Cheltenham Festival 2025 Tips - Nicky's novice can claim the mares' crown

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Wed 26 Feb 2025 16:02

Jon Vine 26 Feb 2025

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Our fifth ante-post tip for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival
We've backed Kientzheim at 14/1 for the 2025 Mares' Novices' Hurdle
The 2025 Mares' Novices' Hurdle will be run at Cheltenham on Thursday 13th March

Cheltenham races. (Getty)

Here's my fifth ante-post tip for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, which begins on Tuesday, March 11th.

For my fifth ante-post tip, I'm going to focus on the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, which will now open the card on day three of the Cheltenham Festival.

2025 Mares' Novices' Hurdle Tips - Kientzheim

The 2024 Cheltenham Festival was an absolute nightmare for Nicky Henderson. A virus swept through Seven Barrows at the start of March and, after his horses ran poorly over the first two days of the meeting, Nicky was forced to withdraw his big guns on Thursday and Friday.

2025 could see a reversal in fortunes for Henderson. As things stand, the master of Seven Barrows will saddle four favourites in the Grade Ones, after Constitution Hill, Sir Gino, Jonbon and Lulamba produced stand-out performances at Kempton and Ascot.

Another Seven Barrows inmate who impressed at Kempton's Christmas Festival was KIENTZHEIM (14/1), who made a winning start over hurdles on Boxing Day. Despite drifting from 5/4 to 2/1 on the day, Nico De Boinville gave Nicky's newcomer a confident ride, picking off joint-favourite Beau Quali before asserting after the last.

Kientzheim ran three times in French bumpers last season, claiming commanding victories on her final two starts. JP McManus then swooped to purchase this dazzling grey, who could have one more start in novice company before heading to the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

Henderson hasn't had the best of luck in this Grade Two. Epatante was beaten as the favourite in 2019 before claiming Champion Hurdle glory the following year, and he's watched both Luccia and Ahorsewithnoname come up short in recent years.

Kientzheim comes from the same family as Epatante and her half-sister, Joyeuse is also stabled at Seven Barrows. Sixandahalf and Jubilee Alpha have thrown their hats into the Mares' Novices' Hurdle ring in recent weeks and we're yet to see ante-post favourite, Maughreen jump a hurdle. It looks set to be a hot race, but I was really impressed with Kientzheim's debut victory and there's clearly a lot left in the tank. At 14/1, she offers value.

2025 Cheltenham Festival Ante-Post Tips

Name	Race	Price Taken	Current Odds
Kopek Des Bordes	2025 Turners Novices' Hurdle	14/1	8/1
El Fabiolo	2025 Ryanair Chase	7/1	6/1
King Turgeon	2025 Ultima Handicap Chase	20/1	20/1
Corbetts Cross	2025 Gold Cup	20/1	20/1
Kientzheim	2025 Mares' Novices' Hurdle	14/1	NA

Verdict

Kientzheim looked smart when winning on debut for Nicky Henderson and she comes from a family of classy hurdlers. The Mares' Novices' Hurdle looks likely to be her target and she could come in for significant support if she wins again prior to the Cheltenham Festival. I'm taking the 14/1 while is lasts.

Kientzheim

2025 Mares' Novices' Hurdle Ante-Post Tip

@14/1 - 10 Units

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