May 03 / 15.42 Punchestown

15.42

Yielding

SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

  • Prize money: £60950.41
  • 2m 4f 118y
  • 6 runners
RTE1
View Course
SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Mostly cloudy

7/2 (Won)

  • Win: £2.00
  • Place: £1.10

Form: 141-12 CD

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 149

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

2nd May 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 118y

16:15 Punchestown

Jade De Grugy

11st 7lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Last year's winner took well to fences this season, finishing second in Limerick Grade 2 over Christmas before going one better in similar company at Thurles (2m5f, yielding) in January; right at her best back hurdling in Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham when a clear staying-on second to Wodhooh (beaten 1l) having allowed winner first run (good); cheekpieces now fitted for the rematch.

6/4

2nd

3

12th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 56y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

Jade De Grugy

11st 5lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

5-7 over hurdles; second to stablemate Lossiemouth in this last year before a Grade 1 win at the Punchestown festival, her second success at the top level; has taken well to fences this winter, finishing second in Limerick Grade 2 over Christmas before going one better in similar company at Thurles (2m5f, yielding) in January; most consistent and looks sure to go well back hurdling.

11/4

1st

4

18th Jan 2026

Yielding

2m 4f 198y

14:15 Thurles

Jade De Grugy

10st 12lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

5-7 over hurdles; second to stablemate Lossiemouth at Cheltenham last March before Grade 1 win at the Punchestown festival, her second success at top level; jumped untidily at times and more broadly disappointing on chase debut at Cork; showed sufficient improvement when second at Limerick to suggest she can beat the winner's stablemate Tareze.

2/9

11/1

  • Place: £3.80

Form: 62-3F2 BF

Last run: 12 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

2

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 118y

15:42 Punchestown

Gala Marceau

11st 7lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

in touch with leaders, went third 3 out, stayed on and went second towards finish, no match for winner

11/1

2nd

2

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 118y

15:42 Punchestown

Gala Marceau

11st 7lb

J: Danny Mullins

T: W P Mullins

in touch with leaders, went third 3 out, stayed on and went second towards finish, no match for winner

11/1

2nd

12

21st Apr 2025

Soft To Heavy

2m 3f 180y

15:50 Fairyhouse

Gala Marceau

10st 10lb

J: Paul Townend

T: W P Mullins

Runner-up in the 2023 Triumph; finished behind Lantry Lady in last season's Grade 1 Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham and was out the back when falling three out in last month's renewal; only third in a Listed hurdle at Warwick the time before, so current wellbeing is an issue.

7/1

OUR TIP

Form: 1-1114 C

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 163

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

6

9th Apr 2026

Good To Soft

2m 4f 0y

Class 1

16:05 Aintree

Brighterdaysahead

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Has form on most types of ground; took her Cheltenham Festival record to 0-3 with a defeat in the latest Champion Hurdle but that was a respectable effort without managing to confirm placings with Lossiemouth, who had played second fiddle in the Irish equivalent; record of 2-3 at about 2m4f includes an easy success in the Mersey at this meeting two years ago; very smart mare who holds leading claims at the weights.

2/1

2nd

7

10th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 87y

Class 1

16:00 Cheltenham

Brighterdaysahead

11st 3lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Has form on most types of ground; hasn't lived up to expectations at this meeting for the last two years, beaten by Golden Ace in the Grade 2 novice hurdle in 2024 and only fourth (weakening when hampered) in this contest in 2025; otherwise a very smart mare and produced one of her best performances in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown (2m, heavy) most recently, reversing December placings with Lossiemouth and registering a fourth Grade 1 success; leading contender, provided she transfers the form to this venue.

9/2

1st

5

1st Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 0y

15:20 Leopardstown

Brighterdaysahead

11st 5lb

J: Jack Kennedy

T: Gordon Elliott

Beat State Man in last season's Morgiana and gave a stunning performance to win the December Hurdle here by a huge margin; nowhere near that level when a remote fourth in an incident-packed Champion Hurdle; failed to regain her best when raised in trip at Punchestown, well held in third behind two of Lossiemouth's stablemates; outpointed by Lossiemouth here at Christnas but finished close enough to suggest she can provide a powerful challenge.

13/8

Form: 8-1164 C

Last run: 72 days

W: 11st 7lb

7 yo Filly

OR: 133

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

15

(13)

29th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

17:55 Curragh

Lot Of Joy

8st 12lb

J: Seamie Heffernan

T: W P Mullins

Last run on the Flat was at Leopardstown last September when she finished in the mid-division from a 3lb higher mark (1m5f, good); won a Listed mares' hurdle at Punchestown last November before being well beaten in three Graded hurdle starts; trainer may have a better prospect for this in Too Bossy For Us

14/1

4th

5

3rd May 2025

Yielding

2m 4f 118y

15:42 Punchestown

Lot Of Joy

11st 7lb

J: Brian Hayes

T: W P Mullins

towards rear, stayed on from last, never on terms

40/1

Form: 23-315 D

Last run: 53 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR: 143

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

10

28th Apr 2026

Yielding

3m 0f 213y

16:50 Punchestown

July Flower

11st 3lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Won Grade 2 Arkle Trial over 2m at Cheltenham in November before finishing third in 2m1f event at Leopardstown in December; appeared not to stay the extended 2m4f in the Grade 2 mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival; however, she was placed in a Grade 1 hurdle around this distance in France two seasons ago.

20/1

5th

3

13th Mar 2026

Good

2m 4f 127y

Class 1

14:40 Cheltenham

July Flower

11st 5lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Made it 2-2 over fences in the Grade 2 Arkle Trial here (2m, soft) in November before finishing third in Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown in December (2m1f, yielding; albeit no match for the first two); has won over 2m4f but faded up the hill in the 2m4f Mares' Hurdle here 12 months ago; probably needs a career-best performance if she's to run into a place.

10/1

4

19th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 50y

17:22 Limerick

July Flower

11st 7lb

J: Darragh O’Keeffe

T: Henry De Bromhead

Dual bumper winner in France including a Grade 1 event and also won two hurdle races there; won a Leopardstown Grade 3 hurdle on second spell with this yard and respectable efforts in Grade 1 mares' races since; should be too good for these if jumping adequately on chasing debut.

2/1

25/1

Form: -14133 D BF

Last run: 42 days

W: 11st 7lb

6 yo Filly

OR:

Form & Verdict
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.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

4

27th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 7f 91y

Class 3

15:00 Newbury

Wyenot

11st 1lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Henry Daly

Five-time hurdle winner with a good strike-rate, one she enhanced when prevailing in a classy small-field beginners' chase at Ludlow (3m, good); remote last of three in a Listed chase for mares at Warwick where soft ground was no good to her (fine on good to soft); has since had wind surgery and retains potential as a chaser.

3/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta €9.80
Straight Forecast €13.16
Trifecta €21.80

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

Brighterdaysahead

The Irish Sun:

Jade De Grugy

RP RATINGS (IRE):

Brighterdaysahead

TOPSPEED:

Brighterdaysahead

POSTDATA:

Brighterdaysahead