Place De La Nation upsets big two in Mares Champion Hurdle What had been billed as a rematch between the first two from the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham turned into something of an upset as Place De La Nation upset the market leaders to win the Grade 1 SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle. Held up third of the four runners by Danny Mullins, the Gigginstown House Stud owned 10/1 chance was pushed along to take closer order after two out. Making headway to dispute jumping the final flight, the five-year-old was briefly headed by stablemate Jade De Grugy over 200 yards out, before rallying to get back up on the run-in to win by one-and-a-half lengths. Having made the running, 8/11f Wodhooh was headed before the last and, eventually finished third. Patrick Mullins reported: "She has been knocking on the door being placed at Cheltenham and in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse, so is a high-class mare. That said, she did need the other two (stablemate Jade De Grugy and Wodhooh) to cut each other's throat's and that probably is what happened. "We thought it would be hard to go up against the geldings in the novice race and while we had been trying to split up our runners, she wasn't qualified to run in the Listed mares' novice hurdle. This then looked the race she had the best chance of winning. "I thought it was a great run by Jade De Grugy but I think Paul (Townend, her rider) and Jack (Kennedy, on Wodhooh) probably ended up almost taking each other out. Danny got the fractions race, as he always does, and is lethal in that second-string role." Danny Mullins added: "When you are riding for Willie Mullins you are riding good horses. 10/1 chances of Willie Mullins can win these races all day long. "To be a part of that team, to be riding for such good owners, Gigginstown today. The team at home at Willie Mullins, it makes my job a lot easier on the track" Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes.
