Quevega bids to rule World once more
Although trainer Willie Mullins has given the talented mare an entry in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle the previous day, the longer race is the preferred target after she won the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle for the third successive year at Cheltenham.
“Quevega will be going for the three-mile hurdle, I think,” said Mullins.
“I worried whether we had got her straight enough for Cheltenham but I think maybe it actually suits her better to be like that because she was very impressive.
“I am quite pleased with her and how she has come out of Cheltenham.”
Another among the 20 entries is Quevega’s stablemate Thousand Stars, who is also engaged in the Champion.
Mullins has yet to finalise a target for the seven-year-old following his close second to Oscar Whisky in the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles earlier this month.
“At the moment, Thousand Stars seems to be in good form after Aintree,” the County Carlow trainer added.
“We won’t make a decision up until the day, which way we go with him.”
Mullins has four other entries in the race including Sir Des Champs, winner of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
“We’re yet to decide what to do with Sir Des Champs,” the trainer went on.
“All I know is that I have only run him three times and he has won three times, so I don’t know how good he is.”
* John Oxx remains hopeful for the future with Kirinda after she was beaten as the hot favourite in Sunday’s Salsabil Stakes at Navan.
The Tiger Hill filly lined up in the Listed contest on the back of a Dundalk maiden success in December but having pulled for her head early, she could manage only third as Jessica Harrington’s Siren’s Song struck gold.
Kirinda could bid to improve on that performance in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Blue Wind Stakes at Naas on May 11.
“She pulled too hard and was a bit fresh. It was only her second run ever,” said Oxx.
“She could perhaps go for the Blue Wind next and we’ll see if she settles well enough.”
