Jake Price's Horse Racing Tip for Lady Mares Novice Hurdle

TIP 1: SWITCH FROM DIESEL - 1pt Win

Best odds of 7/2 at bet365 while publishing.

This does not look like a vintage Feathard Lady, and there certainly isn't anything of the quality of previous winners such as Brighterdaysahead. Instead then I think it will pay to stick with the Horse who has achieved the highest level of these so far in SWITCH FROM DIESEL, who is nothing if not admirable.

This Mare is a 7yo now, but she finds herself in a race like this at her age because she simply spent so long in Bumper races. She began running in Bumpers all the way back in August 2023, and that year even saw her finish second in the Grade 2 Mares Bumper at the Leopardstown DRF.

When she returned in the Autumn of 2024 though connections decided to keep her down the same route, and that season culminated in her winning the Listed Bumper at Fairyhouse, before then finishing second to Bambino Fever in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Punchestown Festival.

Last season she finally went Hurdling, and on debut she was beaten a length by Flashaway before she was then immediately pitched into Listed level. That run to finish just 2.75 lengths behind Echoing Silence (129) was a good one, but afterwards it prompted connections to go for two Grade 1s against the boys at both Naas and Leopardstown, which were very ambitious to say the least.

Once she was beaten in those, Ross O’Sullivan gave her a rest, and in the new season in May he finally allowed her to go and win her Maiden - and at Punchestown in May she thrashed the re-opposing Salsinha by 6 lengths. Under a penalty she then returned to the same track in June for a Novice Hurdle, and once more she ran out a ready winner when scoring by 4.25 lengths. She had a spin on the Flat 16 days later, but then she was put away with the Autumn in mind.

That return came on the 3rd October where she ran a grand race but was no match for the very talented Witches Familiar in a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Gowran, but that second place effort following a 103 day absence should tee her up perfectly for this much more winnable Grade 3 back in Mares only company. Her experience and level of form is unrivalled by these, and only the favourite Ash Hobbs can boast a profile whereby she could be better - but she would still have to raise her level a fair amount from winning a Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse, as she certainly was nowhere near as good in Bumpers.