Burning Victory puts Cheltenham credentials to the test in Quevega Mares Hurdle

Wednesday: 1.00 Punchestown
Watch On Racing TV Quevega Mares Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m4½f | 4yo+ | RTV

Despite generally delivering small fields, this Grade 3 event has often been worth paying close attention to for Cheltenham Festival purposes.

Annie Power won here in 2016 on her way to Champion Hurdle glory, while a year later Limini denied Apple's Jade. The runner-up would get her revenge when gamely fighting off Vroum Vroum Mag and Limini in the Mares' Hurdle.

Laurina failed to fire in the 2019 Champion Hurdle after winning here, but Black Tears twice used this as a launchpad for Cheltenham.

Burning Victory: one of three in Wednesday's feature for Willie MullinsCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Her runner-up effort here in 2020 set her up for an admirable second in the Coral Cup, while 12 months ago she landed this contest before plundering the Mares' Hurdle.

This time around, most of the festival attention will surround 2020 Triumph Hurdle heroine Burning Victory, already an 8-1 chance for next month's Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle.

Clearly talented but not always the most fluent of jumpers, there was a fair deal of encouragement from her most recent third to Klassical Dream and Flooring Porter at Leopardstown in December – particularly in terms of her improved jumping.

She now drops back in trip from 3m to 2m4½f and cheekpieces are applied for the first time.

This race suits her particularly well in terms of ratings, receiving 6lb from stablemate Gauloise, who is rated 5lb inferior to Burning Victory, and 3lb from her four other rivals.

Gauloise: classy mare bids to bounce back from disappointing Sandown performanceCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Dysart Diamond, one of three in the race for Willie Mullins, could give her most to think about if bouncing back to the form of her penultimate course win over Royal Kahala, while Gauloise didn't appear to enjoy testing conditions when turned over as 5-6 favourite last time at Sandown.

Queens Brook is an intriguing candidate and was last seen beating the classy Ciel De Neige at Fairyhouse in November. However, Gordon Elliott has warned that the 131-rated mare is entitled to improve for the run after missing some time.

What they say

Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to Willie Mullins, trainer of Gauloise, Dysart Diamond and Burning Victory
Burning Victory is wearing cheekpieces and hopefully that might help to sharpen up her jumping. I think the small field should suit, allowing her light at her hurdles. It looks a very good opportunity for her. We think Gauloise will improve from her last start at Sandown. That was too bad to be true so we'll draw a line through that and hope for better. Dysart Diamond has continued to surprise. Every time we've stepped her up in grade, she's pretty much met the benchmark so it'll be fascinating to see how she measures up against these mares.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Queens Brook
She'll probably come on for the run. We missed a bit of time with her and that's why I'm running her here, to see if I can get her to Cheltenham.

Declan Queally, rider of The Getaway Star
She ran well last time at Thurles. We're hoping that she might be able to pick up some more black type as she's being covered in the spring.

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