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Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
Grade 1, Cheltenham 14:40 £125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 56y, Class 1
Tweet Thursday 12th March 2026

1 Wodhooh 5/6F
2 Jade De Grugy 2/1
3 Feet Of A Dancer 8/1
7 ran Distances: 1l, 5l, 10l
Time: 4m 54.95s (slow by 4.95s)

Wodhooh wins the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle 🏆

Gordon Elliott's Cheltenham Festival is up and running 👊 pic.twitter.com/5dDVlXHNb5

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 12, 2026

Gordon Elliott was up and running at the Cheltenham Festival as Wodhooh justified favouritism with a determined success.

The six-year-old had brought the curtain down on last year’s meeting by landing the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle and once again proved a welcome source of relief for her trainer after a frustrating opening two days.

Sent off the 5-6 market leader under Jack Kennedy following two impressive victories earlier in the season, Wodhooh travelled strongly before digging deep on the climb to the line to repel last year’s runner-up Jade De Grugy and secure her first victory at the highest level.

Elliott said: “It’s hard to have winners here, the ball just wasn’t bouncing, but thankfully we’re on the board now. I’m delighted for myself and staff and my owners.

“The race worked out great and Jack gave her a peach. She idled a bit up the straight but she picked up again and she’s something else.

“It’s hard to know how good she is as she doesn’t do anything fancy at home, but we’re lucky to have her.

“She could go to Aintree, she ran well there last year (second to Lossiemouth).”

Considering future targets, he added: “We’ll enjoy today and see what happens. My own feeling is she probably needs two and a half miles, but you never know.”

Paul Townend offered no excuses for the runner-up Jade De Grugy, who again ran with credit in defeat.

He said: “After I nearly fell off her at the first I was happy enough with where I was. I thought I hit a little flat spot at the top of the hill but it didn’t bother me that far out as I wasn’t going to take Jack on out there.

“I think she’s run an absolute cracker and we’ve been beaten by a very good mare. I don’t think any of us really know how good Wodhooh is, but I’m delighted with how ours ran.”

Paul Nolan was equally proud of the effort of Feet Of A Dancer, who stayed on to claim third.

He said: “What a run! I just thought turning in we might have a chance as she’d jumped brilliant.

“Our plan was to try something different and track Wodhooh in case she idled in front and we might be able to come with one run, but ours just wants three miles now – she doesn’t have that pace and the other two pulled away up the hill.

“They were just going half a gear quicker than she’d like the whole way but what a little mare and now she’s Grade One placed.

“At the end of the day if Wodhooh or Jade De Grugy ran in the Stayers’ Hurdle with the allowance, they would be high up in the betting – the winner could be Quevega stuff.

“I don’t know if we’ll go to Punchestown as she’s had a hard race there and we’ll have to see how she is, but she’ll be back next year.”

Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle
(For The David Nicholson Mares’ Trophy )
£125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 56y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places

OLBG MARES’ HURDLE PAST RESULTS

Year Winner Age/Wt Jockey Trainer Owner SP Ran

2025 Lossiemouth 6 11-5 Paul Townend W P Mullins Mrs S Ricci 4/6F 10

2024 Lossiemouth 5 11-5 Paul Townend W P Mullins Mrs S Ricci 8/13F 11

2023 Honeysuckle 9 11-5 Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead Kenneth Alexander 9/4J 9

2022 Marie's Rock 7 11-5 Nico de Boinville Nicky Henderson Middleham Park Racing XLII 18/1 12

2021 Black Tears 7 11-5 Jack Kennedy Mrs Denise Foster Mrs Caren Walsh & John Lightfoot 11/1 10

2020 Honeysuckle 6 11-05 Rachael Blackmore Henry De Bromhead Kenneth Alexander 9/4 9

2019 Roksana 7-11-05 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton Sarah Faulks 10/1 14

2018-WINNER-BENIE DES DIEUX 7-11-05 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-9/2
2ND-Midnight Tour 8-11-05 Owner-James & Jean Potter; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Davy Russell; SP-33/1
3RD-Apple’s Jade 6-11-05 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Jack Kennedy; SP-1/2 Fav
9 ran, Time-5m 10.10s; Dist-½, 1

2017-WINNER-APPLE’S JADE 5-11-05 Owner-Gigginstown House Stud; Trainer-Gordon Elliott IRE; Jockey-Bryan Cooper; SP-7/2
2ND-Vroum Vroum Mag 8-11-05 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-11/4
3RD-Limini 6-11-05 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/4 Fav 17 ran, Time-4m 50.20s; Dist-11⁄2, ns

2016-WINNER-VROUM VROUM MAG 7-11-05 Owner-Susannah Ricci; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-4/6 Fav
2ND-Rock On The Moor 8-11-05 Owner-R Irwin; Trainer-Jessica Harrington IRE; Jockey-Robbie Power; SP-66/1
3RD-Legacy Gold 8-11-05 Owner-Roger Brookhouse; Trainer-Stuart Crawford IRE; Jockey-Andrew Lynch; SP-40/1
19 ran, Time-4m 45.00s; Dist-23⁄4, 1⁄2

2015-WINNER-GLENS MELODY 7-11-05 Owner-Fiona McStay; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-6/1
2ND-Polly Peachum 7-11-05 Owner-Lady Tennant; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/1
3RD-Bitofapuzzle 7-11-05 Owner-Chris Giles & Potensis Bloodstock Ltd; Trainer-Harry Fry; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-16/1
15 ran, Time-4m 51.10s; Dist-hd, nk 1/2 Fav Annie Power (Fell)

2014-WINNER-QUEVEGA 10-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 8/11 Fav
2ND-Glens Melody 6-11-05 Owner-Fiona McStay; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Paul Townend; SP-14/1
3RD-L’Unique 5-11-05 Owner-Denis Barry; Trainer-Alan King; Jockey-Robert Thornton; SP-25/1
16 ran, Time-4m 44.60s; Dist-¾, ¾

2013-WINNER-QUEVEGA 9-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 8/11 Fav
2ND-Sirene D'Ainay 7-11-05 Owner-Stephane Milaveau; Trainer-Emmanuel Clayeux FR; Jockey-Jonathan Plouganou; SP-33/1
3RD-Swincombe Flame 7-11-00 Owner-Yeo Racing Partnership; Trainer-Nick Williams; Jockey-Daryl Jacob; SP-40/1
19 ran, Time-4m 55.46s Dist-1½, 2

2012-WINNER-QUEVEGA 8-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP- 4/7 Fav
2ND Kentford Grey Lady 6-11-00 Owner-Ian Bare; Trainer-Emma Lavelle; Jockey-Noel Fehily; SP-14/1
3RD Golden Sunbird 8-11-03 Owner-Jim Mernagh; Trainer-Paul Nolan IRE; Jockey-Robbie Power; SP-66/1
19 ran, Time-4m 51.30s Dist-4, nk

2011-WINNER-QUEVEGA 7-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-5/6 Fav
2ND Sparky May 6-11-05 Owner-Bill Muddyman; Trainer-Pat Rodford; Jockey-Keiran Burke; SP-4/1
3RD Ocean Transit 6-11-00 Owner-Ocean’s Five; Trainer-Richard Price; Jockey-David Bass; SP-50/1
14 ran, Time-4m 48.08s Dist-10, 1

2010-WINNER-QUEVEGA 6-11-05 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-6/4 Fav
2ND Carole’s Legacy 6-11-00 Owner-Paul Murphy; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Andrew Tinkler; SP-20/1
3RD Voler La Vedette 6-11-05 Owner-Mrs M Brophy; Trainer-Colm Murphy IRE; Jockey-Barry Geraghty; SP-9/4
17 ran, Time-4m 45.40s Dist-4½, 1¼

2009-WINNER-QUEVEGA 5-11-03 Owner-Hammer & Trowel Syndicate; Trainer-Willie Mullins IRE; Jockey-Ruby Walsh; SP-2/1 Fav
2ND United 8-11-05 Owner-R B Holt; Trainer-Lucy Wadham; Jockey-Dominic Elsworth; SP-100/30
3RD Aura About You 6-11-00 Owner-Jim Mernagh; Trainer-Paul Nolan IRE; Jockey-Alain Cawley; SP-28/1 21 ran, Time-4m 55.20s Dist-14, sh

2008-WINNER-WHITEOAK 5-11-00 Owner-Brendan Richardson; Trainer-Donald McCain Jnr; Jockey-Jason Maguire; SP-20/1
2ND Refinement 9-11-05 Owner-Michael Tabor; Trainer-Jonjo O’Neill; Jockey-Tony McCoy; 10/1
3RD Chomba Womba 7-11-05 Owner-Richard & Lizzie Kelvin Hughes; Trainer-Nicky Henderson; Jockey-Mick Fitzgerald; SP-100/30 Fav
13 ran, Time-5m 1.40s Dist-sh, 2½