Leading Mares’ Hurdle contender Brandy Love could attempt to emulate Cheltenham Festival history-maker Quevega by going straight to the meeting without a prep run, according to owner Mike Grech’s racing manager Henrietta Knight.

The Willie Mullins-trained Grade 1 winner featured among 24 entries for the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle on Tuesday, and that target could turn out to be her first appearance of the season after returning to training later than some of the stable’s other stars this term.

Knight insists the top-priced 5-1 chance is in fine fettle while building up to the festival, and connections appear eager to keep Brandy Love to left-handed tracks due to her preference to race in that direction.

Mullins has used the Grade 3 Quevega Mares Hurdle at Punchestown on February 22 as a stepping stone for Cheltenham candidates in the past, but taking in that option would force the daughter of Jet Away to race right-handed.

Knight told The Irish Field: “Brandy Love is very well. She’s working with Willie and is definitely on course [for the Mares’ Hurdle]. She just came back a bit later this season.

“She may go straight there because she would be better off on a left-handed course. She wouldn’t go to Punchestown because it’s right-handed there.”

Brandy Love will have to defy a layoff of 331 days if heading straight to the Cotswolds. The same stable’s legendary six-time Mares’ Hurdle heroine Quevega struck at Cheltenham after absences of 296, 327, 313 and 320 days (twice).

Mullins was out of luck when attempting to plunder last year’s Champion Hurdle with Appreciate It, who had been returning from almost a year off, but he has delivered the goods after extended layoffs with the likes of 2018 Stayers’ Hurdle scorer Penhill (323-day absence) and 2017 County Hurdle winner Arctic Fire (418-day absence).

Knight said: “If he can do another Quevega I’ll be quite happy! I think Brandy Love is a very good mare. Hopefully all will be well for Cheltenham, that’s the main thing.”

Last year’s Mares’ Hurdle winner Marie’s Rock heads the market at a top-priced 5/2 to defend her title on March 14, with Love Envoi, who finished eight lengths behind Brandy Love when second at Fairyhouse last April, quoted at 4/1 alongside prolific Grade 1 winner Epatante.