Will Jade De Grugy get her Festival win?

Jade De Grugy suffered the only defeat in her career when she was fourth in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last spring.

We've only seen her once this season as she prepares to return to the Cotswolds, following what could be described as the Quevega route.

Willie Mullins is a master at such things, but will Jade De Grugy be the latest Closutton inmate to bag the Mares' Hurdle?

Caught in a trap

A year ago, Jade De Grugy and Brighterdaysahead were all set for a Mares' Novices' Hurdle duel, a pair of top class Irish rising stars set to put their unbeaten records on the line.

What they didn't count on was another promising challenger, Golden Ace, spoiling the party for trainer Jeremy Scott.

Lorcan Williams’ mount picked up well off what was a muddling gallop set by Victoria Milano, the rank outsider who trailed home last.

Afterwards, Jack Kennedy admitted the lack of early pace was a hindrance for Brighterdaysahead, although he felt she would have been too keen had they forced it.

Paul Townend and Jade De Grugy got caught in a pocket after jumping the second-last and lost some crucial momentum that was never recovered in a dash to the line.

Were Kennedy and Townend guilty of underestimating the opposition, eager only to keep tabs on each other? What we have seen since suggests they were on the best two mares in the race, albeit Golden Ace is no slouch herself.

Jade De Grugy following the Quevega mantra

Jade De Grugy went to Fairyhouse last Easter and readily won the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle over 2m4f on heavy ground, atoning for her festival disappointment.

She sat out Punchestown and the only sighting we've had of her this season was at Punchestown (2m4f, soft) in the Grade 3 Quevega Mares Hurdle in February when she gave weight and a beating to four inferior rivals.

She was entitled to win that race in the style she did, but it should nonetheless have teed her up nicely for Cheltenham.

Quevega won the Mares' Hurdle six times and her career was bookmarked by just how sparingly Mullins ran her. Jade De Grugy had four runs last season but may not match that tally this time around.

The 2m4f trip in the Mares' Hurdle appears to be absolutely optimal for her and she has very strong claims.

Old rival Champion Hurdle-bound?

Her claims will only strengthen should connections of Brighterdaysahead confirm their intention to take on Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle.

Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud may well decide that the chance to have a crack at Constitution Hill is too good to turn down.

That would pave the way for Jade De Grugy seemingly to dominate the mares' contest, a race her trainer will be aiming to win for the 11th time since it was added to the programme in 2008.

Aside from Quevega, Mullins’ other winners of the race have been Glens Melody (2015), Vroum Vroum Mag (2016), Benie Des Dieux (2018) and Lossiemouth last year, with the latter now set to have a crack at Constitution Hill and co in the Champion Hurdle.

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