Jade De Grugy too good for Brightersdaysahead in Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown
The Closutton handler had saddled eight of the last 10 winners of the Grade One contest and having finished best of the rest behind esteemed stablemate Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, Jade De Grugy was even-money to add to his tally.
After initially being settled in third place by Paul Townend, the six-year-old was allowed to stride on in front heading out for the second circuit, a move which was covered by her main rival Brighterdaysahead, who was bidding to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Champion Hurdle.
The big two were clear of the chasing pack rounding the home turn and Jade De Grugy always looked to be going the better, pulling further ahead in the straight to score by six and a half lengths. A tiring Brighterdaysahead was eventually beaten to the runner-up spot by the winner's stablemate Gala Marceau.
Mullins said of the winner: "She's a mare that's been improving all year. Nicer ground was a big help and tactically Paul was brilliant.
"Brighterdaysahead probably just had a very hard race at Christmas and she never really recovered from it.
"We're delighted to be able to win a Grade One with a filly like this and I'd say we'll probably train her for the Mares' Hurdle again next year."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Daily Mirror
11-08-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish teenage jockey ecstatic after landing first Grade One victory of career
Irish teenage jockey Billy Loughnane was lost for words after landing the first Grade One victory of his young career. The 19-year-old teamed up with veteran middle-distance star Rebel's Romance in Germany this weekend to record the biggest win of his career to date. Loughnane only got the ride at the last minute as Godolphin's number one jockey William Buick was due to be in action at Deauville, only for his horse to be a late non-runner, paving the way for Loughnane to take his place. In a competitive race, the two-time Champion apprentice jockey (2023 and 2024) kept Rebel's Romance in second position for much of the race, before ultimately displacing the front-running Junko to take home the win by a quarter of a length. Speaking after the win, the British based Irish jockey said: 'It's a feeling I can't describe, a feeling of ecstasy. What a star of a horse. I'm very lucky to be riding in these colours and to have the opportunity to sit on a horse like this. 'He's a star of a horse. Big thanks to Will [Buick]. I spoke to him last night and he told me exactly what to do.' His father, Mark, was at Wolverhampton at the time of the ride, and told Sky Sports: "It's something he's dreamt of all his life. I had an even-money favourite in the first race but I was more watching my phone and watching Billy. As a dad I'm proud as punch." Young Loughnane has been destined for greatness since bursting onto the scene as a youngster. At just 19, it's fair to say that the teenager - who doesn't turn 20 until next March - has plenty more Grade 1's to come.
Irish Examiner
08-08-2025
- Irish Examiner
Thesecretadversary lands the spoils in the Coolmore Stud Churchill Stake
Thesecretadversary was not winning out of turn when taking the Coolmore Stud Churchill Stakes, though it was a fair achievement by Fozzy Stack's colt to make that breakthrough in a listed race. Regular rider Seamie Heffernan restrained his mount early and sat in fourth place as Time Bender set a good pace. Easy-to-back favourite Brussels got first crack at the leader, but Thesecretadversary came wide and fast to land the spoils with a degree of authority. Runner-up on all three previous starts, including in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, he is out of Too Soon To Panic, who won a maiden and a listed race for Stack, and his granddam, Scream Blue Murder, won at listed and Group 3 level for Tommy Stack. 'It was a good performance,' said the winning trainer. 'The last day was a bit of a mess, though I'd say the winner isn't too bad. There was no gallop, and the ground was soft at Ayr, but thankfully he did it well today. 'I'll speak to everyone involved and see where we might go, but there's a valuable Grade One in Canada on the same day as the National Stakes and that might be an option. 'The family has been lucky for us - it all comes from Scream Blue Murder - and thanks to the Rupert and Magnier families for sending them to us.' A younger full sister to the winner is the next to look forward to. Stella Alpina finally and deservedly got off the mark for her career by taking the opener, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden, and her trainer, Willie McCreery, is hopeful that she can develop into a smart sprinter. This was her first run over the minimum distance and she had the pace to make the running and the ability to find extra to see off Shadow Of The Moon, who made a good race of it. The Junction Gastro Bar & Guesthouse Handicap had a distinctly open look to it, but Ballysax Lil' Mick, trained by Katy Brown and ridden by Killian Leonard, found a way to get off the mark at the 22nd time of asking. An Laochmor set a strong pace but the winner was comfortable chasing it, and picked up nicely to win quite handsomely. Mallavelly, who joined Ger Lyons this year, won for the third time in five outings for current connections by taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Handicap. James Ryan timed his challenge well and while third-placed Shavasi didn't enjoy the best of luck in running, and fourth-placed Greatest Drama hung rather than going forward, the winner had a little to spare as they hit the line, and is likely to win again. Trainer Andy Slattery continues to saddle winners aplenty and when Shahada Ace, ridden by his son, Andy, ran away with the Don Moloney Plumbing & Heating Ltd Handicap, it was the stable's seventh winner in 11 days. Only three runners went to post for the Cregan Electrical Ltd Race and Nautical Force, who has been a model of consistency this season, won for the second time in his career. Last-time-out winner Crypto Force made most of the running, but Ben Coen was content to sit behind the leader before launching his late effort to land the spoils. The father-and-daughter team of Paul and Ciara Flynn earned the meeting's final trip to the winner's enclosure when Ms Messi finished strongly to take the Gain The Advantage Series (Ladies) Handicap. Formerly an apprentice, the rider took time away but recently returned as an amateur and this horse, owned by friends of the family, Dermot Murphy and Eileen Farrelly, gave her a first winner since 2022.
Irish Daily Mirror
06-08-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Legend of Dawn Run lives on at Sligo on a special night for teenage jockey
It might be 40 years since Dawn Run created horse racing history at Cheltenham but the mighty mare's legend lived on at Sligo on Wednesday night. The Paddy Mullins-trained racing icon was the only horse to ever win the Champion Hurdle (1984) and Gold Cup (1986) and is considered the greatest mare ever to race over jumps. She was tragically killed in a fatal fall at French racecourse Auteuil just a few months after her historic Gold Cup win when attempting to win the French Champion Hurdle. Dawn Run was famously owned by Mrs Charmian Hill, who rode out the mare at Mullins' yard and was known as the 'Galloping Granny'. The Waterford woman also incredibly won a race at Tralee on her mare when she was 62. Mrs Hill died in 1990 but decades on the iconic red and black silks of Dawn Run were back in the winners' enclosure at Sligo, and amazingly worn by HIll's great-granddaughter. 19-year-old Gabriella Hill and the Henry De Bromhead-trained Trubshaw grabbed the glory in the Guinness Handicap - hanging on by a head to win from God The Highness in a desperately close finish. Glor Tire and Gabriella Hill after winning at Leopardstown last year (Image: PA Archive/PA Images) HIll rode her first winner last summer for Jim Bolger and is now eyeing a new career in the UK with trainer Stuart Williams, ensuring the Dawn Run dynasty continues. Wexford-based Hill told : 'It's great to get a win in the family colours and Trubshaw has come on a lot in his last few runs. He was lovely and relaxed today. 'I'm getting the boat over to Newmarket on Monday to join Stuart Williams. He has a good few horses and I'm looking forward to it. She added: 'We always had a couple of horses at home I've always been riding. I started with a local point-to-point trainer down the road at weekends. I got a taste for it then and got my licence. I'm really enjoying it.'
