Last year’s Martin Pipe winner over course and distance stepped up in grade to win the Grade 1 Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the expense of 2025 runner-up Jade De Grugy (2/1) and Paul Townend.

“She’s the horse of a lifetime. She gets me out of trouble all the time.”@gelliott_racing on the scoresheet at the 2026 Festival & a really honest interview about the week so far pic.twitter.com/nzUTRisnNG

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 12, 2026

Prominent throughout the 2 mile 4 furlong and 56 yards contest, the six-year-old daughter of Le Havre took command approaching the final flight of hurdles.

For a moment, it looked as though the Willie Mullins-trained Jade De Grugy might pose a serious challenge, but it was not to be, as The Sundowners Partnership-owned mare held the runner-up off by a comfortable length.

Paul Nolan’s Feet Of A Dancer (8/1), under Seán O’Keeffe, was third, a further five lengths back, and ensured an Irish trifecta in the first Grade 1 contest of St Patrick’s Thursday.

It was a 16th success in 19 editions of the race for Irish handlers following victories for Quevega (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014), Glen’s Melody (2015), Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), Apple’s Jade (2017), Benie Des Dieux (2018), Honeysuckle (2020 & 2023), Black Tears (2021) and Lossiemouth (2024 and 2025).

The post Wodhooh wins Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle for Kennedy & Elliott appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.