Former Gold Cup winning owners Joe and Marie Donnelly have strengthened their Cheltenham Festival hand after buying Brandy Love. She will be aimed at the Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day of the Festival but prior to that will be on show this Wednesday in the Quevega Mares’ Hurdle.
Joe and Marie Donnelly Buy Brandy Love to Bolster Cheltenham Squad
Joe and Marie Donnelly have snapped up the exciting mare Brandy Love from previous owner Claudio Michael Grech to join their 2023 Cheltenham Festival team.
Shiskhin, who is the current Ryanair Chase favourite and Gaillard Du Mesnil, who heads the betting for the National Hunt Chase, are other leading chances at the Festival for the popular owners.
Brandy Love will now be another big name running for the Donnelly camp and will have the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival as her target.
The famous Irish owners, that sport the famous yellow and black check silks, also won the Gold Cup in 2019 and 2020 with Al Boum Photo.
Brandy Love to Run at Punchestown On Wednesday
However, before her Cheltenham Festival date, the Willie Mullins-trained Brandy Love is entered to run at Punchestown on Wednesday (22nd February), where she will be a warm order to win the Racing TV Quevega Mares Hurdle.
Last year’s Mares’ Hurdle runner-up Queens Brook will be her biggest danger, but Brandy Love is expected to win for a third time over hurdles before heading to Prestbury Park.
Willie Mullins also likes to target Wednesday’s Punchestown race – which is named in honour of his former star mare Quevega, who won six times at the Cheltenham Festival.
The County Carlow handler has landed the prize seven times in the last 9 runnings, including 12 months ago with his 2020 Triumph Hurdle winner Burning Victory and back in 2016 with Annie Power.
Mares’ Hurdle the Target For Brandy Love at Cheltenham Festival
Brandy Love was last seen winning the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Novice Hurdle Championship at Fairyhouse last April – beating Love Envoi by an impressive 8 lengths.
Mullins is clearly keen to get a run into her before Cheltenham though to blow away the cobwebs before taking on a decent field in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day of the Festival (Tues 14th March). The two-time Champion Hurdler Honeysuckle and last year’s winner Marie’s Rock will be waiting for her.
A win on Wednesday will surely see Brandy Love’s Cheltenham odds @ 4/1 with bet365 for the Mares’ Hurdle firm up.
What Date & Time Is The 2023 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle?
📅Time/Date: 4:10pm (Tuesday 14th March 2023)
🏇Racecourse: Cheltenham
💰 Purse/Winner: £67,524
📺 TV: ITV / Racing TV
Mares’ Hurdle Latest Odds with Bet365
- Honeysuckle @ 9/4 with bet365
- Marie’s Rock @ 5/2 with bet365
- Brandy Love @ 4/1 with bet365
- Love Envoi @ 5/1 with bet365
- Echoes In Rain @ 7/1 with bet365
- 12/1 bar
Note: Odds are subject to change and others on request
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