Having brought The Festival to a close last year when successful in the concluding Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, Wodhooh was back in the winner’s enclosure today as she made the successful step up to Grade 1 company with victory in the Close Brothers’ Mares’ Hurdle.

5\6 favourite Wodhooh made light work of the field winning by a length under Jack Kennedy. Sitting third all the way with Jetara taking the field along at a comfortable pace, the placings remained unchanged for most of the race, until the French-bred winner took charge on the run to the last.

Jade De Grugy lay down a challenge after the final hurdle, but was no match for a determined Wodhooh, with Feet Of A Dancer a further five lengths back in third.

Successful trainer Gordon Elliott said: “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. The race worked out great; Jack gave her a peach [of a ride]. 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. Ted Durcan sourced her for us.

“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.

“She could go to Aintree - she went well there last year, and we’ve Ireland as well; we’ll see.”

Jack Kennedy, the winning rider, 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.

“Obviously I had no winner here last year so to get that is brilliant and thankfully Gordon and all of the team haven’t had to wait as long as last year. A massive thanks to them for all the hard work they put in. It’s brilliant.

“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.”

Kenny Alexander, owner of the runner-up Jade De Grugy, said: “She’s run a blinder and just got beat by a proper horse. We just hit the crossbar but she ran right up to her best. I thought at one point she might get up but the winner pulled out more. She was a bit better than us on the day but I’m very proud of her.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LATEST CHELTENHAM ODDS AND OFFERS FROM WILLIAM HILL