Mullins reports Quevega in great form

Willie Mullins reports Quevega to be firing on all cylinders as she bids to land the OLBG Mares Hurdle (for the David Nicholson Trophy)for the fourth successive time at Cheltenham next month.

The eight-year-old will again be making her seasonal reappearance at the Festival, and is pleasing her handler again after a brief scare.

"She's in great form. She was in terrific form, ready to run, about three weeks ago then just went out of sorts a little bit so I gave her ten days easy. Now she's back good and strong again," Mullins told At The Races.

"I wasn't going to run her - I had her ready so I had nothing to do coming up to Cheltenham other than keep her ticking over. I like to get them ready then if something happens you can give them a bit of a break before building then up totally for the Festival."

Mullins admits heading straight to Cheltenham suits Quevega.

"I remember two years ago I ran her in a schooling hurdle and she came back lame on the same leg that had her out the previous year and I got such a fright I said I'd never run her again before the Festival and it seems to work. She takes her training well that way and I'm very pleased with her," he added.

"The breeder told me years ago the family keep improving with age and I can't disagree with him. She's certainly as good as she was anyhow."