Jade De Grugy finds success at Fairyhouse, allowing her to make a comeback
After a setback at the Cheltenham Festival, Jade De Grugy bounced back with a resounding victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares' Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
The young horse was defeated by a considerable margin, finishing in fourth place, despite being highly anticipated to perform well in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cotswolds a couple of weeks ago. Now, she returns to her familiar surroundings, joining a field of 10 competitors under the guidance of trainer Willie Mullins for this prestigious Grade One race.
Donning the Kenny Alexander colours of the legendary Honeysuckle, Jade De Grugy entered the race as the favoured contender at odds of 7-4 for the two-and-a-half-mile event, with Paul Townend as the jockey.
Just when it seemed like Jade De Grugy might face a challenge, she showed her mettle. Townend had to adjust his position in the saddle, and it appeared that her stablemate Spindleberry might take the lead after overtaking Jessica Harrington's Jetara following the second hurdle.
However, Jade De Grugy deserves recognition for her ability to handle pressure, as demonstrated by her skilful ride guided by Townend. She executed a remarkable jump at the last hurdle precisely when it was required, resulting in a comfortable lead of two and a quarter lengths at the finish line.
Mullins expressed admiration for the impressive display, highlighting the resilience shown after the previous event at Cheltenham.
"Paul didn't believe he was performing optimally for a significant portion of the journey, but it truly demonstrates the impressive capabilities of the engine."
"Spindleberry has encountered unfortunate circumstances. I believed she had secured victory in the end, but as we witnessed yesterday, numerous races were forfeited between the final obstacle and the finish.
"The additional distance proved beneficial for her (Jade De Grugy), and she appears to possess the qualities of a mare suited for a longer race."
"I think we'll consider Punchestown as the next option for her."