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David Nicholson Mares Hurdle
Race Conditions
The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle (4:40pm) is a Grade 2 hurdle run over run over two miles and about four and a half furlongs. It is open to mares only, aged five and above. The total prize fund is £90,000.
For a free £25 Mares Hurdle bet click here.
Introduction
It was always Cheltenham’s intention, assuming the introduction of a four day Festival was a success, to have a seventh race on Gold Cup day from 2008.
Discussions with owners, trainers and breeders produced an extremely strong lobby for a mares’ only event and this view was endorsed by the Cheltenham Executive who came up with this race named in honour of the late David Nicholson, who was such a staunch supporter of British breeding.
The race also perfectly supplements the BHB Race Planning Committee’s new, stronger series of Pattern races for mares during the earlier part of the jump racing season.
Recent Winners
| Year | Horse | Age | Trainer | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Quevega | 5 | W P Mullins | 2/1F |
| 2008 | Whiteoak | 5 | D McCain Jnr | 20/1 |
Key Trends
Five-year-olds have won both runnings.
Novices have fared well.
2010 David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Preview
Two horses stand out amongst the entries for this season’s David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle – last year’s winner, Quevega and Voler La Vedette, who is unbeaten this season. The regard in which they are held by the respective yards is apparent from the fact that both also hold entries in the Champion Hurdle, although they seem likely to turn up here instead.
Dunguib aside, Quevega was just about the most impressive winner at last season’s Festival and although we’ve not seen much of her since, she is apparently impressing connections at home and it will take a good one to strip her of her crown.
Voler La Vedette certainly is a good one, but is she good enough? She’s only tasted defeat twice in her life to date and really arrived on the scene when she won the Core Hurdle at Down Royal in November, beating Go Native and Luska Lad in the process. The concern is she may be better at the minimum trip and could be outstayed by Quevega on the climb to the line. Also, her two defeats came on good and good to firm going.
Quevega’s stablemate, Morning Supreme, also hold a number of Festival entries and may end up in one of the novice contests, but if she does run here she would be a threat as she enjoys decent ground and looks sure to be suited by this step up in trip.
Many of the rest look fairly exposed and plenty of them were put in their place by Quevega last season, including Amber Brook, Carole’s Legacy and Aura About You. The latter actually ran really well last year and saves her best for good ground, whilst Carole’s Legacy, who has been in good form over fences this season, is probably better than she showed in that race.
If there is to be a surprise, then two horses that may be capable of providing it are Fairyland and Sway.
Fairyland has contested a lot of decent handicaps in her time and often run with credit. The distance is a concern, but she should be suited by the way the race is likely to be run.
Sway, meanwhile, has had only one start in this country (she fell in the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell in February), but was very decent in France, winning all bar two of her starts there. She could be anything.
CONCLUSION: QUEVEGA looks one of the strongest of this season’s Festival bankers and is set for back to back victories in this mares only contest. If there is to be a surprise, then Sway, who is a bit of an unknown quantity, could be the one to provide it, whilst a patient ride could see Fairyland snatch a place.
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Race Facts
1. This year sees the third running of the Grade Two David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, named in memory of the legendary Cotswold-based jockey and trainer, who passed away in August, 2006.
2. “The Duke” enjoyed five successes at The Festival as a jockey between 1963 and 1973, but is best known for his 17 victories as a trainer, including successes in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (1994 & 1995 Viking Flagship), Ladbrokes World Hurdle (Anzum 1999) and totesport Gold Cup (1988 Charter Party).
3. Nicholson became the first trainer for more than 50 years to saddle three winners in a day at The Festival when Putty Road (Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle), Viking Flagship (Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase) and Kadi (Byrne Group Plate) all triumphed on March 15, 1995.
2009 David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Review
The second running of this mares only contest produced an outstanding winner in the shape of Willie Mullins’ QUEVEGA.
Well touted before the contest, she went into the race a short priced favourite, but never gave her supporters a moments worry – taking it up after the second last and pulling right away to win by 14 lengths.
Connections will now have to decide whether to stick to this level next season or have a crack at the Champion Hurdle. If they decide to come back here, it is very hard to see her being beaten as she looks in a different league to the other mares around.
United, who was fourth in the 2007 World Hurdle, probably wasn’t suited by the drop back in trip here and so did remarkably well to finish second. She has returned in great form after a long layoff and will continue to pay her way.
Aura About You caught the eye for much of the race, travelling as well as anything bar the winner. She was coming back at the runner up on the run in having been headed by that rival at the second last. She should have a bright future as better ground would probably suit and she has the scope to jump a fence in time.
Over Sixty (fourth) and Gaspara (fifth) were right there in the battle for the minor placings. This was an improved effort from the latter as she has struggled since winning the Fred Winter so impressively at the Festival two years ago.
2008 David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Review
The inaugural running of this mares’ only race produced a shock result with WHITEOAK eventually running out the 20-1 winner in a thrilling finish.
Donald McCain’s five year old was always travelling well throughout the 2½ mile contest and she quickened up really nicely when asked to go and win her race turning for home. She clearly relished the step up in trip here and her two mile speed proved crucial in the end.
However, the result wasn’t without drama, as the winner started to idle badly on the run in and, under a power packed ride from Tony McCoy, Refinement actually headed Whiteoak in the dying strides, only for the winner to get back up in the shadow of the post.
With age on her side, Whiteoak will surely be back for more next season.
Refinement has always been a bit quirky and she appeared to throw this race away. She’s never been a fluent hurdler, but it is difficult to be too critical of a horse who has appeared at each of the last five Festivals. She’s certainly given her connections plenty of fun over the years and McCoy has always got the best out of her. However, this trip is possibly on the short side for the nine year old nowadays.
Chomba Womba (third) was all the rage with punters before the off and she held every chance swinging the final corner, but seemed to be outstayed by the first two.
There was a gap back to Gaspara, last year's Fred Winter Hurdle winner, in fourth. After being swamped early in the straight, she was battling back up the run-in, and she is another who needs further.
Theatre Girl ran her usual game race in fifth but just wasn’t quite good enough on the day, whilst course specialist Silver Charmer ran her heart out in sixth to register a lifetime’s best at the age of nine.
The ground wasn’t soft enough for Labelthou, whilst Sweet Kiln was the big disappointment of the race. She was struggling from four out and dropped right away to only beat one home.