February 20 / 15.25 Punchestown

15.25

Soft

BetVictor Quevega Mares Hurdle (Grade 3)

  • Prize money: £18285.12
  • 2m 4f 23y
  • 5 runners
RTV
View Course
BetVictor Quevega Mares Hurdle (Grade 3)

Runners: 5 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

Form: /1141- D

Last run: 326 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 147

Form & Verdict
Classy mare's only defeat from four starts for Willie Mullins was when fourth to Golden Ace in Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last March; relished step back up in trip when dominant winner of Grade 1 Mares' Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse (2m4f, heavy); this is her prep for the Mares' Hurdle and she should take beating on her return.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 118y

16:15 Punchestown

Jade De Grugy

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Last year's winner took well to fences this season, finishing second in Limerick Grade 2 over Christmas before going one better in similar company at Thurles (2m5f, yielding) in January; right at her best back hurdling in Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham when a clear staying-on second to Wodhooh (beaten 1l) having allowed winner first run (good); cheekpieces now fitted for the rematch.

6/4

2nd

3

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Jade De Grugy

11st 5lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

5-7 over hurdles; second to stablemate Lossiemouth in this last year before a Grade 1 win at the Punchestown festival, her second success at the top level; has taken well to fences this winter, finishing second in Limerick Grade 2 over Christmas before going one better in similar company at Thurles (2m5f, yielding) in January; most consistent and looks sure to go well back hurdling.

11/4

1st

4

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 198y

14:15 Thurles

Jade De Grugy

10st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

5-7 over hurdles; second to stablemate Lossiemouth at Cheltenham last March before Grade 1 win at the Punchestown festival, her second success at top level; jumped untidily at times and more broadly disappointing on chase debut at Cork; showed sufficient improvement when second at Limerick to suggest she can beat the winner's stablemate Tareze.

2/9

Form: /8-116 C BF

Last run: 53 days

W: 10st 12lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 135

Form & Verdict
Talented dual-purpose sort; won back-to-back over hurdles this season, including a Listed mares' hurdle around here (2m2f, soft), but jumping let her down when tailed off in Grade 3 at Leopardstown in December and Townend prefers Jade De Grugy.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

(13)

29th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

17:55 Curragh

Lot Of Joy

8st 12lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: W P Mullins

Last run on the Flat was at Leopardstown last September when she finished in the mid-division from a 3lb higher mark (1m5f, good); won a Listed mares' hurdle at Punchestown last November before being well beaten in three Graded hurdle starts; trainer may have a better prospect for this in Too Bossy For Us

14/1

4th

5

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 118y

15:42 Punchestown

Lot Of Joy

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

towards rear, stayed on from last, never on terms

40/1

Form: 121-UR C BF

Last run: 50 days

W: 10st 9lb

9 yo Mare

OR: 126

Form & Verdict
Heavy-ground specialist in fine form last season over hurdles with four wins in handicaps at 2m4f-3m1f; looked likely to take advantage of 35lb lower chase mark at Tramore when last seen but refused to jump the last; tough task on these terms but market will be the best guide; blinkered.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

6

15th Mar 2025

Good To Yielding

2m 6f 42y

16:15 Thurles

Aodhan May

10st 7lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Heavy-ground specialist; in fine form last season over hurdles with four wins in handicaps at 2m4f-3m1f; has blotted her copybook in recent months with an unseat and two refusals, the most recent three in a Grade 3 mares hurdle at Punchestown.

14/1

3

20th Feb 2025

Soft

2m 4f 23y

15:25 Punchestown

Aodhan May

10st 9lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

Heavy-ground specialist in fine form last season over hurdles with four wins in handicaps at 2m4f-3m1f; looked likely to take advantage of 35lb lower chase mark at Tramore when last seen but refused to jump the last; tough task on these terms but market will be the best guide; blinkered.

16/1

5

1st Jan 2025

Soft

2m 6f 170y

15:25 Tramore

Aodhan May

11st 5lb

J: Philip Byrnes

T: C Byrnes

midfield, prominent halfway, disputing second 4 out

11/4

Form: 2P-542 D

Last run: 19 days

W: 10st 9lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 136

Form & Verdict
Finished runner-up in valuable 3m Listed Dublin Racing Festival handicap hurdle for second year running latest; has form over this sort of trip and Darragh O'Keeffe is a positive booking; looks the chief danger to Jade De Grugy on figures.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

10

(3)

21st Aug 2026

Good

1m 6f 80y

19:20 Killarney

Gaoth Chuil

8st 9lb

J: Reese Holohan

T: T M Walsh

Very useful hurdler and course winner on the Flat here in 2m1f handicap off 5lb lower last month, following up Leopardstown (1m7f, good-to-firm) victory over Eagle Fang; meets that rival on better terms but has to put tame effort at Galway behind her.

14/1

13th

6

(6)

29th Jul 2026

Yielding

2m 0f 110y

20:20 Galway

Gaoth Chuil

9st 13lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: T M Walsh

Very useful hurdler has come good on the flat of late on decent ground, winning Leopardstown maiden and following up in 2m1f Killarney handicap when allowed to dictate matters; up 7lb for that but can still go well.

7/1

1st

7

(6)

14th Jul 2026

Good

2m 0f 185y

19:40 Killarney

Gaoth Chuil

8st 12lb

J: Chris Hayes

T: T M Walsh

Five-time winner; travels well in her races and returned to the level in grand style when accounting for the very useful Eagle Fang in a QR contest at Leopardstown; looks a big player here.

4/1

Form: 10-119 C

Last run: 223 days

W: 10st 9lb

8 yo Mare

OR: 128

Form & Verdict
Progressive in 2024, winning a pair of handicap hurdles in the spring and winning back-to-back handicap chases at Kilbeggan and here in the summer; didn't seem to stay in the Midlands National when last seen; tall order after 223 days off the track in this company.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

13

1st Aug 2026

Good

2m 6f 108y

15:12 Galway

Mousey Brown

10st 11lb

J: Patrick M O’Brien

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Five wins between hurdles and fences up to 3m; decent runs in defeat over hurdles and fences last twice so one to consider.

16/1

2nd

11

10th Jul 2026

Good

3m 0f 0y

20:00 Cork

Mousey Brown

10st 7lb

J: Alix Balfe

T: Dermot A McLoughlin

Mare won four times in 2024, including a pair of hurdles; winless since, but creditable efforts over fences last twice including fourth of 16 in Mayo National; trip and ground okay and has a chance at the weights.

9/1

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Jade De Grugy

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Gaoth Chuil

TOPSPEED:

Jade De Grugy

POSTDATA:

Jade De Grugy

The Irish Sun:

Jade De Grugy