Quevega

The David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle was added to the line-up in 2008 and among the 31 entered for this year’s renewal is last year’s runaway winner Quevega, trained by Willie Mullins.

The six-year-old is one of 11 Irish-trained entries along with her stablemates J’Y Vole and Morning Supreme as well as Voler La Vedette, who is unbeaten in four starts this season for trainer Colm Murphy.

The home team includes a quartet from Nicky Henderson’s stable in Carole’s Legacy, Here Comes Sally, My Petra and top French performer Stravinsky Dance, while trainer Donald McCain – who won the inaugural David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle in 2008 with Whiteoak – could bid for another win in the two and a half mile event with Alegralil.

Irish-trained raiders have won an amazing 14 of the 17 runnings of the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and they account for 17 of this year’s 38 entries.

Willie Mullins, who has trained six previous winners, has five horses engaged in this race, all of them unbeaten. Tavern Times, who was formerly trained by Mullins’ brother Tom, Bishopsfurze, Day Of A Lifetime, Lios A Choill and Up Ou That make up his team.

Dermot Weld, who saddled Rite Of Passage to be third last year, could run Elegant Concorde and Hidden Universe, the likely mount of leading Flat jockey Pat Smullen, while six-time British champion Flat rider Kieren Fallon is set to partner Old McDonald for trainer Noel Glynn.

Champion British Jump trainer Paul Nicholls feels he has his best ever chance of landing the Weatherbys Champion Bumper via Al Ferof, whose owner John Hales is also represented by recent purchase Don’t Turn Bach.

Dunguib wins Champion Bumper 2009

There are 49 entries bidding to land the season’s top hunter chase, the Christie’s Foxhunter Chase, including smart French performer Roulez Cool, now trained by Cheltenham Racecourse director Robert Waley-Cohen and the mount of his son Sam.

Baby Run, who finished third in last season’s Christies Foxhunter Chase, could represent trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and his son Sam, while the 2008 winner Amicelli is also among the entries. Sheila Crow, who saddled Cappa Bleu to win last year’s race, could run Unowatimeeen.

Cheltenham Festival News from Racing Diary