Market speaks loud and clear as Jade De Grugy beats Brighterdaysahead to continue Closutton party at Punchestown

The market told you all you needed to know. Brighterdaysahead was as short as 4-11 on Saturday morning but drifted all the way out to 6-4 at the off, and she was much bigger on the exchanges as she looked a pale shadow of the mighty mare who smashed State Man at Christmas and could not land a glove on Jade De Grugy. 

You could have got 3-1 about Jade De Grugy if you were up early enough, but punters were falling over themselves to back her all day as she was sent off evens in the end before obliging in straightforward fashion in the Mares Champion Hurdle.

Paul Townend made the decisive move with a circuit to race, sneaking up the inside of Wyenot and making the rest of the running. It was never really in any doubt.

There was a brief moment when it seemed to be bubbling up nicely as Sam Ewing on Brighterdaysahead eased up on the outside of Jade De Grugy with three to jump, but she was swatted away with the minimum of fuss and could not even hold on to second. That spot went to Gala Marceau. 

"She's a dinger," beamed Townend. "She jumped great. She has plenty of size about her too, if you wanted to jump a fence she'll have no bother.

"I thought we might go a little bit quicker early. I didn't want to be outside Sam helping him, so when he jumped out, I said I'd go in there, get track position and try and dictate it. She stays well, so at least I was able to pull the trigger from the front end when I wanted to."

It is that sort of tactical masterclass which sets Townend apart from the crowd. 

Mullins was quick to pour cold water on the idea of her jumping a fence, though. She will be aimed at a return to the Mares' Hurdle, where she will try to go one better than this year when she found only Lossiemouth too good. 

The trainer said: "She's been improving all year. Nicer ground was a big help and tactically Paul was brilliant. We're delighted to be able to win a Grade 1 race with a filly like this.

"Brighterdaysahead probably just had a very hard race at Christmas and she never really recovered from it."

Jade De Grugy pulls clear to win under Paul TownendCredit: Patrick McCann

When asked if she could jump a fence next season, the champion trainer replied: "She could but it wouldn't be what we'd be looking forward to at this stage, we'd rather keep her hurdling. I'd say we'll probably train her for the Mares' Hurdle next year."

Brighterdaysahead proved a bitter disappointment and it is likely to be the last time we will see her over hurdles. 

Gordon Elliott said: "She just wasn't herself after the Champion Hurdle and it took a little while for her to recover from that. 

"She had a great first half of the season to win two Grade 1 races. We'll look forward to next season with her now and she'll head straight over fences. We always thought she would make a nice chaser."

Paddy Power cut Jade De Grugy to 7-2 (from 6-1) from the 2026 Mares' Hurdle following this success, while the same firm are offering odds of 4-1 about Brighterdaysahead winning the Mares' Chase at next year's festival. She is as big as 6-1 with Unibet.

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