Wodhooh
Wodhooh was seriously impressive in winning the finale at Cheltenham on Friday, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle. She always travelled well through her race for Danny Gilligan. She moved nicely just behind the leaders on the run down the hill, hit the front on the run to the final flight, and kept on strongly on the run up the hill to win by four and a half lengths, leaving the impression that she had more in hand than that.
This was another step forward by Gordon Elliott's mare. She is unbeaten now in seven races over hurdles, and there is no knowing how good she could be. The mares' handicap hurdle that she won at December in December has been working out spectacularly well. Runner-up Joyeuse won the William Hill Hurdle at Newbury next time and is now rated 23lb higher than she was when Wodhooh beat her, and third-placed Take No Chances beat County Hurdle winner Kargese in a Grade 2 mares' race at Ascot next time, and she is now 9lb higher than she was then, while fourth-placed Royale Margaux won at Warwick two runs later and is now 5lb higher.
Take No Chances and Joyeuse both ran in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham, and there was talk of supplementing Wodhooh as well and, on this performance, she would certainly have been competitive. The Irish handicapper has given her a mark of 151 after this, 10lb higher than the British mark off which she raced here, and she has the potential to go higher, but surely she will move into graded company now. The Grade 1 Champion Mares' Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival would be a legitimate target. That two-and-a-half-mile trip suits her well and she is one for one at Punchestown. But she will be of interest wherever she goes now.
Cheltenham, 14th March 2025
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