4.15 SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f 118yd

Ill Raise A Glass: Top marks to connections for being bold enough to enter this 115-rated mare in Grade 1 company, and they will pick up blacktype if one of her rivals fails to fire (which isn’t impossible at this time of year). Still, it’s a massive task to expect her to be any sort of threat to three mares well accustomed to top-level racing.

Jade De Grugy: Decision to revert to hurdles from fences nearly paid off at Cheltenham when beaten a length in second by Wodhooh. Defending champion in this race last year is bound to make a race of it with that rival again now, though the first-time cheekpieces will probably need to eke out some improvement in her (they’ve done the trick for a number of her stablemates this season).

Place De La Nation: Last season’s Triumph Hurdle fifth has posted back-to-back career bests this spring, finishing third in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham before a rock-solid second to Zanoosh in Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse. Officially has 16lb to find with Wodhooh and 12lb behind Jade De Grugy, but she’ll finish closer than that suggests.

Wodhooh: Metronomically consistent mare since sent hurdling, winning 10 of her 11 starts for Gordon Elliott (the only defeat coming when second to Lossiemouth in last year’s Aintree Hurdle). For all that she has been winning in small fields this season, the suspicion remains that she might be better in a bigger field with an end-to-end gallop (as seen when hacking up in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham last year). Still, had a length to spare over Jade De Grugy at Cheltenham and never tends to win overly extravagantly.

Conclusion:

Barring she’s over the top at the end of a season that has seen her travel twice to Britain, Wodhooh proved her superiority over Jade De Grugy at Cheltenham last time and can be expected to do the same. She’s a tough nut to crack at this trip and Gordon Elliott has been having a better return in the Grade 1s this week than in previous editions of the Punchestown Festival. For all that, Place De La Nation is up against it on ratings, she is no slouch and shouldn’t be disgraced.