Quevega lines up challenge for Mares Hurdle

QUEVEGA will be aimed at the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham following her impressive seasonal debut victory in the Book The Punchestown Pavilion At The Festival Hurdle at Punchestown yesterday.

Ruby Walsh, on the French-bred mare, third at Grade 1 level at Auteuil last June, tracked front-running Vic Venturi until taking command at the penultimate hurdle and drawing clear to beat her stable-companion Sesenta comfortably by four lengths.

Owned by the Hammer & Trowel Syndicate, Quevega was recording a sixth career win and her third since joining Willie Mullins. Mullins said: “I’m delighted. I didn’t think she was particularly right for today. And there should be a lot of improvement in her.”