It’s 50 days to Cheltenham Festival so here’s a 50-1 double for the red-hot mares’ races

THERE are just 50 days to go until the Cheltenham Festival.

So what better way to kickstart our countdown to the greatest week of the year than with a 50-1 double?

Reuters

Top owner Kenny Alexander, middle, could have some more Cheltenham success in his famous blue and white silks[/caption]

The mares’ races are shaping up to be typically fiercely contested events.

But one owner is known above all others for success with mares – and one very special one in particular.

Kenny Alexander’s blue and white silks will always be associated with the incredible Honeysuckle.

A dual Champion Hurdle heroine she bowed out of Cheltenham with victory in the Mares’ Hurdle last year.

Cue pandemonium at the track and Rachael Blackmore being mobbed as she made her way back into the winners’ enclosure.

We could see those same colours victorious again this year in the Mares’ Hurdle and Mares’ Novice Hurdle.

Let’s start with Gala Marceau in the Mares’ Hurdle.

She’ll be up against last year’s Triumph winner Lossiemouth but, crucially, taking her on over the extended trip.

Lossiemouth has never raced over further than 2m1f – when beating Gala Marceau at last year’s Festival.

In fact, Lossiemouth has the beating of Gala Marceau twice, but Alexander’s mare looks an improver over the extended trip.

She beat Lossiemouth at last year’s Dublin Racing Festival when getting first run and her pedigree suggests 2m4f will see her at her best.

Alexander also looks set to saddle Jade De Grugy in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle.

Like Gala Marceau she is trained by Willie Mullins – and his no1 jockey Paul Townend was quick to praise her ability to stay when winning by 15 lengths over 2m4f at Leopardstown over Christmas.

The mares’ novice is 2m1f so a shorter trip but over the more stamina-sapping New course at Cheltenham.

Mullins won the first five runnings of this race after its introduction in 2016 but has drawn a blank since 2021.

Jade De Grugy is his best hope this year and will likely be shorter on the day than the 8-1 available now.

Pair her with Gala Marceau for an appealing 50-1 double with Paddy Power.

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