Burning Victory warms up for Cheltenham bid with decisive Quevega Hurdle strike

Wednesday: Punchestown

A total of 712 days after her last win over hurdles in a Triumph Hurdle forever remembered for Goshen's dramatic final-flight exit, Burning Victory stated her case for another Cheltenham Festival success with an assured win in the Grade 3 Quevega Mares Hurdle.

There has never been much question over the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old's level of ability. She burst on to the scene in Ireland by winning a Grade 3 on her hurdling bow and is currently rated 106 on the Flat after finding only Buzz too strong in last year's Cesarewitch.

Burning Victory: now 7-1 for the Close Brothers Mares' HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

However, jumping has not always been her forte and the application of cheekpieces for the first time here helped her to produce one of her more rounded displays in that department under Paul Townend.

It was the champion trainer's fifth win in six runnings of the Grade 3 named after the legendary mare he prepared for a record-breaking six Cheltenham Festival wins.

"I was very happy with her jumping," said Mullins. "I think it's the first time she's ever jumped without making a mistake, so the cheekpieces look to have been a big help to her. She still jumped a little tall."

Apple's Jade and Black Tears have used this race as a launchpad for victory in the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle in recent years and a number of firms trimmed Burning Victory to 7-1 to follow in their footsteps next month.

Mullins added: "I think she needed the race. It looked that way, especially in how she finished. I'd imagine she'll go for the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham."

Burning Victory did not close out her race that strongly and was pressed all the way to the line by Queens Brook, who was said to have needed the run after nearly four months off and posted a lovely effort with the Coral Cup in mind.

Ramillies gets off the mark over hurdles with a seven-length victoryCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Mullins and Townend also teamed up to score with talented bumper performer Ramillies, sent off 4-9 favourite in the 2m4½f maiden hurdle.

Mullins said: "He just doesn't have a huge amount of respect for hurdles and probably wants a fence. We'll maybe look at the Albert Bartlett but he'd want to jump a lot better than he did there. He'd be an outsider for that but I think he'd acquit himself well."

Imagine stamps Cheltenham ticket

Jamie Codd believes smart bumper winner Imagine, trained by Gordon Elliott, is worthy of a spot in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper after making a winning debut as 4-9 favourite.

A €60,000 three-year-old purchase, he races in the colours of Edelle Logan and there was a fair deal to like about the manner in which he put the race to bed by five and a half lengths, although it did not appear the deepest of contests.

Imagine scores a comfortable success under Jamie Codd on his bumper debutCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Joey Logan bought him at the sales last year and he's a lovely horse," said Codd, who has American Mike to look forward to in the Champion Bumper.

"He has a big future and I think he was only getting going at the line. I'd imagine he's one Gordon might aim at the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He's booked his ticket now and could run there. He's been a smart horse all along."

Well-backed The Niffler comes good

Decent market support for The Niffler was rewarded in the first division of the 2m4½f handicap hurdle as the Eamonn O'Connell-trained five-year-old obliged at 11-1, having been available at 25-1 earlier.

After this breakthrough win off a mark of 95, O'Connell said: "We were hoping he'd run well. We were happy enough with his mark and we got it right anyway."

Results, replays and analysis

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