suitable clothing if you’re planning on attending the event in person.

What time is the Cheltenham Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle?

The Cheltenham Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle will start at 1:20pm on Thursday 13th March, making it the first event to occur on day three, the penultimate day of the festival, before the Jack Richards Novices’ Chase (2pm).

Where does the Cheltenham Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle take place?

The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle will take place on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse. As the opening race of day three, it’s the first race of the festival to be run on the New Course.

How can you watch the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham?

For those who are unable to enjoy the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse, you’ll still be able to watch it live on ITV on the 13th of March at 1:20pm. Alternatively, if you’ve got a Racing TV subscription, you can also watch full festival coverage there too.

The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle horses and jockeys at Cheltenham 2025

It’s worth noting that the first five horses to win the race were all trained by Willie Mullins who has 10 horses set to take part out of this year’s roster. This accounts for over 20% of the 46 horses that are down to race.

Whilst 2024’s winning trainer, Jeremy Scott, doesn’t have a horse partaking in the race, Jamie Snowden (2023) and Henry De Bromhead (2021) both do.

Finalised race jockey information has yet to be released, but the complete roster of horses expected to feature at this year’s Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle include:

How to bet on the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham?

Whether you’re hoping for beginner’s luck or are a seasoned horse racing bettor, here at Betway, we make it easy to get stuck in and bet on the horse racing events at Cheltenham Festival – including the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle! You can take your pick from placing a race win bet on your chosen horse or opting for each way odds, which includes a win bet and a place bet for horses finishing in a top 3 position.

For further information, be sure to check out our complete Cheltenham Festival guide, or take a look at our full range of horse racing antepost odds if you’re ready to get started.

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