Grey Dawning, Jango Baie, The Jukebox Man, and Gaelic Warrior hogged the headlines over the weekend, following their impressive wins at Haydock, Ascot, and Punchestown. Each of that quartet has Cheltenham Festival aspirations, but so too does another, less highly touted star, who also scored on the Saturday card at Ascot.
Hailing from the yard of Gordon Elliott, Wodhooh has become a winning machine but continues to creep slightly under the radar. On the back of her latest success, the Mares’ Hurdle remains the most likely Cheltenham Festival destination. However, Elliott has not yet ruled out a tilt at more ambitious targets.
From Class 5 All-Weather Defeat to Hurdling Heroics
Sired by French Derby winner Le Havre and out of the Dubawi mare Dhan, Wodhooh set out for a career in line with her pedigree. Taking up residence at the Newmarket yard of Sir Michael Stoute, she failed to shine in four flat starts – a 13-length second in a Class 5 at Kempton the best effort of a mediocre bunch. Given that distinct lack of promise, she was sold by Al Shaqab Racing to the less prestigious The Sundowners Partnership ownership group in 2023.
Opting for a complete change of direction, the new owners transferred Wodhooh to the yard of Gordon Elliott to pursue a career over hurdles. Whoever spotted the innate jumping ability in this unheralded mare was immediately rewarded. Finishing a short head second to Nurburgring on hurdles debut at Listowel, she was awarded the race in the stewards’ room and hasn’t looked back since.
| Date | Race | Course | SP | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17th Sep 2023 | 3-Y-O Hurdle | Listowel | 5/1 | 2nd |
| 10th Oct 2023 | 3-Y-O Hurdle | Punchestown | 11/10F | 1st |
| 11th Nov 2023 | 3-Y-O Hurdle | Down Royal | 1/4F | 1st |
| 1st Dec 2023 | Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle | Newbury | 2/5F | 1st |
| 27th Jan 2024 | Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle | Doncaster | 1/2F | 1st |
| 14th Dec 2024 | Mares’ Handicap Hurdle | Cheltenham | 10/1 | 1st |
| 14th Mar 2025 | Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle | Cheltenham | 9/2 | 1st |
| 3rd Apr 2025 | Aintree Hurdle | Aintree | 17/2 | 2nd |
| 22nd Nov 2025 | Ascot Hurdle | Ascot | 6/5F | 1st |
Fast forward to 2025, and Wodhooh’s hurdles record stands at eight wins from nine starts, with the only blemish coming when second to Lossiemouth in the Grade 1 Aintree Hurdle. Reaching a peak rating of 72 on the level, she has now climbed to a mark of 154 over hurdles and is rapidly closing in on £250,000 career earnings.
With her rating making life in handicap company difficult, Wodhooh was plunged straight into the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle on her seasonal return. What followed was a performance that suggested she is more than ready for a second crack at a top-tier event. Only fourth as the field turned for home, she responded willingly to Danny Gilligan’s urging, storming past highly regarded rivals Celtic Dino and Potters Charm to win in style. That effort was all the more noteworthy considering her rider said she felt “a little rusty” on her first start in 233 days.
Having conquered Grade 2 company so comprehensively, the suspicion is that we still haven’t seen the best of this rapidly rising star. That opinion was echoed by Gordon Elliott, who stated in the aftermath:
“It’s hard to know what’s there because she only ever does what she has to.”
How High Can She Climb
Heading into the final race of the 2025 Cheltenham without a winner, Wodhooh saved the day for Elliott when surging more than four lengths clear of the field in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle. This year, a shot at Grade 1 company is on the agenda.
On the back of this display, the 2m4f Mares’ Hurdle looks like the most obvious target. Wodhooh is currently trading at a general 2/1 for that Day 3 highlight. However, those odds may shorten if main market rival, Lossiemouth, heads for the Champion Hurdle, which many expect she will.
However, there is still much water to pass under the bridge between now and the second week in March. While acknowledging the Mares’ Hurdle as a potential target, Elliott stated that he wouldn’t rule out a Stayers’ Hurdle bid or an ambitious shot at the Champion Hurdle.
Elliott knows what it takes to claim the Stayers’ Hurdle, having landed back-to-back editions with Sire Du Berlais and Teahupoo in 2023 and 2024. The 2024 champ currently tops the ante-post market ahead of the talented Ballyburn and 2025 winner Bob Olinger. The three-mile trip would represent a step into the unknown for Wodhooh, who is available to back at 25/1. However, the manner in which she finishes her races suggests she may well stay the additional distance.
A Champion Hurdle bid may not be as fanciful as it first sounds. The picture will become clearer after the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle this weekend. As it stands, The New Lion, who hasn’t raced over two miles since his bumper days, Constitution Hill, who ended 2024/25 under a cloud, and Anzadam, yet to race above Grade 3 level, occupy three of the first four positions in the market. That leaves Lossiemouth as the most solid contender following her comeback win in the Morgiana Hurdle. Having finished just under three lengths behind the Willie Mullins mare at Aintree, Elliott may well be tempted to take a shot at day 1 glory. At 16/1, Wodhooh is already receiving some each-way support in the Champion Hurdle market.
Wherever she ends up, the progress of this tough and talented mare provides another compelling story in a fascinating National Hunt season.
