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Favourite Quevega Dominates David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle
10/03/09

1st (8) Quevega 2/1 fav
2nd (6) United 100/30
3rd (10) Aura About You 28/1

Chomba Womba - 7th
© racing-images.co.uk

Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh got off the mark at the Cheltenham Festival when Quevega ran out a seriously impressive winner of the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle.

Mullins had stated before the meeting that he believed the five-year-old was his best chance of a winner all week - and she did not disappoint.

Walsh oozed confidence and tracked Chomba Womba before moving into contention at the second-last. Once he pressed the button, the 2-1 favourite scooted clear to leave daylight back to runner-up United, who was thumped by 14 lengths.

Mullins said: "I don't know what happened at the start - she was last when the tapes went up, but luckily they didn't go a gallop for the first mile. Once Ruby got her into the race, she was fine.

"I thought she was my best chance of the week but I was surprised by the margin of the win. She's a very good mare - at least she's proved she's the business."

Walsh added: "We felt under a bit of pressure with everyone saying she was a good thing, but she's a wonderful little mare.

"The race didn't go exactly as I hoped it would. I wanted to sit fifth or sixth, but for whatever reason at the start she didn't want to line up, so I was further back than I wanted.

"But she stretched her little legs, she's a great jumper and she's a little star. She pinged the second-last and I was probably in front too soon, but she was running away with me."

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Quevega W P Mullins	R Walsh 11st 3lbs	2 - 1 Winner
2	United Mrs L Wadham	D Elsworth 11st 5lbs	10 - 3 14 lengths
3	Aura About You P Nolan	A P Cawley 11st 0lbs	28 - 1 Short Head
4	Over Sixty A King	R Thornton 11st 0lbs	25 - 1 3/4 length
5	Gaspara D Pipe	T Scudamore 11st 0lbs	16 - 1 Head
6	How's Business C J Mann	N Fehily 11st 0lbs	100 - 1 6 lengths
7	Chomba Womba N J Henderson	B J Geraghty 11st 5lbs	6 - 1 2 lengths
8	Sweetheart Jamie Poulton	Matthew Batchelor 11st 0lbs	28 - 1 3/4 length
9	Issaquah J M Jefferson	P Kinsella 11st 0lbs	66 - 1 1 1/4 length
10	Give It Time Mrs J Harrington	A D Leigh 11st 5lbs	20 - 1 3/4 length
11	Carole's Legacy N J Henderson	A P McCoy 11st 0lbs	12 - 1 3/4 length
12	Amber Brook N A Twiston-Davies	P J Brennan 11st 0lbs	33 - 1 9 lengths
13	Megans Joy C A Murphy	M M O'connor 11st 5lbs	40 - 1 1 1/4 length
14	Wychwoods Legend M Keighley	W Marston 11st 0lbs	100 - 1 1 3/4 length
15	Oscar Rebel W J Burke	P Carberry 11st 5lbs	14 - 1 2 3/4 lengths
16	Shenanigan W K Goldsworthy	B Wharfe 11st 0lbs	150 - 1 17 lengths
17	Gallileo Figaro N B King	Alex Merriam 11st 0lbs	150 - 1 13 lengths
na	Helens Vision Tim Vaughan	S E Durack 11st 3lbs	50 - 1
na	Purely By Chance J Pearce	W Hutchinson 10st 5lbs	200 - 1
na	Dansimar Miss V Williams	A Coleman 11st 0lbs	16 - 1
na	Pagan Starprincess G M Moore	F Keniry 11st 5lbs	50 - 1

THE DAVID NICHOLSON MARES’ HURDLE
Class 1, Grade 2, £100,000 Total prize fund, 4.40pm, Tuesday, March 10, 2009. Two miles about four and a half furlongs. For four-year-olds and upwards, Fillies and Mares only. Weights: 4-y-o 10st 5lb; 5-y-o and upwards 11st. Penalties: after September 30, 2007, a winner of a Class 2 weight-for-age hurdle race or Class 1 handicap hurdle race 3lb; of a class 1 weight-for-age hurdle race 5lb. Entries closed February 24, entries revealed February 26 (33 entries), six-day confirmations March 4, final declaration 10.00am March 9. Form figures supplied by Weatherbys and are correct up to and including the racing of Monday, February 23.

21 runners

DAVID NICHOLSON MARES’ HURDLE RACE FACTS AND FIGURES

1. This year sees the second 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 (Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle), Viking Flagship (Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase) and Kadi (Racing Post Plate) all triumphed on March 15, 1995.

4. The first running was won by Whiteoak, trained by Donald McCain, who prevailed by a short-head from Refinement in a thrilling finish.

DAVID NICHOLSON MARES’ HURDLE PAST RESULTS

2008-WINNER-WHITEOAK 5-11-00 Owner-Brendan Richardson; Trainer-Donald McCain Jnr; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-20/1
2ND Refinement 9-11-05 Owner-Michael Tabor; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Tony McCoy; 10/1
3RD Chomba Womba 7-11-05 Owner-Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-100/30 Fav
13 ran, Time-5m 1.40s Dist-sh, 2½