Horsebetting.com experts give their 2018 Abram Mares’ Hurdle betting tips in the 2m 3f Listed contest for novices at Haydock on Saturday, 22 December. Danse Idol has form over further, so looks well worth a wager to win this for trainer Paul Nicholls. Shantung is feared most under leading northern jockey Brian Hughes. Indefatigable, meanwhile, appeals most as an each-way alternative in a competitive renewal. Read all about these horses’ hope in our detailed 2018 Abram Mares’ Hurdle betting tips preview.Danse Idol to call the Abram tune at HaydockPaul Nicholls has his team in fine form, so Danse Idol looks well worth a wager to drop back in trip and step up in class to land the spoils in the Listed 2m 3f Abram Mares’ Hurdle for novices at Haydock on Saturday (13:00). This five-year-old daughter of Dansant out of a Sadler’s Wells mare has won over further and shaped well over shorter in bumpers.
After winning an Irish point by a couple of lengths, she chased home subsequent Champion Bumper heroine Relegate at Punchestown while still in the care of JP O’Callaghan. Highclere Thoroughbreds were sufficiently impressed with these displays and bought her, sending Danse Idol to join Ditcheat handler Nicholls.
Progress when stepped up in trip
There was lots to like about her debut for new connections in a Listed mares’ bumper at Cheltenham when a plugging on 13 lengths sixth to The Glancing Queen last month. She shaped as if needing further and, given Danse Idol already had a 3m win from the point field, that’s no surprise.
When stepped back to an extended 2m 5f at Wincanton on her hurdles bow last time out, she resumed winning ways. Danse Idol jumped well throughout and never looked in any danger from the moment she hit the front at the fourth flight. She was well in command and value for more than the comfortable 3 1/2 lengths winning margin over Printing Dollars.
The drop back in trip holds no fears and Bryony Frost now takes over in the saddle. This looks a great opportunity for Danse Idol to get some black type, so she heads our 2018 Abram Mares’ Hurdle betting tips and can take this en route to bigger and better things.Shantung one of many dangersIt’s a competitive eight-runner renewal of the race and there are plenty of dangers. Of those, the impressive Lingfield winner Shantung may just give Danse Idol the most to think about for trainer Lucy Wadham.
While this five-year-old daughter of Shantou’s bumper form isn’t anything like that achieved by our selection, she was only beaten 2 1/2 lengths into third in her last run in that sphere by Midnightreferendum. The winner went on to chase Getaway Katie Mai home in the Grade 2 Aintree mares’ bumper and has since won over hurdles herself at Fontwell.
Shantung has also been progressive in two hurdles starts, clearly learning plenty when a 30-length sixth to Outofthisworld at Market Rasen on reappearance. She was then an emphatic winner at Lingfield, drawing easily clear before two out and had the race put to bed before jumping the last.
Leighton Aspell could afford to ease Shantung right down thereafter, so she was value for more than the 12-length winning margin. She had her rivals strung out last washing, and the runner-up Evidence De Thaix has since come out and won to give the form a boost.
This is a big step up, but victory over the rough distance is an obvious plus and Brian Hughes now takes the ride. He’s on a strike rate of just over 20 per cent in the last fortnight at the time of writing, so Shantung also had to feature in our 2018 Abram Mares’ Hurdle betting tips.Indefatigable an each-way alternativeAs noted above, plenty have claims of making the frame in what promises to be a fascinating renewal. Another mare that ticks plenty of boxes is Indefatigable, who is now 7lb better off with Danse Idol from that Punchestown bumper where she was third. This five-year-old joined Paul Webber after that run and dead-heated at Southwell on debut for her new handler.
Although an outpaced 20-length seventh to Lust For Glory on her hurdles bow at Newbury in November, Indefatigable was in very good company and then cashed in on a drop in class last time out. She was clear from two out at Uttoxeter and an easy 15 lengths winner.
As with many of her fellow mares in this, you can question what she beat but the manner in which she did it was visually very taking. Tom O’Brien is now on board and he’s been in decent form of late, so that’s a positive too.
The likes of Meep Meep, Papagana and Queenohearts will all fancy their chances of at least making the frame in this too, but the step up in trip to this distance should suit Indefatigable and she’s the each-way bet in our 2018 Abram Mares’ Hurdle betting tips to live up to her name.Your Next Bet
