English/Ire
Wodhooh regains winning thread in Ascot Hurdle
Gordon Elliott’s Wodhooh does what she does best when taking her record to eight from nine over the smaller obstacles in the Ascot Hurdle.
The five-year-old daughter of Le Havre progressed rapidly through the handicap ranks last season, landing the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival before finding only superstar mare Lossiemouth too strong when upped to Grade 1 company in the Aintree Hurdle.
Dropped to Grade 2 level and in receipt of plenty of weight from her rivals, she travelled kindly under Danny Gilligan, who seemed at pains to bide his time on the mare to come with one sustained challenge.
Celtic Dino still held an advantage approaching the second last flight, but he was quickly pressed by Wodhooh, who swept on past over the final hurdle before drawing clear to record a two-and-a-half length success with Potters Charm back in third.
Speaking to Sky Sports Racing, Gordon Elliott said: "She's just gutsy and she wants to win. She's so laid back at home and we've a great bunch of owners here so delighted for them.
"We'll get home and have a chat with the whole syndicate. Everyone has their own opinion about where to go so we'll sit down and make a plan. I don't want to be coming back too much in trip; I think this is her trip.
"The plan was to come here today, we were toying with going to Fairyhouse, but it was the right decision to come here."
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