David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Form

The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle is a race that is relatively new at the Cheltenham Festival but it seems to be growing in prestige every year, in Quevega we have had a real star win the race for the last three years and there are some trial races that may be worth keeping an eye on in the build up to the race.

The Christmas Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown is worth having a close look at with this one in mind as Voler La Vedette showed last season, she won that race well and went to Cheltenham well backed so it can be a good stepping stone towards a big Cheltenahm Festival run.

David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Racecard/Form 2012

Top class mare Voler La Vedette has made her seasonal debut with a brilliant win in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan. The Colm Murphy trained horse beat a good field including the likes of Mikhail D'Haguenet and Karabak among others and could well be heading to Cheltenham for a match against Quevega in the Mares Hurdle. She has followed that up with a Grade 1 win in the Hattons Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse to improve her Cheltenham chances. It remains to be seen whether she can take on Quevega but Voler La Vedette is clearly improving type who musn't be ignored.

Paul Nicholls is likely to let Violin Davis take her chance in the Mares race at Cheltenham after she won well recently at Ascot. The horse reversed the form with Kentford Grey Lady from Kempton over Christmas and it would be no surprise to see both take their chance at the Festival. Both horses will need to improve to get close to an in form Quevega but they are both improving and have to be each-way contenders in the David Nicholson.

• David Nicholson Mares Hurdle 2010/11 Form Guide

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