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2025-05-03 Punchestown 15:42
Punchestown

SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Going: Yielding

Distance: 2m4f118y

Prize: €73,750

Runners: 6

Surface: Turf

Age: 4yo+

Class: Class 1

Type: Hurdle

NO.

HORSE

FORM

AGE

ODDS

Brighterdaysahead (FR) M C D

J:Sam Ewing T:Gordon Elliott

Form: 1-1114

Age: 6

WT: 11st 7lbs

OR: 163

2.42

Additional info

Owner: Gigginstown House Stud

Breeder: Francois-Marie Cottin

Last run: 53 days

Pedigree

Sire: Kapgarde (FR)

Dam: Matnie (FR)

Damsire: Laveron (GB)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 84 Wins: 7 Percent: 8

Comment: Rallied gamely to beat State Man in the Morgiana (soft), then produced a scintillating performance at Leopardstown (2m, good to yielding) where she powered clear and produced a winning margin (30l) that is rare at Grade 1 level, recording a fast time to boot; nowhere near that level when a remote fourth in a messy Champion Hurdle but her only two career defeats have been at Cheltenham; highly talented mare will take all the beating back against her own sex up in trip.

Jade De Grugy (FR) M CD

J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins

Form: 141-12

Age: 6

WT: 11st 7lbs

OR: 149

2.56

Additional info

Owner: Kenneth Alexander

Breeder: S C E A Ecurie La Grugerie

Last run: 53 days

Pedigree

Sire: Doctor Dino (FR)

Dam: Diane De Grugy (FR)

Damsire: Ballingarry (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: Classy mare's only defeats from six starts for Willie Mullins was when fourth to Golden Ace in the Dawn Run at last year's Festival and runner-up to Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle this term; relished this trip when a dominant winner of Grade 1 Mares' Novice at Fairyhouse (heavy) on her final start last season and returned to give weight and a beating to five rivals in Grade 3 at Punchestown (2m4f, soft) in Februray; can give Brighterdaysahead most to do.

Gala Marceau h (FR) M BF

J:Danny Mullins T:W P Mullins

Form: 62-3F2

Age: 6

WT: 11st 7lbs

OR: 143

12.0

Additional info

Owner: Kenneth Alexander

Breeder: Guy Pariente Holding Sprl

Last run: 12 days

Pedigree

Sire: Galiway (GB)

Dam: Alma Marceau (FR)

Damsire: Kendargent (FR)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: Runner-up in the 2023 Triumph; finished remote sixth in last season's Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham and was out the back when falling three out in this season's renewal after only finishing third in a Listed hurdle at Warwick the time before; runner-up in Fairyhouse Grade 2 on latest when receiving plenty of weight from the winner; up against it here.

July Flower (FR) M D

J:Rachael Blackmore T:Henry De Bromhead

Form: 23-315

Age: 6

WT: 11st 7lbs

OR: 143

12.5

Additional info

Owner: Duncan Angove

Breeder: Hubert Monier Et Al

Last run: 53 days

Pedigree

Sire: Pastorius (GER)

Dam: Aurelle D'Arthel (FR)

Damsire: Astarabad (USA)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 60 Wins: 6 Percent: 10

Comment: Ninth in Aintree Grade 2 bumper in her first spell with Henry de Bromhead but did well over hurdles back in France (third in French Champion Hurdle last May); improved again returned to this yard when winning Leopardstown Grade 3 (2m4f, good to yielding) in December; has 5.5l to make up on Jade De Grugy on her latest Mares' Hurdle fifth so needs to improve.

Wyenot (GB) M BF D

J:Harry Cobden T:Henry Daly

Form: -14133

Age: 6

WT: 11st 7lbs

OR: -

46.08

Additional info

Owner: Strachansalweygrifithgrahaminkinthompson

Breeder: Mrs P Bailey And Miss S Bailey

Last run: 42 days

Pedigree

Sire: Schiaparelli (GER)

Dam: Ambrosia's Promise (IRE)

Damsire: Minster Son (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 7 Wins: 0 Percent: 0

Comment: Made it 5-8 over hurdles with 9l Listed win at Doncaster (3m, good to soft) in December; respectable third in hot Grade 2 there (3m, good to soft) subsequently; disappointed in third when sent off favourite for six-runner Listed contest at Kelso (24.5f) on latest; drop in trip is fine but she will be outclassed in this company.

Lot Of Joy (IRE) M C

J:Brian Hayes T:W P Mullins

Form: 8-1164

Age: 7

WT: 11st 7lbs

OR: 133

Additional info

Owner: Over The Sticks Syndicate

Breeder: Ms Diane O'Neill

Last run: 72 days

Pedigree

Sire: Camelot (GB)

Dam: Miss Macnamara (IRE)

Damsire: Dylan Thomas (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: Talented dual-purpose sort; won back-to-back over hurdles this season, including a Listed mares' hurdle around here (2m2f, soft), but jumping let her down when tailed off in Grade 3 at Leopardstown in December; well behind Jade De Grugy in the Grade 3 Quevega here in February and looks like Willie Mullins' third string here.