David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle

David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle
(Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle)
Grade 1 race
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated2008
Race typeHurdle race
SponsorClose Brothers Group
WebsiteCheltenham
Race information
Distance2m 3f 200y (4,005 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
fillies & mares
Weight10 st 7 lb (4yo);
11 st 5 lb (5yo+)
Purse£120,000 (2024)
1st: £67,524
OLBG Mares' Hurdle
2024
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Light blue, white spots, striped sleeves, red cap RED, BLACK stars, WHITE cap
Lossiemouth Telmesomethinggirl Hispanic Moon
Previous years
2023
Light blue, white spots, striped sleeves and spots on cap Red, white chevron, royal blue sleeves, yellow stars, white cap White, emerald green chevrons, red cap
Honeysuckle Love Envoi Queens Brook
2022
Light blue, orange epaulets White, emerald green chevrons, red cap Purple, grey star and sleeves
Marie's Rock Queens Brook Mrs Milner
2021
Pink, maroon star, striped cap Emerald green, dark green sleeves, dark green cap, emerald green spots Pink, royal blue chevron, halved sleeves, royal blue cap
Black Tears Concertista Roksana
2020-2011
2020
Light blue, white spots, striped sleeves and spots on cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Light blue, white spots, striped sleeves, red cap
Honeysuckle Benie Des Dieux Elfile
2019
Pink, royal blue chevron, halved sleeves, royal blue cap Red, pink hoop and armlets Light blue, maroon chevron, check cap
Roksana Stormy Ireland Good Thyne Tara
2018
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap White, red braces, emerald green and white check sleeves, yellow cap Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap
Benie Des Dieux Midnight Tour Apple's Jade
2017
Maroon, white star, armlets and star on cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves, green cap
Apple's Jade Vroum Vroum Mag Limini
2016
Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Black, emerald green triple diamond Light blue, pink chevrons, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, pink star
Vroum Vroum Mag Rock on the Moor Legacy Gold
2015
Yellow and black chevrons, yellow sleeves, white and black striped cap Rose pink, navy blue sleeves, gold cap Pink, large purple spots, hooped sleeves
Glens Melody Polly Peachum Bitofapuzzle
2014
Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star Yellow and black chevrons, yellow sleeves, white and black striped cap Red, white hoops and armlets, hooped cap
Quevega Glens Melody L'unique
2013
Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star Orange and black check, diabolo on sleeves Light blue, dark blue seams, striped sleeves, red cap
Quevega Sirene D'ainay Swincombe Flame
2012
Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star Brown, white hoop, hooped sleeves, orange cap Purple, gold hoop on body and sleeves, yellow cap, purple spots
Quevega Kentford Grey Lady Golden Sunbird
2011
Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star Black, pink hoops, black sleeves Emerald green, white cross belts, dark blue sleeves and cap
Quevega Sparky May Ocean Transit
2010-2008
2010
Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star Purple and yellow diabolo, yellow sleeves and cap Red, light blue sleeves, red spots
Quevega Carole's Legacy Voler La Vedette
2009
Red, royal blue sleeves, red cap, royal blue star Pink, light blue epaulets and sleeves Purple, Gold hoop, yellow armlets, Yellow cap, Purple spots
Quevega United Aura About You
2008
Black and White stripes, Yellow sleeves, Black and Yellow striped cap Royal Blue, Orange disc, Orange and Royal Blue striped sleeves and cap Grey, White epaulets
Whiteoak Refinement Chomba Womba
 

The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to mares aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 200 yards, or 4,005 metres), and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The race's registered title commemorates David Nicholson (1939–2006), who was successful as both a jockey and a trainer in National Hunt racing. Nicholson's record at the Cheltenham Festival included five victories as a jockey, and seventeen as a trainer.

This race was established in 2008, and in its inaugural year it was held on the final day of the Festival on Cheltenham's New Course. It was switched to the opening day on the Old Course in 2009. It was initially given Grade 2 status and was upgraded to Grade 1 status from the 2015 running.[1] From 2012 to 2019 it was run as the OLBG Mares' Hurdle.

Records

[edit]

Most successful horse (6 wins):

  • Quevega – 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

Leading jockey (8 wins):

  • Ruby Walsh – Quevega (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018)

Leading trainer (10 wins):

  • Willie Mullins – Quevega (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Glens Melody (2015), Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018), Lossiemouth (2024)

Winners

[edit]
Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
2008 Whiteoak 5 Jason Maguire Donald McCain, Jr.
2009 Quevega 5 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2010 Quevega 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2011 Quevega 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2012 Quevega 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2013 Quevega 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2014 Quevega 10 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2015 Glens Melody 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2017 Apple's Jade 5 Bryan Cooper Gordon Elliott
2018 Benie Des Dieux 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2019 Roksana 7 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
2020 Honeysuckle 6 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead
2021 Black Tears 7 Jack Kennedy Denise Foster
2022 Marie's Rock 7 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson
2023 Honeysuckle 9 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead
2024 Lossiemouth 5 Paul Townend Willie Mullins

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "OLBG Mares' Hurdle elevated to Grade 1 status as BHA announces upgrades to Jump Pattern races for 2014/15". britishhorseracing.presscentre.com. Retrieved 23 July 2014.
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