SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle
Grade 1, Punchestown 16:15 €125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 1
Tweet Saturday 2nd May 2026

This race often provides a fascinating blend of established stars and emerging talent, and the 2026 renewal may hinge as much on who lines up as on what they have already achieved.

Much of the pre-race narrative surrounds the likely absence of two major players. Lossiemouth, prominent in the market, is expected to be aimed instead at the Boodles Champion Hurdle, while Brighterdaysahead may already have had her campaign brought to a close. Their potential non-participation reshapes the contest significantly, removing two of the division’s most formidable performers.

In their absence, Wodhooh assumes centre stage as the market leader, and rightly so on recent evidence. She has progressed with each run, showing both tactical pace and the ability to see her races out strongly. In a field lacking some of its usual depth, she sets a clear standard and brings a profile that suggests further improvement may yet be forthcoming.

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

The chief threat could come from Jade De Grugy, a mare whose form has been consistently strong and who possesses the versatility to adapt to different race scenarios. Whether the pace is searching or tactical, she has shown she can travel and quicken, making her a particularly dangerous rival.

Golden Ace adds another layer of quality, her profile suggesting she is not far off the top level and capable of stepping forward again. If the race develops into a test of class rather than outright stamina, she may find herself firmly in contention approaching the final flight.

Zanoosh represents the progressive angle, arriving with momentum and the promise of more to come. In a race where improvement is often the deciding factor, she could easily outrun her current position in the market.

Further down, Air Of Entitlement and Place De La Nation bring solid form and could take advantage if the principals fail to fire, while Murcia would need to improve but is not without potential in a slightly less demanding renewal than might have been expected earlier in the season.

At the foot of the market, Ill Raise A Glass appears to have a stiff task on all known evidence, though even in small fields, the dynamics of a Grade One can produce unexpected results.

Tactically, the likely absence of habitual front-runners could result in a more measured early pace, placing greater emphasis on positioning and turn of foot. That scenario may favour those with the ability to quicken, particularly Jade De Grugy and Golden Ace, while a stronger tempo would bring stamina more sharply into focus and play to the strengths of Wodhooh.

Ultimately, this looks a race that has opened up at the top, but one that still revolves around a handful of key contenders. Wodhooh may have been handed a significant opportunity, yet Jade De Grugy and Golden Ace ensure this is unlikely to be straightforward. In a contest shaped as much by absence as presence, it may simply come down to which mare is best equipped to seize the moment.

Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
€125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 2f, Class 1
10 entries
Going:

PAST RESULTS