Facile Vega in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle for Hammer & Trowel syndicate @punchestownrace 4.15 @WillieMullinsNH #horseaware

Quevega (foaled 11 April 2004) is a retired French-bred Irish-trained National Hunt mare, best known for winning the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival a record six times in a row, beating the previous record set by Golden Miller’s five consecutive Gold Cups in the 1930s. She also won the World Series Hurdle over three miles four times, but was beaten in her attempt at a fifth successive win at the 2014 Festival.

Facile Vega was very good, he’s shown me at home that he’s always good. We were really worried about conditions here today, but he relished it. It was a tough decision by the stewards to do what they did and it was great that they did it quickly and they got the race run. That’s what I see every day, this horse just travels when we do work — now you’re seeing what I see. He’s a real sort. Gordon thinks a huge amount of American Mike and he just ranged up beside him and went forward when he wanted to.