Grade One status for Mares’ event

The OLBG Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival has been raised to Grade One status as part of an overall upgrade to British Jump Pattern and Listed races for the 2014/15 National Hunt season.

The race was added to the Festival in 2008 and has been won for the last six years by Willie Mullins’ incredible race mare Quevega.

Although she has now been retired following defeat the Punchestown Festival, the strength in depth the Cheltenham contest has produced has allowed the upgrade from Grade Two to Grade One status to be approved.