Jade De Grugy tightens in Mares' Chase market after Thurles win

January 19, 2026

Jade De Grugy saw her price tighten in the Mares’ Chase market following easy Grade 2 success at Thurles on Sunday.

Sent off at prohibitive odds of 1/7, it was nothing more than a procession for the seven-year-old who came home alone in a canter and got firmly back on track.

Cut into 12/1 from as big as 25/1 for the Friday Grade 1 at the Cheltenham Festival in March, it was an overdue victory to shed her maiden tag over fences.

The mare by Doctor Dino suffered two costly defeats to begin the season, first at 2/7 at Cork and second at evens in the Grade 2 Dawn Run Mares Novice Chase at Limerick over Christmas.

She lost little in defeat on either occasion, assumedly needing the run on reappearance before narrowly going down to a smart rival in Henry de Bromhead’s The Big Westerner – now among the market leaders for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

The ground may have been softer than ideal at Limerick too and perhaps 2m6½f was a stretch in those conditions, so 2m4½f at Prestbury Park on what is likely to be decent ground should give her solid claims.

Jockey Paul Townend was delighted with her effort, telling Racing TV: “They’re supposed to be that (straightforward) when they’re that price, but it doesn’t always happen!

“She jumped brilliantly today, she was clever when I needed her to be.”

Ruby Walsh also liked what he saw and looked ahead to the Festival: “The Mares’ Chase would suit her. She’d take on Spindleberry, who she had the measure of as a novice hurdler, beating her in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse.

“That might be the race for her, it’s hard to see her going up in trip for a Brown Advisory and she doesn’t look quick enough to be an Arkle horse.”

Jade De Grugy & @PTownend win the Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase at @thurlesraces 🏆#ITVRacing pic.twitter.com/uUoAZFbrtk

— ITV Racing (@itvracing) January 18, 2026

Jade De Grugy could bolster Kenny Alexander’s Cheltenham record

In the famous colours of Kenny Alexander, who has enjoyed great success at Cheltenham with mares such as two-time Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle and County Hurdle winner Kargese, Jade De Grugy could be well placed to continue that trend.

Her smart course form includes a runner-up finish to Lossiemouth in the Mares’ Hurdle last year and she could well improve for fences at the Festival while going back over the smaller obstacles remains an option too.

As Walsh mentioned, 3/1 second-favourite for the Mares’ Chase, Spindleberry, had to settle for second behind Jade De Grugy in the Grade 1 Honeysuckle Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse two years ago.

Plenty of water has passed under the bridge since then and Spindleberry has taken her game to a new level in this sphere, while reigning champion Dinoblue should be a tough nut to crack in this division also.

It looks to be extremely competitive and open at this stage with Gordon Elliott’s Kala Conti unbeaten in two runs over fences to date and could head to Cheltenham with top-level honours in stride from the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.