David Nicholson Mares Hurdle
The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle is the penultimate race on Champion Day at the Cheltenham Festival. It is open to mares aged four years and older. It is a Grade 2 hurdle, run over a distance of approximately 2 miles and 4 furlongs. Competitors have a total of nine hurdles to be jumped. The race was established in 2008 where the inaugural running was won by the Donald McCain Jr trained Whiteoak. Since then, the race has been dominated by Willie Mullins’ star mare Quevega who was taken the last three renewals. The race is named in memory of David Nicholson who had fine record at the Cheltenham Festival, winning five times as a jockey and seventeen times as a trainer.
Who Will Be The Star Mare Of 2012
It’s of little surprise to see Quevega head the market in the early Cheltenham betting. The brilliant mare was last seen claiming Grade One glory in The World Series Hurdle at Punchestown in May. She will be a warm order if she turns up to retain her crown. Second in the market is Voler La Vedette who has had a fantastic season so far. The Colm Murphy mare has shown real class, winning the Grade One Bar One Racing Hatton’s Grace Hurdle in style, in between winning two Grade 2′s. Unaccompanied looks the other likely challenger to Quevega’s crown, having shown a real touch of class at Leopardstown when last seen, beating the top quality Thousand Stars. The five year old bay filly also has an entry in the Champion Hurdle, however, and it remains to be seen which route she will take.
Quevega Outclasses The Field In 2011
The 2011 running of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle was an absolute procession for Quevega. Jockey Ruby Walsh had her positioned nicely in the pack as the front runners set a good pace. Quevega then ruthlessly cut down the opposition, romping home by ten lengths without coming off the bridle. Second was Sparky May, the durable mare who tried her best to put it up to Quevega. It could be argued that she hasn’t faced any real top level opposition but there’s not a lot Quevega can do if the other leading mares aren’t prepared to challenge her.