'She's one of our best chances of the week' - Irish title rivals Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins go toe-to-toe in the Mares' Hurdle

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The Mares' Hurdle might be without Lossiemouth, but the newcomer to the roll of honour still looks destined to be trained by one of the Irish powerhouse yards of Gordon Elliott or Willie Mullins.

Although Elliott had to settle for second behind Lossiemouth in the Champion Hurdle, he can take solace in the fact that her absence here leaves the door open for Wodhooh to add a first Grade 1 to her sparkling record.

However, Mullins never makes things that easy for his sparring partner, and he has drafted in dual Grade 1-winning hurdler Jade De Grugy to attempt to go one better than her runner-up finish last year.

Ireland’s top trainers' hostilities spill across the Irish Sea, and much like their ongoing domestic title battle, Elliott appears to have the upper hand on figures.

Wodhooh has lost just one of her ten starts over hurdles, a beating dealt out by Lossiemouth, and is rated 4lb superior to Mullins' representative.

Cullentra’s sole winner at the festival last year when landing the Martin Pipe, Wodhooh has continued her upward curve this season. Successful in the Ascot Hurdle on her seasonal return, she followed that with a fairly routine Grade 3 victory at Leopardstown over Christmas.

He said: "We're lucky to have her. She's been brilliant for the last few seasons and hasn't missed a beat all year. We've obviously had this race in mind for her all season, and I was thrilled with her at Ascot and at Leopardstown over Christmas.

"We purposely skipped the DRF with her, and she's been flying at home. It goes without saying that she's one of our best chances of the week."

Elliott last won the contest in 2017 with Apple’s Jade, and it is notable that, given his firepower across the week, he rates Wodhooh as his biggest chance.

Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham next for Wodhooh

Wodhooh won a Leopardstown Grade 3 with the minimum of fuss when last seen in DecemberCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Jade De Grugy is back over hurdles after a moderate chasing campaign, during which she was beaten at short odds twice before comfortably landing a Grade 2 at Thurles last time against inferior opposition.

It is probably not speaking out of turn to say that she is a superior hurdler. She boasts a hurdles record of 5-7, with two of those at the highest level, although the seven-year-old has never won at the festival.

She was a slightly disappointing fourth in the Mares’ Novices' Hurdle in 2024 before returning last year with a distant runner-up finish in this race. There’s little shame in that, and she is a worthy opponent to the market leader. However, that rival has undoubtedly had a better preparation, and this looks very much like Plan B for Jade De Grugy.

Paul Townend said in his Betway blog: "Jade De Grugy returns to the smaller obstacles. It’s a smaller field than has been the case in recent years, but it’s a decent race, and although Wodhooh is a short price, she might not have it all her own way.

"It’s never easy coming back from chasing in a race of this quality, but she’s schooled well back over hurdles at home, and she has some very classy form to her name, so I’d say she has a chance of upsetting the favourite.

"I have enormous respect for Wodhooh as she just seems to always get the job done, and Feet Of A Dancer of Paul Nolan’s is another mare I’d be taking very seriously, but I’d be disappointed if Jade De Grugy isn’t in the shake-up at the very least."

What they say

Paul Townend, rider of Ballyburn
I think he’s a bit of a forgotten horse in this. He’ll have to do everything right if he’s going to win, but we know the ability is there with him, it’s just a case of channelling it in the right way. He’ll have the hood on him for the first time, so I do think that will be a help to him.

Emmet Mullins, trainer of Dream On Baby
The race looks like it has cut up plenty. Fingers crossed, we can run into a place. Everybody would be delighted with that.

Paul Nolan, trainer of Feet Of A Dancer
She needs to improve to beat Wodhooh, and she has to improve on ratings to beat Jade De Grugy, but she seems strong in herself. I'd probably like rain, and I guess it’s not ideal going back in trip as she seemed to be better over three miles, but she has her chance and we decided to come here because the Stayers’ looked too hot.

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Jetara
She’s been running consistently. She’s the same old Jetara but has been up against it a little given she's been carrying a penalty for winning the Grade 2 last year. We’ve put blinkers on her just to sharpen her up, and I think going this trip on a slightly stiffer track will suit her. She’ll go on any ground.

Joe Tizzard, trainer of Sunset Marquesa
It is a tough ask, but she's not far off the British horses. Her run at Ascot was good enough, and I think the trip will suit her. She's not done a lot wrong this season, so she can take her chance.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Take No Chances
Take No Chances is a brilliant mare. She was third in the race last year and I think moving this onto the New course is even better for her. She always gives her running, and I can’t see why she won’t again.

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