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David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle 2022 Racecard
The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race which is open to mares aged four years or older. The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle is one of the newer races at the Cheltenham Festival, first run in 2008 when it was held on the final day of the meeting and run on the New Course.
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4:10 Tue 15 Mar DAVID NICHOLSON MARES' HURDLE Distance: 19f 200y Age: 4yo + Prize: £120,000 Going: Good
Last year's Dawn Run winner TELMESOMETHINGGIRL came out clear best at the weights when third in a Leopardstown Grade 3 over Christmas and a repeat of that form might be good enough here. Queens Brook may have just needed it when beaten by Burning Victory at Punchestown last month and can turn the tables on Willie Mullins' charge and fill the forecast spot. Stormy Ireland completes the shortlist. |
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Analyst's Verdict| ENTRY FORM |
SILKS | HORSE JOCKEY & TRAINER |
AGE WGT |
ODDS | |
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1 |
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1. BURNING VICTORY (FR) J: S. F. O'Keeffe T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
6 11-5 |
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| 2020 Triumph winner who was an excellent second in Cesarewitch at Newmarket on Flat last autumn. Back to winning ways over hurdles when seeing off Queens Brook at Punchestown latest. Should go well. | |||||
2 |
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2. ECHOES IN RAIN (FR) J: Mr P. W. Mullins T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
6 11-5 |
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| Won Punchestown Grade 1 novice last spring. Has found life tougher in open company this winter but latest 7 lengths third to Honeysucke in Irish Champion very creditable. Up in trip. | |||||
3 |
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3. HEAVEN HELP US (IRE) J: D. E. Mullins T: Paul Hennessy, Ireland |
8 11-5 |
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| Last year's Coral Cup winner. Not up to the Irish Champion at Leopardstown last time but prior to that she'd split Royal Kahala and Telmesomethinggirl there over Christmas. Place claims. | |||||
4 |
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4. INDEFATIGABLE (IRE) J: Rex Dingle T: Paul Webber |
9 11-5 |
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| Won Martin Pipe at 2020 Festival and good fourth in this 12 months ago. Added to her very good track record when narrowly denied by Martello Sky in 2½m handicap in December. Should give running. | |||||
5 |
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5. MARIE'S ROCK (IRE) J: Nico de Boinville T: Nicky Henderson |
7 11-5 |
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| Back on track since upped to 21f, winning Kempton handicap and Warwick listed event (badly hampered when pulled up early in between). This demands more but is unexposed at the trip. | |||||
6 |
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6. MARTELLO SKY J: Bryony Frost T: Lucy Wadham |
6 11-5 |
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| Improving mare who received 5 lb when edging out Indefatigable in a course handicap in December. Made it 3-4 for the season with small-field Sandown listed event win since. | |||||
7 |
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7. MRS MILNER (IRE) J: B. J. Cooper T: Paul Nolan, Ireland |
7 11-5 |
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| Bolted up in the Pertemps Final at 2021 Festival. Made a winning return in Limerick mares' listed event in autumn but off since 15¼ lengths fourth in 3m Newbury Grade 2 in November. | |||||
8 |
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8. NADA TO PRADA J: Richard Patrick T: Michael Scudamore |
7 11-5 |
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| Listed novice hurdle winner last term but hasn't gone on from a promising start over fences and faces a very stiff task back over the smaller obstacles. | |||||
9 |
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9. QUEENS BROOK (IRE) J: J. W. Kennedy T: Gordon Elliott, Ireland |
7 11-5 |
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| Saw off smart Ciel de Neige at Fairyhouse in November and warmed up for this with a good 1½ lengths second of 5 to Burning Victory at Punchestown (20.5f) last month. Heading in right direction. | |||||
10 |
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10. STORMY IRELAND (FR) J: P. Townend T: W. P. Mullins, Ireland |
8 11-5 |
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| Won at Fairyhouse and Punchestown last spring and back to that sort of level when landing Grade 2 Relkeel over 2½m here on New Year's Day. Another solid contender for the stable. | |||||
11 |
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11. TELMESOMETHINGGIRL (IRE) J: Rachael Blackmore T: Henry de Bromhead, Ireland |
7 11-5 |
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| 2021 Dawn Run winner. Very good 1¼ lengths third to Royal Kahala and Heaven Help Us at Leopardstown over Christmas. Gave weight to the latter then and can turn the tables off levels. Leading claims. | |||||
12 |
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12. WESTERN VICTORY (IRE) J: Tom Bellamy T: Emma Lavelle |
9 11-5 |
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| Useful hurdler who ended her time with Declan Queally in top form but has struggled at Grade 2 level in 2 runs since joining this yard. Likely up against it again. | |||||
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Betting Forecast : 100/30 3.33 TELMESOMETHINGGIRL, 5/1 5 QUEENS BROOK, 13/2 6.5 BURNING VICTORY, 8/1 8 STORMY IRELAND, 8/1 8 ECHOES IN RAIN, 10/1 10 MRS MILNER, 14/1 14 MARIE's ROCK, 20/1 20 HEAVEN HELP US, 25/1 25 INDEFATIGABLE, 25/1 25 MARTELLO SKY, 100/1 100 WESTERN VICTORY, 300/1 300 NADA TO PRADA |
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The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle was switched to its current position on day one of the Cheltenham Festival in 2009, and was upgraded to Grade 1 status in 2015.
The race is now run on the Old Course over a distance of about two and a half miles (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 200 yards), and horses will jump nine hurdles in total.
Though one of the less valuable Grade 1 races at the Cheltenham Festival, the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle has plenty of heritage associated with it, named as it is after the legendary trainer who won 17 races at the Cheltenham Festival, having also ridden five at the meeting as a jockey.
David Nicholson , who died in 2006, was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993–94 and 1994–95 seasons.
The son of Herbert Charles Denton Nicholson (or ‘Frenchie’ Nicholson), who was also a successful jockey and National Hunt trainer, David Nicholson was nicknamed 'The Duke' by one of his father's grooms, and won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Charter Party in 1988 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Viking Flagship in 1994 and 1995. He retired in 1999.
The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle has been dominated by Willie Mullins , who is the most successful trainer in the race’s history.
He successfully saddled Quevega to win the next six renewals following Whiteoak’s victory in the 2008 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, a race that Mullins didn’t have any runners in.
Quevega was retired in May 2014, two months after recording her final win in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle aged 10.
Mullins won the following year’s renewal, though it wasn’t with the hot favourite Annie Power, who was four lengths clear when falling at the final flight of hurdles under Ruby Walsh. Instead, it was the 6/1 chance Glens Melody who prevailed.
The fall of Annie Power was not only a costly one for her jockey, but a blow to punters who had backed her into 2/1-on favourite for the race.
Annie Power was the fourth leg of lots of large multiple placed on horses trained by Mullins who were running on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.
The first three runners, Douvan, Un de Sceaux and Faugheen, all won, and it was estimated by bookmakers that the fall of Annie Power saved them upwards of £50 million of payouts.
Mullins won two of the three following renewals of the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, with the Gordon Elliott -trained Apple’s Jade the only horse who has broken that pattern.
Apple’s Jade beat Mullins runners into second and third when winning the 2017 David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle, but could only manage third place a year later.
In almost an exact replica of Annie Power’s fall, Benie des Dieux lost the 2019 renewal when departing at the last when well clear, leaving the path clear for Roksana to oblige for Dan Skelton.
In terms of Timeform ratings, it usually takes a useful performance to win the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle. The best performance was Quevega’s 2009 win, where she won by 14 lengths from United, and recorded a rating classed as smart on Timeform’s scale.
It’s no surprise that the most successful jockey in the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle is Ruby Walsh , the number one jockey for Willie Mullins.
Walsh has ridden all-but-one of the yard’s winners, and his record of eight wins in the race is unlikely to be surpassed by any other rider. The only other jockeys to win the race are Jason Maguire (Whiteoak), Paul Townend (Glens Melody), Bryan Cooper (Apple’s Jade) and Harry Skelton (Roksana).
The only other jockeys to win the race are Jason Maguire (Whiteoak), Paul Townend (Glens Melody) and Bryan Cooper (Apple’s Jade).
David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle 2022 FAQs
What is the distance of the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle?
2 miles, 3 furlongs and 200 yards
How many obstacles are jumped in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle?
9
What day of the festival is the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle?
Day 1
What time is the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle?
16:10
What weights are carried for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle?
11 st 5 lb (5yo+). 10 st 10 lb (4yo).
What is the purse for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle?
£120,000 (2019)
Who is the leading jockey in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle*?
Ruby Walsh
Who is the leading trainer in the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle*?
Willie Mullins
Who won the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle?
You can check out our David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle results page here to see a list of previous winners.
Where can I compare the odds for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle?
Click the link to visit our David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle Odds Comparison page.
*Since 1977
