Cheltenham heroine Wodhooh’s journey is far from over yet, says Durcan
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 17 Mar 2026
Former Classic-winning rider Ted Durcan says the “journey isn’t over yet” with Wodhooh, after Gordon Elliott’s winning machine landed her first Grade One and second Cheltenham Festival win last week.
Since Durcan bought the Al Shaqab home-bred out of the yard of his former boss Sir Michael Stoute for 50,000 guineas, she has won 10 of her 11 races over hurdles.
Her only defeat came at the hands of the now champion hurdler Lossiemouth at Aintree last April and that could be where she is seen next.
“She’s an absolute pleasure, she’s a star and she’s every owners’ dream,” said Durcan, now a bloodstock agent and who sourced Wodhooh for Ian Murphy and the Sundowners Partnership.
“As well as all that she has a great personality, a great mind, she’s very easy to like and she’s very unassuming and I think that is part of the reason she’s as good as she is.
“She only does what she has to do, she’s never too flash and we’re very lucky to have her. The people who own her are lovely, they’ve all been involved in horse racing and they really appreciate her.
“They love the whole journey now and how many people have been involved in a horse that has won 10 out of 11 and the only time she was beaten was by Lossiemouth at Aintree last season when even that was a career-best at the time.
“We do appreciate how lucky we are to be involved, she’s only six and while we all know the perils of racing to enjoy it when you have a good one, but with normal luck the journey isn’t over yet.”
Wodhooh fended off Willie Mullins’ Jade De Grugy at Cheltenham in the Mares’ Hurdle, with the pair five lengths clear.
“Hopefully she hasn’t reached her peak yet, but she’s now a winner of a Grade One which as a mare is great. Jade De Grugy is a smart mare in her own right and we were very respectful of her, but it was a long way back to the rest,” said Durcan.
“I read in one report that Wodhooh was underwhelming but she’s always that way, even as a two-year-old at Sir Michael’s she never stood out and that is why she has done as well as she has, her unbelievable attitude.
“I haven’t spoken to anyone since the morning after the race to tell us she was back home safe. Gordon likes to let them have a week after race before he makes a new plan.
“She went around Aintree last year, so there’s no reason not to go, but Gordon has placed her impeccably from day one so no one interferes, he’s always had a free hand and he hasn’t got it wrong yet. If he wants her to run there then happy days.”
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