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.

Relieved winning trainer Gordon Elliott admitted:

“I don’t think I was ever quite in the wilderness – it’s hard to get winners here and we just weren’t bouncing, but we’re on the board now. The race worked out great; Jack gave her a peach [of a ride]. She idled a bit halfway up the straight but picked up again – she’s something else. It’s hard to know just how good she is, because to be fair to her she doesn’t do anything fancy at home, but we’re lucky to have her.”

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.

It was a first Cheltenham Festival winner for the twenty-five year old amateur jockey on what was his first ever ride in Britain.

The Paul Nolan-trained winner had a neck to spare over the well-backed 9/2 favourite Johnnywho in the colours of J.P. McManus.

Wexford handler Nolan said:

“He is a stayer, but he was too free in the race last year. The ride that chap gave him was great as he never left the inside. He just had to try and keep on filling him. He was brilliant on him.

“I definitely thought Johnnywho was coming back, but I knew my lad would stay, however when I saw Derek (O’Connor) rallying I thought we were done.”

The winning handler was high in his praise of Stone-Walsh, saying:

“That was the lad’s first ride in England. He is a super rider that is loaded with talent, and what a pair of hands he has. I just thought he was super on him. He never put him into the race until he had to, but I was sure he was going to be second.”

“It is magical stuff”

The winning jockey, a brother of professional jockey Conor Stone-Walsh described the feeling of having his first Cheltenham winner:

“It is magical stuff and I’ve been dreaming of it for years growing up. Nothing will top this now I will say. It was all smooth sailing. It just got a little rough on the turn in, but he had plenty left and I was able to get him back going again.

“I never thought it would be like this, but when you get a ride on a horse with a chance you have to take it all in.”

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The winner, who defeated Andy Dufresne at Navan in December, had two-lengths to spare over the front-running Cobbler’s Way (9/1), with Longhouse Poet (6/1) a further head behind in third.

What a start to the Dublin Racing Festival!

A big victory for @nolan_racing & @92bryan92 as Latest Exhibition digs deep to land the opening G1 on the card @LeopardstownRC to make it 3-4 over hurdles this season!

Results https://t.co/glajGV55GR pic.twitter.com/7cdgqXKCzL

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 1, 2020

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