First run 2008. Upgraded to Grade 1 in 2015.

TRIP - Lossiemouth (first time, obviously), Whiteoak 2008, L'Unique 2014 and Legacy Gold 2016. All the other 47 win and placed had previously won over at least 2 and 1/2 miles. Whiteoak had been winner last time out and had placed form in a G2 Novice hurdle. Lossiemouth had won the Triumph and the International, L'Unique had won a 4yr G1 at Aintree. Legacy Gold a Listed bumper winner,

Lossiemouth, Quevega 2009 (her first win), and Apples Jade 2017 are the last five yr olds to have won this. Quevega came here from winning an open 12k 2m 4f hurdle at Punchestown Feb on 18th Feb, Apples Jade had won the Hattons Grace as a four year old. Lossiemouth jogged the International on Cheltenham Trials Day. Apples Jade 2nd in a Triumph, Lossiemouth won hers.

Whiteoak, a five yr old, held on to win the inaugural running when Refinement pulled herself up in the final furlong. Seems a long time ago. A winner for D McCain.

Quevega hacked home six times between 2009 and 2014, her final win achieved as a 10 yr old. A fantastic training performance. 'In command' was the phrase used about her in RP race notes 2014. Exactly the same phrase used about the racing positions of Annie Power and Benie Des Dieux before misfortune befell both at the last hurdle in 2015 and 2019 respectively. 'In command' would describe Quevega's relationship with this race. In '09 she had won last time out, '10 she won by 4l after returning from injury. In 2011, on her first run for 327 days, she wins by 10l and in my view more checks should have been carried out to prove that she hadn't joined in at halfway. In 2012 it was only 313 days off so the rest of them decided to jog for over 2 miles and sprint up the hill. She wins by 4 lengths. 'Readily' was an understatement. I did suggest in 2013 that 'Maybe they should tie her back legs together and start her pointing in the opposite direction'. Well, she got hampered, shuffled back and nearly fell on the flat at the top of the hill. She touched 4s with Betfair, and still won, 'going away'. Finished like Nijinsky (relatively) over the final 3 furlongs. In 2014 it did look for a split second that Glens Melody might have got away from her as they came round the corner. Yes, for a split second.

In 2014 Quevega was rated 167, 22lbs higher than the second top rated Cockney Sparrow on 145.

They all carry 11st 5lb.

AGE - Honeysuckle at 9 yrs joined Quevega at 8, 9 and 10 to be the only winners older than 7 yrs. Both previous winners. Telmesomethingirl ran 2nd 2024 as a 9 yr old. Nothing older than seven in last years field.

Ratings - As seen from the Board above - Last year Lossiemouth 160, 9lb clear of Jade De Grugy, a distant second. Nothing else in the 150s In 2024 she was 3lb clear of Echoes In Rain PU, 6lbs clear of the rest. 2023 Honeysuckle was rated 6lb clear. In 2022 Marie's Rock was the third lowest rated of the 12 on 140, joint top rated were two unplaced from WPM, Stormy Ireland and Echoes In Rain. 2021 it was Black Tears 148 Concertista 153, 2020 Honeysuckle 158, Benie Des Dieux 162, Elfile 151. 2019 Benie Des Dieux (F) 151, Roksana 142, Stormy Ireland 148. 2018 Benie Des Dieux 147, Midnight Tour 145, Apple's Jade 158. 2017 Apples Jade 153, Vroum Vroum Mag and Limini both 154. Next best 144. 2016 Vroum Vroum rated 154. Next two top rated Bitofapuzzle 148 and Desert Queen 147 both flopped. 2015 Annie Power (F) rated 162, Polly Peachum only 7lb behind on 155 and Glens Melody, the winner, on 150.

To summarise, eight of the 18 winners plus Annie Power (F) had at least 6lbs in hand on the field. Benie (F) had 3 lbs.

15 of the 18 BHA rated at least 147. The exceptions were Whiteoak 129 (Refinement pulled herself up), Roksana 142 (Annie Power at the last), Maries Rock 140, (Telmesomethinggirl BD two out when cantering).

Irish trained - Six of the 11 runners last year, seven of 11 2024, five of nine 2023, seven of 12 runners 2022, best then were Queens Brook 2nd, Mrs Milner 3rd. That makes it 15 wins, 10 runners up, 11 thirds and four fourths from a total of 95 runners. W Mullins has 11 wins but five barren years before Lossiemouth. 2021, Black Tears, in the care of Denise Foster, nutted Willie's Concertista on the line. Honeysuckle (1st time) in 2020 was Henry de Bromhead's first ever runner in the race. 2024 he had 2nd, 3rd an 4th home. Last year July Flower only 5th.

N Henderson and Dan Skelton (fortunate) only GB trainers to take this since Donald McCain won the very first one in 2008. Irish 1-2-4 last year, 1-2-3-4 in 2024. Take No Chances (3rd last year) Maries Rock, Love Envoi and Roksana only GB ones to be placed in the last six.

PRICE - Lossiemouth 4/6 and 8/13, Marie's Rock 18s, Black Tears 11s, Honeysuckle 9/4 2nd fav, Roksana 10/1 4th fav (behind Willie's front three) Benie Des Dieux second fav at 9/2, Apples Jade won as third favourite at 7/2. Going backwards from 2016, the three Mullins hotpots had the SPs of 4/6, 1/2 (F), 8/11 (twice) 4/7, 5/6, 6/4 and 2/1. All favourites. Biggest priced Irish trained winner has been Glens Melody at 6/1.

Lossiemouth 8/13 2024 first of the last seven clear favourites to oblige. That does seem odd for this level weights Mares Race. Then she followed up at 4/6. Vroom Vroom Mag beaten at 6/4f in 2017. Five odds on shots turned over in the last 11 renewals. The second favourite has been placed nine times in the 18 races, including Jade de Grugy. Not in the previous two years. Queens Brook 4/1 second 2022.

Lossiemouth F Irish Champion 8/11 and Apples Jade in 2017 (turned over at 2/5 Punchestown Quevega Mares Hurdle) only BFs last time to win this.

Lossiemouth, Apple's Jade, Quevega and Whiteoak only five yr olds to win this. Apple's Jade and Honeysuckle the only ones to do Hattons Grace double in the same season. Lossiemouth waited a season for Fairyhouse. Apple's Jade the first four year old ever to win a Hattons Grace. Won three of them. Another wonderful mare. No five yr olds in 2023 or 2024. Kala Conti 7th last year.

16 of the 18 winners had won against the geldings. 13 of those in Grade 1 or 2. Exceptions there include Maries Rock Vroom Vroom Mag and Benie Des Dieux. Black Tears previously 2nd in 2020 G3 Coral Cup. Only Marie's Rock and Black Tears had yet to be placed in any G2. The former came from winning the Warwick Listed, and the latter came here from winning a G3.

MARES NOVICE. Won by Love Envoi in 2022, then 2nd here 2023. Black Tears 4th 2019 then won this in 2021. Concertista won 2020 then 2nd here 2021 at odds on. Enfile 6th 2019, then 3rd here 2020. Limini won 2016 novice, 3rd here 2017. Last year Golden Ace went up a grade.

The Mares Hurdle at Ascot registered as the Warfield has been a fair trial, if not recently. Vroum Vroum Mag won it en route to success here. Three runners in it finished second to Quevega. United and Sparky May won at Ascot before finishing second here. Both Kentford Grey Lady 2012 and Refinement 2008 finished second in both races in the same season. Ran over soft ground in 2017, Le Bague Au Roi won easy at Ascot but disappointed here. No contenders. 2021 to 2024. Take No Chances won it last year, 3rd here.

Quevega Mares Hurdle at Punchestown 20th Feb saw Limini beat Apple's Jade in 2017, places reversed here. 2016 Legacy Gold has been placed in both, 40/1 here. 2018 Merie Devie didn't come here. 2019 Stormy Ireland finished second in both. 2020 Elfile won at Punchestown, third here. 2021 won by Black Tears. 2022 Burning Victory a disappointing ninth here at 6/1. 2023 Queens Brook won, has been placed in last two editions of this. 2024 Hispanic Moon won it, 3rd in this at 40s. Last year Jade De Grugy 5/1 followed Lossiemouth home. Grainne A Chroi not entered 2026

13 of the 18 won last time out. The exceptions are Lossiemouth 2025, Honeysuckle 2023, Roksanna, Apples Jade and Quevega before her second win. She had been 9th at Auteuil the previous summer.

No winner began their career on the Flat in GB or Ireland.

Apart from Quevega, others to finish in the first three more than once are Lossiemouth, Honeysuckle, Queens Brook, Roksana 2021, Benie Des Dieux 2020, Glens Melody 2015. Telmesomethinggirl might have been. BD 2022.

SIRES - The following sires have yet to produce the winner despite numerous representatives. Kayf Tara, Midnight Legend (both 0 wins from 10 runners Youwearitwell last year, last), Alflora, Beneficial or Fleminsfirth (all 0 from 7 each). Marie's Rock by Milan. Lossiemouth by Great Pretender.

HEADGEAR - Winners are one from 29 triers, Black Tears 11/1 in her usual cheekpieces. No others placed. Perhaps Concertista could have done with them (pocket talking). Two ran last year, Jetara 4th best.

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