The Surehaul Race Day Mares Maiden Hurdle at Clonmel on Thursday, February 12, 2026, presents a fascinating puzzle, but one horse stands out with the most compelling credentials! This event, scheduled for 13:15, features 14 runners over 2 miles and 3 furlongs on the turf. It's a chance for mares aged 4 years and older to make their mark, and we've got a deep dive into each contender to help you navigate the racecard.
Let's break down the runners, and you might be surprised by who has the edge!
The Frontrunners and Their Form:
Horse 1: This mare is showing serious promise! She's already won on her second point-to-point start in March 2025 and made a dazzling debut under Rules at Punchestown last month, winning a bumper with ease. With potential for further improvement, she appears to have an excellent opportunity in this hurdle debut. Her form reads 2/1-1, indicating a strong track record.
Horse 14: Holding the best form on offer, this contender has consistently performed well in academy hurdles. She recently finished a close second in a 15-runner juvenile hurdle at Leopardstown (18f, good to soft) just 45 days ago, showing she's a strong competitor. Her form is 322.
The Contenders with Potential:
Horse 6: This mare has shown fair form in her two starts over 1½m maidens. She's now with a new trainer, J. J. Feane, ahead of her hurdle debut, which could bring about a fresh surge of performance.
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Those Seeking Improvement:
Horse 2: This mare has had limited success in both bumpers and maiden hurdles, with a form line of 800.
Horse 3: She hasn't shown much promise in her previous outings, including a maiden hurdle and a bumper in May 2025. Her form is P8.
Horse 4: This mare has been well held in a couple of bumper races, with her form being 97.
Horse 5: Her sole outing in points resulted in being pulled up, and her Rules debut in a Bellewstown bumper (17.2f, good) in August offered little encouragement. Her form is P-9.
Horse 7: She finished down the field in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown (19f, heavy) on her recent NH debut just 17 days ago. Her form is F-F60.
Horse 8: While she's a winning pointer, her form in bumpers has been modest at best. Her form is 1P4-47P.
Horse 10: This mare was pulled up in a novice hurdle at Limerick (19f, heavy) on her NH debut 45 days ago, and a hood was quickly applied. Her form is P.
Horse 11: She's yet to achieve anything better than poor form, including a second-place finish in a novice hurdle at Thurles (22.6f, heavy) just 14 days ago. Her form is 0607U2.
Horse 12: This mare has been tailed off in all three of her maiden hurdle appearances. Her form is 43-005.
Horse 13: Her form in 9 hurdle runs has been modest at best, and she was pulled up in a novice hurdle at Limerick (20f, heavy) on her most recent outing. Her form is 0P84PP.
The Burning Question:
With Horse 1 and Horse 14 showing such strong recent form, it's easy to see why they'd be favored. But here's where it gets controversial: Is Horse 1's inexperience over hurdles a genuine concern, or is her raw talent enough to overcome it? And for Horse 14, while her form is solid, has she faced a challenge as significant as this before?
What do you think? Will the debutante's brilliance shine through, or will the consistent performer maintain her winning ways? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your predictions and any alternative interpretations you might have!
