Wodhooh looks set to head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after taking victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Kerrymount Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Gordon Elliott’s prolific mare had won eight of her nine previous starts over hurdles, with her only defeat coming to Lossiemouth in the Aintree Hurdle in the spring.
After an impressive start to the new campaign with a grade two success in the Ascot Hurdle last month, Wodhooh was the 8-15 favorite to give weight and a thrashing to four rivals in this grade three contest, but she met a willing opponent in the front-runner Feet Of A Dancer.
Jack Kennedy had to work on the approach to the final flight, but Wodhooh responded by taking the lead on the run-in before kicking two-and-a-quarter lengths clear.
“She doesn’t do anything special at home. She’s very laid back, but she knows how to win,” Elliott said.
“I think we went for the right race. We toyed with the two-mile race (December Hurdle) and it could have been a bit sharp for her there today.
“It became a bit of a sprint and she almost got caught taking a few steps while she was taking a nap, but she picked up and galloped.”
Wodhooh remains Paddy Power’s 2-1 favorite for the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, with Elliott seeing that two-and-a-half mile race as a more logical option than taking on the boys in the Champion Hurdle.
He added: “Two miles around Cheltenham could be a bit tight for her so I’d say she’ll go for the Mares’ Hurdle.
“She has once again shown how strong she is and I doubt she will be able to compete for Cheltenham again.”
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