Punchestown round-up: Final Demand routs rivals
Willie Mullins' Final Demand stamped his class on the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown with an all-the-way success.
A winner at the Dublin Racing Festival, he was sent off favourite for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham but could only finish third behind The New Lion and The Yellow Clay.
He faced Gordon Elliott's 5-4 favourite The Yellow Clay once again, but he took a heavy fall at the last when well held in third.
In truth the race was over by the second-last as Paul Townend continued to wind up the pace in the final half-mile, with the 7-4 shot drawing further and further clear.
Paul Townend and Final Demand take the Grade 1 victory in the Champion Novice Hurdle. #rteracing
📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱 Results: https://t.co/dPRVwHr6zR pic.twitter.com/vOUTdgyJa4
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 2, 2025
"It was an awesome performance over that trip," said Mullins.
"Paul felt he didn't go fast enough in Cheltenham and he said to Caroline (Tisdall, owner) 'today I'm going to show him off'.
"I saw him jumping the first and second and I wasn't happy until he jumped the third that he was jumping well.
"Then he was electric over a few of his hurdles, for a big chaser to jump the way he did – he was getting lengths at his hurdles when it mattered.
"I thought he was going to tire around the fifth-last or fourth-last after the pace, but then he'd go down to the hurdle and just take a length out of a horse behind him.
"If you can jump fences like that he's one to look forward to."
When asked if he had schooled over fences, Mullins added: "No, not at home. There will be time enough next autumn. He won his point-to-point so he's well able to jump.
"He's not a horse you'd want to stand on your foot! He's really one to look forward to."
Dinoblue followed up her Cheltenham success in even easier fashion in the Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Chase.
Only four went to post for the Grade Two event and it was dominated by the two Mullins stablemates, Dinoblue (4-7 favourite) and Allegorie De Vassy.
Allegorie De Vassy was a late faller at Cheltenham after being passed by Dinoblue and the time before had been beaten a neck by the same rival in the Opera Hat Chase.
This time Townend laid it all out from early on and took a sizeable early lead, but Mark Walsh gradually reeled her in on Dinoblue and went away to win by 35 lengths. Mullins later confirmed the runner-up had run her last race.
Dino Blue lived up to expectations to win the Mares Chase by some distance at Punchestown. #rteracing
📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱 Results: https://t.co/dPRVwHr6zR pic.twitter.com/zlJFJxRH4x
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 2, 2025
"She was very good today. I was hoping that Allegorie might get her own back on her after Cheltenham, but it wasn't going to be that way today," said Mullins.
"Allegorie is in foal to Jukebox Jury so she's retired now.
"Dinoblue looks to be getting better and better and hopefully we have her for next season. I don't see her going to stud for a while yet."
Frank Berry said, winning owner JP McManus' racing manager, said: "You could set your clock by her every day.
"She jumped great and she's just a pleasure to have around. She never lets you down.
"I'd say it's her best year and she's maybe better than ever.
"She'll have another season. She'll stick to the mares' races. There is a good programme for them and it suits her well."
"Dinoblue looks to be getting better and better..." - Willie Mullins is looking forward to another year with the winner. #rteracing
📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer https://t.co/XnOP6grnB7
📱 Results: https://t.co/dPRVwHr6zR pic.twitter.com/NTsMasapZk
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 2, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
4 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Willie Mullins snaps up ‘promising' new jockey who rode incredible 150-1 winner
WILLIE MULLINS has snapped up a 'promising' new jockey - as an army of new recruits start arriving at his Closutton HQ. Anna McGuinness banged in her first winner for the all-conquering trainer with victory aboard the JP McManus-owned I Am River at Kilbeggan on Sunday. 2 Anna McGuinness has joined the Closutton riding ranks and banged in a winner for Willie Mullins - which could open the door to a load more rides in the future Credit: Getty 2 The biggest trainer in the sport is spending the summer replenishing his enormous squad ready for the new National Hunt season Credit: PA Sent off 15-8, the six-year-old made all after 517 days off to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths from Gavin Cromwell's 100-30 In The Trenches. McGuinness came in for praise from McManus' racing manager Frank Berry afterwards. And this success could pave the way to a whole load more rides in the future. She got the leg up on Mullins' A Penny A Hundred in the recent Mayo National at Ballinrobe, finishing third and picking up a cheque for £7,500. Victory on I Am River came on just her third ride for Mullins - who keeps a close eye on Anna when she rides work at his Cork yard. Beaming Berry said: "The horse jumped great and got a lovely ride from Anna. "She got him into a lovely rhythm, and you'd be delighted with him. "Anna is riding out in Willie's and finished third in the Mayo National and couldn't have done better." Most read in Horse Racing Incredibly, McGuinness' first ever win came on freak 150-1 outsider Feast in a Downpatrick bumper in July 2023. Labelled a very 'promising' conditional rider, McGuinness has three career wins but will surely bang in a load more given the chance. Her addition to Among them is £125,000 point-to-point purchase Bentraghhill. Mullins' trusted right-hand man Harold Kirk gave the winning bid for the 'gorgeous' four-year-old at the sales last week. He comes from Wilson Dennison, who previously owned Mullins stars Yorkhill, Shaneshill and Bellshill. Meanwhile, Audrey Turley, who owns Galopin Des Champs, has sent Looking For Eight to Mullins. And point-to-point winner Arcadian Emperor is another to have arrived recently. That lot will be joined by FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Fiona Murtagh adds another medal to Ireland's haul with ‘special' silver at European Rowing Championship
FIONA MURTAGH won a "special" silver medal at the European Rowing Championships - adding to Ireland's haul at the tournament. The Galway woman, who won Olympic bronze in Tokyo, finished behind Lauren Henry and ahead of Frida Sanggaard Nielsen. Advertisement 3 Fiona Murtagh won silver at the European Rowing Championships Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile 3 She finished behind Fiona Henry, centre, and ahead of Frida Sanggaard Nielsen, right Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile 3 It is Ireland's second medal at the championships Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile And speaking to RTE Sport, Murtagh described the achievement as "special" while vowing "I've a long way to go". She said: "First singles final, it's been a long year, a tough year. "Really special, nice to be able to bring home a medal. An exciting season ahead. "Throughout the regatta I've gained so much confidence. The single is really a confidence boat. Advertisement Read More on Rowing "I had to back myself for the first 20 strokes and be really confident at the front and at the finish. "It got hard through the k (one kilometre mark) but I could see the field spreading out a little bit. "I got a bit of a head wind with the wind against my back. "One I saw those red buoys I was like, 'there's nothing left, empty it' so I'm happy with what I've done. Advertisement Most read in Other Sports "But I've so much to learn still. Some of those girls are new to the field but a lot of them are quite experienced so this is my first step on the ladder. "I've such a long way to go." Paul O'Donovan's absence from Olympics homecoming in Dublin explained by rowing teammate Fintan McCarthy It is Ireland's second medal at the competition, coming a day after The pair came third in the men's double sculls for McCarthy's first heavyweight medal having won two Olympic gold medals alongside Paul O'Donovan in the lightweight category. Advertisement The medal for Queen's University Belfast rower Pazzaia is his first major medal of his senior career. Pazzaia was a late stand-in for Paul O'Donovan, who was absent from the event. Earlier, Mags Cremin and Zoe Hyde narrowly missed out on the podium in the women's double sculls. They came home fourth in 6:55.73 as Dutch pair Roos de Jong and Tessa Dullemans took gold. Advertisement There was further disappointment for Ireland in the lightweight categories as Izzy Clements, making her senior international debut, finished just outside the medals in the women's lightweight single sculls with a battling fourth-place finish. Jake McCarthy, brother of Fintan, also fell agonisingly short in the lightweight men's single sculls, clocking 7:01.45 to place fourth.
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Katie McCabe sends warning to Ireland teammates despite win over Turkey
Katie McCabe believes Ireland need a "massive improvement" despite coming back to win against Turkey on Friday. The newly-crowned Champions League winner with Arsenal lamented the slow nature of Ireland's play, particularly in the first half. Speaking to RTÉ Sport, McCabe said: "We got the result and that's what matters in the end but from a performance point of view we have to be miles better going into Tuesday. "We didn't move the ball quick enough, we didn't move Turkey quick enough. We allowed them into the game with some sloppy mistakes. "It gave them that sniff to go forward. We need a massive improvement if we are going to beat Slovenia on Tuesday. "It's a tough ask. They have played brilliant for the whole Nations League campaign. I've got belief in us. We can score goals from different phases of play. "We can't rush it. We have to be patient. We need to be at our absolute best." A potential reason McCabe gave for Ireland's slow starts in games is the fact that the squad may be still getting used to new boss Carla Ward's tactics. She explained: "This is our fifth game under Carla, it's not going to be perfect. From a standards point of view, we have to implement that [gameplan] a little quicker and come out of the traps faster. "If we want to be pushing for [League] A in the Nations League, we can't be conceding goals like that, we gave them too much space. We need to take more care with the ball." Despite the celebrations she surely held after winning the Champions League with Arsenal, she was involved from the off, saying that she was fit to play for the duration of both games. ""I feel really good. It was a massive result for the club last week and we were ecstatic with becoming champions. I enjoyed the full celebrations, but it was full focus on these two games. "I said to Carla when I came in I was ready to play and give it all for the team." Ireland's next game is against Slovenia in Páirc Uí Chaoimh at 6pm next Tuesday.
