Willie Mullins mob-handed in Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham Festival

Willie Mullins is responsible for 15 of the record 53 entries for the OLBG Mares' Hurdle on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival on March 14.The Closutton handler has won the last eight runnings of the Grade One contest, with the great Quevega claiming six consecutive renewals between 2009 and 2014.Glens Melody struck gold in a 2015 renewal that will forever be remembered for the heartbreaking final-flight fall of stable companion Annie Power, while Vroum Vroum Mag triumphed 12 months ago.Annie Power, who won the Champion Hurdle last March, is in Mares' Hurdle contention once more, as is Vroum Vroum Mag.Other possible Mullins contenders include unbeaten novice Airlie Beach, Let's Dance and Limini, who landed the Trull House Stud Mares' Novices' Hurdle at last year's Festival. A record 22 Irish-trained entries also include Gordon Elliott's Apple's Jade, who beat Vroum Vroum Mag in the Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse, and Gavin Cromwell's dual Grade One scorer Jer's Girl. Among the potential home challengers are Kotkikova and Dusky Legend.