Quevega pleases in Punchestown workout Willie Mullins worked some of his stars after racing at Punchestown, and he reported Quevega to be 'ahead of schedule' as she bids for an unprecedented sixth win in-a-row in the Mares Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival next month. Mullins worked two groups of horses, and the first string was led by Champagne Fever and Ruby Walsh, while Ballycasey and Paul Townend, Rubi Ball and Emmet Mullins, Quel Esprit and Patrick Mullins, and Prince De Beauchene and Katie Walsh all followed. All five jumped well for the most part, with Quel Esprit making a mistake at the second fence. Mullins said afterwards: “I was very happy with them all. Quel Esprit was a bit disappointing, but he would find it hard to compete with the rest of them at this stage. "They are all on-course for a run and they are all ready to go." The second group was led by Katie Walsh on Mourad, with David Casey on Fiveforthree, Paul Townend on Quevega, Emmet Mullins on 'a nice young horse from France', and Ruby Walsh on Tarla, following in that order. The five weren't put under too much pressure in the home straight, but Quevega still managed to come home in front and Willie Mullins said afterwards; "She is on scheduled, if anything she is ahead of scheduled at this stage and I am very pleased with her." Mullins then added: “Ruby was very pleased with Tarla, she worked nicely as well. I'm not sure of plan with her, but she is a very nice broodmare prospect.” Additional reporting by Alan Magee
