Jade De Grugy lands Grade 1 Mares Champion Hurdle Jade De Grugy delivered on pre-race market confidence when staying on strongly under Paul Townend to win the Grade 1 SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown. Originally chalked up second favourite behind the Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead, the six-year-old was supported from 3/1 into evens favourite by post time. Held up in third place early on, Paul Townend moved closer to track leader Wyenot after jumping two flights. The latter mare did much of the work until four out, after which she cried enough, as the race developed into a match between the two Irish mares. Having taken over from Wyenot in front, a big jump two out saw Jade De Grugy take a couple of lengths out of Brighterdaysahead. Kicking clear into the straight, Townend saw another good leap at the last before drawing on to win by six-and-a-half lengths. Gala Marceau stayed on late from out of the pack to get up to take second, with Brighterdaysahead back in third. Paul Townend said: "I thought we might go a little bit quicker early. I didn't want to be outside Sam(Ewing on Brighterdaysahead) helping him, so when he jumped out, I said I'd go in there, get track position and try and dictate it. "She stays well but at least I was able to pull the trigger then from the front end when I wanted to. "She jumped great, she's a dinger. She has plenty of size about her too if you wanted to jump a fence she'll have no bother. Willie Mullins said: “She’s a mare that’s been improving all year. Nicer ground was a big help and tactically Paul was brilliant. “Brighterdaysahead probably just had a very hard race at Christmas and she never really recovered from it. “We’re delighted to be able to win a Grade 1 with a filly like this. “I’d say we’ll probably train her for the Mares’ Hurdle next year.” When asked if she could jump a fence he added:- “She could but it wouldn’t be what we’d be looking forward to now at this stage, we’d rather keep her hurdling.” Paddy Power went 7/2 about Jade De Grugy for the Mares Hurdle. Additional reporting by Gary Carson.
