English/Ire
Wodhooh claims Grade 1 honours to get Elliott and Kennedy off the mark
Gordon Elliott’s star mare and prolific winner Wodhooh provided him with his first success of the week when battling on bravely to claim the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle Race.
Wodhooh, who provided her handler with his only winner of the Cheltenham Festival when landing the concluding Martin Pipe twelve months ago, was looking to get Elliott off the mark for the week after the likes of Brighterdaysahead and Romeo Coolio had failed to strike.
Sent off the 5/6 favourite in the hands of Jack Kennedy, who was also searching for his first winner of the week, Wodhooh powered to the front on the approach to the final flight before finding plenty for pressure to see off main market rival Jade de Grugy.
"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," said Elliott.
"The race worked out great; Jack gave her a peach. 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.
"My own feeling is that she needs two and a half miles, but you never know. We'll enjoy today.
"We knew today was our best chances - we've a winner on the board now and three seconds. I'm just delighted, for myself number one, but for all the staff and owners and all the team at home."
Gordon Elliott's mare is now a near perfect ten from eleven over hurdles, with her sole defeat coming to the hands of Willie Mullins' Champion Hurdle heroine Lossiemouth at Aintree last season.
Kennedy said: "It's been a frustrating couple of days, but when you have a mare like her that you are waiting on you are I suppose hopeful or even quietly confident that you are going to get one on the board.
"I was very happy the whole way. She just hit a bit of a flat spot coming down the hill, which she can do, and I probably gave her a bit of a squeeze a bit early and got there plenty soon enough on her but she's so honest nothing was going to get by her in the straight."
A winner of the Ascot Hurdle and in Grade 2 company at Leopardstown, Wodhooh – striking at the highest level for the first time - could now return to Aintree next month.
Elliott added: "She could go to Aintree - she went well there last year, and we've Ireland as well; we'll see."
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