What horse is Paul Townend riding in the 2025 Irish Grand National?
Paul Townend will look to continue his red-hot form when he rides Quai De Bourbon in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National today.
Townend has enjoyed another brilliant season as the number one stable jockey to Willie Mullins. Along with winning a host of races at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, he is operating at a 42% strike rate in Ireland since the start of the year.
The Cork rider notched up another Grade 1 when partnering Aurora Vega to win the Irish EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle on Sunday.
And now the 34-year-old will bid to win the Irish Grand National for a second time when he partners the Michael O'Leary-owned Quai De Bourbon.
Townend won his first Irish Grand National on I Am Maximus in 2023, and his ride this year has a similar profile to that horse.
Quai De Bourbon has only had four runs over fences and has not completed two of those starts. Last time out, he was brought down at the 14th fence of a Grade 1 novice chase at the Aintree Festival.
Before that run, the gelding unseated Patrick Mullins at the fourth last fence of the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
This son of Ivanhowe certainly needs to brush up on his jumping, but his backers will be hoping that the handicappers have not gotten to the bottom of him yet.
At the time of writing, Quai De Bourbon is a 15/2 shot to provide Townend with another big-race winner.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
12 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Mica Malpic gives Bolger second Connacht National triumph
For the second time in three years, Enda Bolger won the Tote Connacht National for owner JP McManus as Mica Malpic, ridden by Charlie O'Dwyer, mastered Ambitious Fellow on the run-in to land Roscommon's annual National Hunt highlight. The eight-year-old stayed on dourly from the final fence to score by a length and a quarter, the pair stretching eight lengths clear of the third, Fairyhill Run. 'It's a nice race to win and the rain definitely helped him,' said Bolger. 'We won it with Stealthy Tom two years ago and it's great to win it again. 'Charlie gave him a great ride and said his jumping was fantastic, bar the second last.' Gordon Elliott and Kevin Sexton shared a 10-1 double, sparked when Pied Piper, placed in Cheltenham's County Hurdle twice, retained his unbeaten record over fences in the Dermot Hughes Car Sales Novice Chase. The seven-year, now three-from-three over fences, by an aggregate of 70 lengths, put favourite Zenta to the sword on the final circuit and, ultimately, powered clear to triumph by 27 lengths, with Midnight Moonshine coming past a weary Zenta (8-11 favourite) in the straight. 'That was as straight-forward as you can get it, ' declared Sexton. 'He was a bit exuberant the first day in Down Royal but, now, he's brilliant — long, short, whatever you want. 'He galloped the other horse into the ground with his jumping and won really well. It's been a tough few days — I've had five seconds, so this winner is important.' Sexton delivered again in the George And Joan McCourt Memorial Beginners Chase, brining 4-1 joint-favourite Boston Rover to master long-time leader Iamagetaway at the second last for a snug five lengths success. Trainer Pat Doyle stated: 'The last time we were here, we won the Connacht National with Kaiser Black (in 2018),' after watching 6-5 favourite Brave Fortune, ridden by his son Jack, brush aside Uncle Pat in the Beginners Chase, adding: 'This is a nice horse, a real natural over a fence and, hopefully, there's a good day in him.' Runner-up to the classy Westport Cove in Ballinrobe last time, the Paul Gilligan-trained Itsalladream proved a fortunate winner of the Castlerea Beginners Chase, coming home 16 lengths clear of Encanto Bruno. In a race which saw favourite Birdie Or Bust and A Law Of her Own exit at the second, the Willie Mullins-trained Runcok (Sean Cleary Farrell) blazed the trail and was still a long way clear when crashing at the third last, leaving Itsalladream to win unchallenged. 'We were lucky winners, but Willie has won enough and this horse was second to one of his in Ballinrobe,' quipped winning trainer Gilligan. 'All the credit goes to my son Liam who does all the work with this horse at home. I suppose we'll head to Galway now, for a novice.'
Irish Examiner
02-06-2025
- Irish Examiner
O'Sullivan finishes with a flourish with Listowel double
Lombardstown trainer Eugene O'Sullivan left it late to make his mark on the final day of Listowel's three-day meeting, but made up for lost time with a fine double in the last two races, both owned by Jack Singleton. Bugs Moran contested the Beasley Engineering Hunters' Chase, and the eight-year-old benefited from a fine front-running ride by Mick Kenneally. A useful sort when with Noel Meade, he is lightly raced over fences and is just the type to excel in this sphere. 'He's a lovely horse to get,' said O'Sullivan. 'He's rated in the 130s over hurdles and I got him with the intention of running him in the Foxhunters but didn't have him qualified in time. 'Jumping is what it's all about, and Mick gave him a great ride. In Mallow, he made a mistake at the first, and in Killarney he made three or four mistakes, but it's just experience he needs. I'm not sure what we'll do with him yet, but I'd like to plan towards Cheltenham next year. He's not the fastest horse but he'll stay all day.' The final race of the three-day meeting was the Bryan MacMahon Bumper and Themanintheanorak made a winning track debut under a confident ride by the trainer's nephew, Alan O'Sullivan. Well-backed favourite Additional Time dropped out of contention racing down the back, leaving Angelo Dundee to trade short in running, but all the while Themanintheanorak crept into contention, and once hitting the front he won as he pleased. 'Delighted with that,' said O'Sullivan. 'He's another nice horse to have, and Alan gave him a great ride. He fell in two of his point-to-points but he's not a bad jumper, and he has plenty of scope and will improve away.' Paul Townend travelled to the meeting for two rides and also completed a double, both for Willie Mullins. In neither case was there much to concern connections, particularly with Blood Destiny, who earned a long overdue return to winning ways in the John J. Galvin Chase. At odds of 1-8, nothing but a Monday stroll was expected, and Townend ensured it was thus. In front from flag fall, he sent his mount clear down the back, and getting in close to the final fence was all that kept it interesting. 'He enjoyed it, and winning will do him the world of good,' said Townend. 'He handled the ground well enough and did what he was expected to do. The last was big when we were coming to it, just because we were getting it so easy. 'I don't know if he's going to stay going or if he'll be left off. He's not old and he has other career options, not just farming these races. He's a horse with good form, but he's just hard to win with.' La Note Verte was all the rage in the market for the Nora Canty Mares' Maiden Hurdle and the five-year-old, having her first run since winning a bumper at this meeting in 2024, also delivered for Mullins and Townend with little fuss. Available at 6-4 in the overnight market and sent off 4-7, she raced in a prominent position, went to the front early in the straight, and won readily despite patent signs of greenness. Townend said: 'She likes it around here, and it wasn't the deepest of races, but she jumped like a buck, and that's her asset. She'll have to improve on that to be competitive through the summer, but her jumping should bring her a long way.' The Tony Martin-trained Day Trader, who showed real promise on his hurdling debut but disappointed when turned out just six days later, got off the mark at the third time of asking when winning the John B. Keane Maiden Hurdle under Daniel King. The lightly-raced Patty O'Farrell has shown improved form since going handicapping and Peter Maher's mare made the breakthrough over timber when taking the Southern Waste Management Mares' Handicap Hurdle in grand style. Never far off the pace under a smart ride by Sean O'Keeffe, the seven-year-old led two out and didn't have to be fully extended to beat the staying-on Katherine. Stuntman Steve gained a much deserved second success over hurdles when taking the Join Racing TV With A Free Trial Now Handicap Hurdle. Having run well in handicaps on consecutive days at the Easter festival in Fairyhouse and again when fourth in a good race at Killarney, he was popular in the betting this time. The 11-4 favourite, which Seán Flanagan rode for Gavin Cromwell, was under pressure from a long way out but responded well and won a shade comfortably.
The Irish Sun
31-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
Reality TV legend lands £500k deal to become face of Paddy Power during Royal Ascot as she films top-secret ad
GEMMA Collins has landed £500,000 to become the face of Paddy Power ahead of Royal Ascot. The former Towie star, 44 — 'The GC' to fans — filmed a top-secret advert for the betting firm in London last week. 1 Gemma Collins has been signed up for a lucrative Paddy Power advert to promote Royal Ascot Credit: Paul Edwards She is seen poking fun at the fashion side of the annual racing event, which takes place this month. It comes after she was a popular guest in Paddy Power's box An insider said: 'Gemma's show-stopping appearance at Cheltenham caused a stir and Paddy Power bosses realised the value of her appeal. 'She was great fun and spoke to everyone so they were quick to ink an extremely lucrative deal that included an ad ahead of Royal Ascot, poking fun at fashion. READ MORE GEMMA COLLINS " "The ad is in keeping with Paddy Power's tongue-in-cheek theme.' The Irish bookmaker has previously signed up several celebs for their ads, including former England striker Gemma said of her stint at Cheltenham: 'I've never been before and Paddy Power invited me so I couldn't turn him down. Most read in News TV "Obviously I love the Irish and the Irish love me. "I've lost an absolute fortune. None of the horses I bet on won but it's been amazing.' Gemma Collins shows off her two stone weight loss in pink cycling shorts Opening up about her intuitive betting technique, she added: 'If I hear a name or see a name and get a vibe about it, then I'll take a punt and put a bet on. "I think gambling at the races can be so much fun. Safe gambling, obviously — gambling awareness.'
