The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, is a Grade 1

National Hunt National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches. In ...

hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to

mare A mare is an adult female horse or other equidae, equine. In most cases, a mare is a female horse over the age of three, and a filly is a female horse three and younger. In Thoroughbred horse racing, a mare is defined as a female horse more th ...

s aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at

Cheltenham Cheltenham () is a historic spa town and borough adjacent to the Cotswolds in Gloucestershire, England. Cheltenham became known as a health and holiday spa town resort following the discovery of mineral springs in 1716, and claims to be the mo ...

over a distance of about 2 miles and 4

furlong A furlong is a measure of distance in imperial units and United States customary units equal to one-eighth of a mile, equivalent to any of 660 foot (unit), feet, 220 yards, 40 rod (unit), rods, 10 chain (unit), chains, or a ...

s (2 miles, 3 furlongs and 200 yards, or ), and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the

Cheltenham Festival The Cheltenham Festival is a horse racing-based meeting in the National Hunt racing calendar in the United Kingdom, with race prize money second only to the Grand National. The four-day festival takes place annually in March at Cheltenham Race ...

in March. The race's registered title commemorates David Nicholson (1939–2006), who was successful as both a jockey and a trainer in National Hunt racing. Nicholson's record at the Cheltenham Festival included five victories as a jockey, and seventeen as a trainer. This race was established in 2008, and in its inaugural year it was held on the final day of the Festival on Cheltenham's New Course. It was switched to the opening day on the Old Course in 2009. It was initially given Grade 2 status and was upgraded to Grade 1 status from the 2015 running. From 2012 to 2019 it was run as the OLBG Mares' Hurdle.

Records

Most successful horse (6 wins): * Quevega – ''2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014'' Leading jockey (8 wins): *

Ruby Walsh Rupert "Ruby" Walsh (born 14 May 1979) is an Irish former jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen. Widely regarded as one of the greatest National Hunt racing, National Hunt ...

– ''Quevega (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018)'' Leading trainer (11 wins): *

Willie Mullins William Peter Mullins (born 15 September 1956) is an Irish racehorse horse trainer, trainer and former jockey. He is a nineteen-time List of Irish National Hunt races, Irish National Hunt Champion trainer. Mullins is the most successful traine ...

– ''Quevega (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014), Glens Melody (2015), Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018), Lossiemouth (2024, 2025)''

Winners

References

Racing Post ''Racing Post'' is a British daily horse racing, greyhound racing, and sports betting publisher published in print and digital formats. It is printed in tabloid format from Monday to Sunday. , it has an average daily circulation of 60,629 ...

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pedigreequery.com
– ''David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle – Cheltenham.''

– ''Racenews Archive (28 February 2008).''
OLBG.com
– ''OLBG Mares' Hurdle – Cheltenham (15 February 2012).'' {{Cheltenham Festival National Hunt races in Great Britain Cheltenham Racecourse National Hunt hurdle races Horse races established in 2008 2008 establishments in England

Records

Winners

See also

References