OLBG Mares' Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Cheltenham 16:10 £100,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 200y, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 15th March 2016 | |
1 Vroum Vroum Mag 4/6F
2 Rock On The Moor
66/1
3 Legacy Gold 40/1
NR: Flementime (IRE)
19 ran Distances: 2¾l, ½l, 1l
TIME 4m 45.00s (slow by 6.50s)
Ruby Walsh completes the hat-trick after riding Vroum Vroum Mag to victory in the Mares' Hurdle
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Vroum Vroum Mag made it a day to remember for owner Susannah Ricci, trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Ruby Walsh after she produced an authoritative performance to win by two and three quarter lengths at Cheltenham this afternoon.
Backers of the 4/6 favourite never had a moment's doubt as Walsh oozed confidence on the seven-year-old and when her jockey asked her to go through the gears, Vroum Vroum Mag effortlessly put daylight between her and her rivals to land the Grade One event.
Rich Ricci, husband of the owner, was visibly delighted after the mare capped off a 6.29/1 treble for owner, trainer and jockey. "It's unbelievable," said Ricci. "Annie Power was remarkable and very emotive. It's a fantastic moment for the sport and this mare is also very good. We don't know how good she is. She jumps so well. We're very lucky.
"The crowds have adopted Annie Power and I hope they feel the same way about this one. There was a collective roar and sigh of relief after she jumped the last after what happened to Annie last year (Annie Power fell at the last in the OLBG Mares' Hurdle of 2015 when leading). It's great to be a part of history and the people here are so nice and lovely. It's an emotive game. Somebody described Vroum Vroum Mag as a 'big buxom brunette' the other day and she fits that bill. Annie is more of a tomboy - she looks more like a gelding. Vroum Vroum is a good mare in her own right and she'd certainly been working well. I was hoping for the best and she certainly delivered."
Mullins has now won eight of the nine runnings of this race and was also keen to point out that Vroum Vroum Mag had worked really well in the weeks leading up to this race.
"Her work during last week was awesome," said the trainer. "It was so good that we wondered whether we'd supplemented the right mare into the Champion Hurdle. We just thought coming here today that she'd win barring traffic problems or a fall. Her work has just been fantastic. My only worry was that she might have left the race behind with that particular piece of work. I can't remember what she worked with but it was awesome. Everyone who saw it thought so.
"Ruby was cruising at all stages and was just left to try and find a position. It was an armchair ride in the end. She could come back here for this race next year. She's very versatile and she falls asleep with you when you ride her at home. Ruby thought at one point last year that she could be a Grand National horse as she's that laid back. We thought she'd be a big chasing type but she keeps surprising us."
The OLBG Mares’ Hurdle
(For The David Nicholson Mares’ Trophy)
£100,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 3f 200y, Class 1
20 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Vroum Vroum Mag (FR) 4/6f | R Walsh 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 7 | |
| 2nd | 2¾ | Rock On The Moor (IRE) 66/1 | R M Power 11-5 |
Mrs J Harrington | 8 |
| 3rd | ½ | Legacy Gold (IRE) 40/1 | A E Lynch 11-5 |
S R B Crawford | 8 |
| 4th | 1 | Pass The Time 80/1 | T Scudamore 11-5 |
N P Mulholland | 7 |
| 5th | 1½ | Gitane Du Berlais (FR) 25/1 | D A Jacob 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 6th | 1¼ | Keppols Queen (IRE) 25/1 | D N Russell 11-5 |
Mrs J Harrington | 8 |
| 7th | 1¾ | Desert Queen 33/1 | Nick Scholfield 11-5 |
H Fry | 8 |
| 8th | 1¾ | Stephanie Frances (IRE) 40/1 | Harry Skelton 11-5 |
D Skelton | 8 |
| 9th | 1 | Rons Dream 50/1 | Sean Bowen 11-5 |
P Bowen | 6 |
| 10th | 8 | Polly Peachum (IRE) 6/1 | D Bass 11-5 |
N J Henderson | 8 |
| 11th | hd | Flute Bowl 80/1 | Joshua Moore 11-5 |
G L Moore | 6 |
| 12th | nk | Tara Point 25/1 | Sam Twiston-Davies 11-5 |
P F Nicholls | 7 |
| 13th | 1 | Morello Royale (IRE) 100/1 | Aidan Coleman 11-5 |
C L Tizzard | 6 |
| 14th | 1¾ | Lily Waugh (IRE) 33/1 | David Noonan 11-5 |
A J Honeyball | 9 |
| 15th | 3¾ | Aurore D'estruval (FR) 20/1 | D J Mullins 11-5 |
Miss R Curtis | 6 |
| 16th | 1¼ | Fairytale Theatre (IRE) 200/1 | R Mahon 11-5 |
D Skelton | 9 |
| 17th | 13 | Bitofapuzzle 12/1 | N D Fehily 11-5 |
H Fry | 8 |
| 18th | 9 | Melbourne Lady 150/1 | M W Bowes 11-5 |
P Fegan | 8 |
| NR | Flementime (IRE) 100/1 | A Tinkler 11-5 |
M Keighley | 8 | |
| Also Ran: The Govaness | |||||
HARRINGTON PRAISES SOLID EFFORT FROM ROCK ON THE MOOR
Jessica Harrington expressed her delight at Rock On The Moor's effort, outrunning her odds of 66/1 to finish second, two and three quarter lengths behind Vrom Vrom Mag. Robbie Power took the ride.
The Irish handler said: "I'm absolutely delighted with her, she was actually sick when she came back from Doncaster because she didn't travel back at all well, so we kept her for here.
"The owner, Richard Irwin only bought her three weeks ago because her previous owner died and she's the first horse I've had for him, so it's great," she said. "She had good form last year and she was entitled to run here. We were just beaten by a better horse."
Looking to the future Harrington continued: "She will go to Punchestown, I'm not sure what race but that's where she will be aimed at."
OLBG MARES’ HURDLE PAST RESULTS
2015-WINNER-GLENS MELODY 7-11-05 Owner-Fiona McStay; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-6/1
2ND-Polly Peachum 7-11-05 Owner-Lady Tennant; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/1
3RD-Bitofapuzzle 7-11-05 Owner-Chris Giles & Potensis Bloodstock Ltd; Trainer-Harry Fry; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-16/1
15 ran, Time-4m 51.10s; Dist-hd, nk 1/2 Fav Annie Power (Fell)
2014-WINNER-QUEVEGA 10-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 8/11 Fav
2ND-Glens Melody 6-11-05 Owner-Fiona McStay; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-14/1
3RD-L’Unique 5-11-05 Owner-Denis Barry; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-25/1
16 ran, Time-4m 44.60s; Dist-¾, ¾
2013-WINNER-QUEVEGA 9-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 8/11 Fav
2ND-Sirene D'Ainay 7-11-05 Owner-Stephane Milaveau; Trainer-Emmanuel Clayeux FR; Jockey-Jonathan Plouganou; SP-33/1
3RD-Swincombe Flame 7-11-00 Owner-Yeo Racing Partnership; Trainer-Nick Williams; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-40/1
19 ran, Time-4m 55.46s Dist-1½, 2
2012-WINNER-QUEVEGA 8-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 4/7 Fav
2ND Kentford Grey Lady 6-11-00 Owner-Ian Bare; Trainer-Emma Lavelle; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-14/1
3RD Golden Sunbird 8-11-03 Owner-Jim Mernagh; Trainer-Paul Nolan IRE; Jockey-Robbie Power; SP-66/1
19 ran, Time-4m 51.30s Dist-4, nk
2011-WINNER-QUEVEGA 7-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-5/6 Fav
2ND Sparky May 6-11-05 Owner-Bill Muddyman; Trainer-Pat Rodford; Jockey-Keiran Burke; SP-4/1
3RD Ocean Transit 6-11-00 Owner-Ocean’s Five; Trainer-Richard Price; Jockey-David Bass; SP-50/1
14 ran, Time-4m 48.08s Dist-10, 1
2010-WINNER-QUEVEGA 6-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/4 Fav
2ND Carole’s Legacy 6-11-00 Owner-Paul Murphy; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Andrew Tinkler; SP-20/1
3RD Voler La Vedette 6-11-05 Owner-Mrs M Brophy; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/4
17 ran, Time-4m 45.40s Dist-4½, 1¼
2009-WINNER-QUEVEGA 5-11-03 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-2/1 Fav
2ND United 8-11-05 Owner-R B Holt; Trainer-Lucy Wadham; Jockey-Dominic Elsworth; SP-100/30
3RD Aura About You 6-11-00 Owner-Jim Mernagh; Trainer-Paul Nolan IRE; Jockey-Alain Cawley; SP-28/1 21 ran, Time-4m 55.20s Dist-14, sh
2008-WINNER-WHITEOAK 5-11-00 Owner-Brendan Richardson; Trainer-Donald McCain Jnr; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-20/1
2ND Refinement 9-11-05 Owner-Michael Tabor; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Tony McCoy; 10/1
3RD Chomba Womba 7-11-05 Owner-Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-100/30 Fav
13 ran, Time-5m 1.40s Dist-sh, 2½
