Quevega, currently a best price of 11-8 with Sky Bet to repeat his sensational win in the David Nicholson Mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham, will make her seasonal bow in the Grade 2 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park this Saturday.
The Willie Mullins trained six-year-old beat United by a comfortable 14 lengths at Cheltenham last year and is widely fancied to follow up despite not having been seen on a racecourse since last May.
She is just an entry at this stage but she is coming along gradually and I think we're ahead of schedule with her." said Mullins.
In the field on Saturday will be the Paul Nolan trained Noble Prince, who will be looking to bounce back to form after finishing a disappointing third behind Powerstation last time out at Leopardstown.
“He was disappointing last time at Leopardstown and some people said he didn’t stay the three miles but I’m not convinced that he didn’t stay. We are very happy with him and he jumps very well and he will go to Cheltenham.
“He is entered for three races at Cheltenham but his most likely target will probably be the Coral Cup,” added Nolan.
Also lining up will be the frustrating but talented Muirhead, who was narrowly beaten at short odds by Ebadiyan at Naas last time out. Behind that day was De Valira who will also re-oppose, as will the Edward O’Grady trained Jumbo Rio who only finished a few lengths behind current Champion Hurdle favourite Solwhit last time out.
With the ante –post market constantly changing ahead of this year’s Cheltenham festival, follow this link for all the latest odds at Sky Bet.