David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Race Card

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle Runners And Entries 2023

You can find the runners & entries for the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle for this year's Cheltenham Festival down below.

As a reminder, this is a full list of entries, but 5 days before the race there will be further declarations, and final declarations 48 hours before.

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle (Registered As The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle) (Grade 1) (GBB Race)

1st
Rachael Blackmore

Honeysuckle

Age: 9
Weight: 11.4
OR: 159
J:
 
Rachael Blackmore
T:
 
Henry De Bromhead
led, headed and raced in second after 2nd, pushed along after 2 out, made strong challenge last, soon ridden, kept on strongly to lead towards finish
2nd
Jonathan Burke

Love Envoi

Age: 7
Weight: 11.4
OR: 147
J:
 
Jonathan Burke
T:
 
Harry Fry
raced in second, led after 2nd, pushed along 2 out, faced strong challenge last, ridden and hung slightly left run-in, headed and no extra towards finish
3rd
Davy Russell

Queens Brook

Age: 8
Weight: 11.4
OR: 145
J:
 
Davy Russell
T:
 
Gordon Elliott
in touch with leaders, went second and going easily just after 2 out, ridden and outpaced before last, stayed on run-in, no match for first two
4th
Mr P W Mullins

Echoes In Rain

Age: 7
Weight: 11.4
OR: 152
J:
 
Mr P W Mullins
T:
 
W P Mullins
took keen hold, held up in last, headway 3 out, switched right and pushed along after 2 out, went fourth approaching last, ridden and stayed on run-in, not pace to challenge

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Fifth race of Champions Day

The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle, usually known as ‘The Mares’ is the fifth race of the festival and the fourth and final Grade one of the opening day.

The race is run over 2 miles and 4 furlongs, with ten hurdles for the runners. The race is open to fillies and mares who are aged at least four.

History of the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle

The race is rather new to the festival, having only been introduced in 2008. When first coming into the programme, it was run as a Grade two contest and run on the Friday of the meeting however switched to the opening the day from 2009. The race was also upped to Grade one status in 2015.

The race is named in memory of Dave Nicholson, who died in 2006. Nicholson was both a jockey and then a trainer who enjoyed success at the Cheltenham Festival, victorious on five occasions as a jockey and 17 when training.

The race is currently sponsored by OLGB, who have been the only sponsors of the race. OLGB have also upped the prize money and since the race being promoted to Grade One status, the prize money is now just over £70,000 for first place.

Recent Years

The first running of the race in 2008 was won by Whiteoak for Donald McCain and Jason Maguire. After that however, it became a one-horse race, with the Willie Mullins trained Quevega winning the race for six successive years between 2009 and 2014.

The Mullins domination however didn’t stop there, going onto win the race with three different horses in 2015, 2016, 2018, with a further two success for Ruby Walsh.

This obviously means the pair together are the top trainer and jockey for the race. Mullins has won the race 9 times from the 12 times it’s been staged, with Walsh notching up eight victories. The full list is as follows:

Willie Mullins:

Quevega (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Glens Melody (2015)

Vroum Vroum Mag (2016)

Benie Des Dieux (2018)

Ruby Walsh:

Quevega (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)

Vroum Vroum Mag (2016)

Benie Des Dieux (2018)

Looking at the stats, it’s worth noting anything that is therefore fielded by Willie Mullins, who usually has more than just the one runner.

Mullins wasn’t successful however in 2019, with the race going to England for just the second time as Harry and Dan Skelton tasted success on Roksana.

For all money, it seemed a 10th success in the race for Willie Mullins in the race and a ninth for Ruby Walsh, with Benie Des Dieux clear before falling at the last.

Whilst there will be no Ruby Walsh this year, Paul Townend will likely ride Mullins’ main hope. He has experience of winning the race too, steering Glens Melody to success in 2015.

David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Winners

Year Winner Age SP Trainer Jockey
2022 Marie's Rock 7 18/1 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
2021 Black Tears 7 11/1 Denise Foster Jack Kennedy
2020 Honeysuckle 6 9/4 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore
2019 Roksana 7 10/1 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
2018 Benie Des Dieux 7 9/2 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh
2017 Apple’s Jade 5 7/2 Gordon Elliott Bryan Cooper
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag 7 4/6 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh
2015 Glens Melody 7 6/1 Willie Mullins Paul Townend
2014 Quevega 10 8/11 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh
2013 Quevega 9 8/11 Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh

David Nicholson Mares Hurdle FAQs

Finding Tips For The David Nicholson Mares Hurdle

If you’re looking for our thoughts on who you should back in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle take a look at our Day 1 Tips page to see everything, we’re backing for this race at the Cheltenham Festival.

You can also see all the latest odds for this race on our David Nicholson Mares Hurdle Odds page allowing you to see which bookmakers are offering the best price on each horse in the race.