Joyeuse joins battle for Mares’ Hurdle honours

Nicky Henderson’s Joyeuse has been supplemented for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

A runaway winner of the newly-named William Hill Hurdle at Newbury last month, the six-year-old initially looked an unlikely runner in the Cotswolds as she was one short of the five runs required to qualify for the Festival handicaps.

Henderson nominated last weekend’s Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso as a potential target, but subsequently had a change of heart and persuaded owner JP McManus to stump up the required £4,800 to add her to Tuesday’s Grade One contest at the confirmation stage.

Frank Berry, racing manager to McManus, said: “That’s the plan, she’s been supplemented and she’ll go there.

“She was very impressive the last day, very good, and Nicky said she’d come out of the race very well.

“She’s been very well in the meantime and so we’re hoping all goes to plan.

“She did it very nicely at Newbury, Nicky is very happy with her so we’re looking forward to seeing her out again.”

Joyeuse is a general best-priced 6-1 for the Mares’ Hurdle, with Lossiemouth odds-on despite also being left in the Champion Hurdle by trainer Willie Mullins.

Even if Lossiemouth does take on the boys, Mullins will still be well represented in his bid for an 11th Mares’ Hurdle success, with the Kenny Alexander-owned trio of Gala Marceau, Jade De Grugy and Kargese all standing their ground.

Golden Ace (Jeremy Scott) and July Flower (Henry de Bromhead) also feature among the 15 remaining contenders.

Seventeen horses are in the mix for the Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, including the red-hot Mullins-trained favourite Kopek Des Bordes.

The Closutton maestro has whittled his team in the traditional Festival curtain-raiser down to nine, with Salvator Mundi and Irancy also worthy of consideration. Gordon Elliott’s Romeo Coolio and De Bromhead’s Workahead further strengthen the Irish contingent.

Nine horses go forward for the My Pension Expert Arkle Challenge Trophy, with Majborough another warm order for Mullins ahead of his clash with Dan Skelton’s L’Eau Du Sud.

The Changing Man (Joe Tizzard) and Broadway Boy (Nigel Twiston-Davies) are two of 31 confirmations for the Ultima Handicap Chase, while the Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle – better known as the Fred Winter – has 38 entries, including Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm’s French raider Stencil.

The Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup, which will this year be run as a novice handicap chase for the first time, brings day one of the Festival to a close and leading hopes among 29 possibles include Gavin Cromwell’s Now Is The Hour and the Rebecca Curtis-trained Haiti Couleurs.