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The 42
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Galopin Des Champs strolls to Punchestown Gold Cup
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS gained a deserved first victory in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup with a superlative performance. Denied a third Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month, the Willie Mullins-trained star was out to prevent an unwanted hat-trick in this race, having been second to Fastorslow for the past two years. The nine-year-old looked much happier than he did at Cheltenham all the way through this time, jumping for fun at the head of affairs and leading his rivals a merry dance in the hands of Paul Townend. Monty's Star was the first to cry enough under Rachael Blackmore and then Joseph O'Brien's King George winner Banbridge began to struggle. Spillane's Tower was still on the bridle at the fourth-last, but just when Mark Walsh would have been hoping to make his move, he failed to pick up, making quite a bad mistake. With Walsh still seemingly going well enough, Townend kicked on and Spillane's Tower had to meet the next fence perfectly to have a chance, but failed to do so and the race was over. Galopin Des Champs pinged the last and the 5-6 favourite came home 22 lengths clear, to rapturous applause from those in attendance. Paul Townend wins The Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) on Galopin Des Champs. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Mullins said: 'He was back to his best. His jumping was fantastic, at his ease, and Paul was just full of confidence on him. Advertisement 'To win that race by 22 lengths is awesome. Paul said he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer at any stage, he was going to put them to the sword and he did. 'I thought he was more at home today. I was a little bit worried about the heat and the weather, I'd imagine the other trainers were too. 'You could see from the start he was enjoying himself, there was a spark in him from jumping off. 'He's a very good horse, he has to be one of the best chasers we've ever had.' On coming back to Punchestown, he added: 'Good horses deserve to run in good races and good races deserve to have the good horses, as do big meetings like Punchestown, there are none bigger at this stage of the season. 'Cheltenham was Cheltenham and we were beaten, but horses get beaten. At least he's come back and proved that he's a real good horse. 'There is always next year and he's only nine, coming 10. He's still young enough to go and have another go but we're talking about today, not last month, and we're happy to be here today. 'We're happy that the horse has come home from Cheltenham and done this. A lot of people don't bring their horses back from Cheltenham, but I think 'let's have a crack', as it's good racing and good for the sport.' On the winner's past Punchestown record, Mullins said: 'That doesn't matter. You've got to run the good horses in good races and never be afraid to be beaten, I'm not anyway.' Jodie Townend on Bambino Fever celebrates winning The Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I-H. Flat Race (Grade 1). Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Earlier Bambino Fever confirmed herself as the standout performer in her division when running out an impressive winner of the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race. Surprisingly for a race of such stature, only six went to post, with Willie Mullins responsible for the eventual winner, ridden by Jody Townend, and Copacabana, the mount of Patrick Mullins. The five-year-old had already won at the Dublin Racing Festival and she followed up impressively under Townend in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper. Paul Townend excelled as Cheltenham winner Jasmin De Vaux edged out Aintree victor Honesty Policy in a thrilling finish to the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. A notoriously iffy jumper at the best of times, Jasmin De Vaux appeared to be coming to win the race before making a mistake at the final flight. Townend lost his right iron shortly after landing and rather than try and get that one back, he kicked his left one out. That enabled him to get into a position to ride the strongest finish possible as quickly as he could – and it was an inspired decision. Mark Walsh had charted the inside course on Gordon Elliott's Honesty Policy, who lost little in defeat, as Townend swept around the outside. It was Jasmin De Vaux (13-8 favourite), winner of last year's Champion Bumper at Cheltenham before this year's Albert Bartlett success, who had the greater speed on the flat, though, and won by half a length.
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Bambino Fever further enhances outstanding bumper record
The five-year-old had already won at the Dublin Racing Festival and she followed up impressively under Townend in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper. Champion Bumper double! Top-class mare Bambino Fever remains unbeaten and lands more Grade 1 glory under Jody Townend in the @raceandstay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race for Willie Mullins 👏 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2025 While that attracted its usual big field, this race was a different affair and Mullins tried to dictate matters on Copacabana, but Townend always appeared to have him covered. Despite the small field, Noel Meade's Colcannon ended up short of room as the pace quickened and Bambino Fever and Switch From Diesel shot clear. Bambino Fever (11-8 favourite) displayed a smart turn of foot and kept her only challenger at bay by two and a quarter lengths. It meant back-to-back wins in the Grade One for Townend, who rode Redemption Day to victory in the corresponding race last year. Bambino Fever coasts to victory (Niall Carson/PA Willie Mullins said: 'She looks like a very good filly. It wasn't as fast a race as we thought it was going to be and she was still able to quicken off it. She's got gears as well. 'I thought it would be very hard to take Jody off after what she has done all year on her. 'That'll be it now and we'll look forward to next season, going jumping. 'She's a tough, strong filly. Even if she doesn't do anything else, she's done enough now anyway, but I'm really looking forward to going jumping, the way she is bred.'
Extra.ie
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Spillane's Tower can rise above small but quality Punchestown field
Here are just four runners in this year's Punchestown Gold Cup, but you don't need quantity when you've quality of this level. Galopin Des Champs has been dethroned as the king of Cheltenham, but he's never really been the king of Punchestown, because from five visits to the track over fences, he has won only once. Banbridge is the King George winner who disappointed at Cheltenham and Spillane's Tower hasn't been seen since he disappointed in the King George. So there's many balls in the air here, and no certainties. Spillane's Tower, with Mark Walsh up, on their way to victory at Fairyhouse last year. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile I know my parents are really happy with Spillane's Tower and while they were disappointed they couldn't run at Aintree due to the drying ground conditions, they are confident he could run a career-best here. He's my selection to win this — call it what you want, maybe it's my heart leading my head. But to see Spillane's Tower winning today, well that would be the result of the week for me. In the Grade One bumper (4.50), I think Colcannon is going to run a big race for Noel Meade. Colcannon, with Derek O'Connor up, on their way to victory at Leopardstown earlier this year. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile The obvious solution to this puzzle is Bambino Fever, but she's a very short-priced favourite out of the Willie Mullins yard. I just think Colcannon could run a big race because his form from Leopardstown is working out really well. It's a small field in this as well, and he drops in last so his running style will really suit a small field. Expect Derek Connor to play his cards late and maybe catch the mare on the line. The day's other Grade One is the three-mile Channor Novice Hurdle (4.15), for which I like Honesty Policy, trained by Gordon Elliott. I think stepping up to three miles will really improve his chances. He was a winner at two and a half miles at Aintree, and he looked like he was going as quick as he could go everywhere, so the extra half-mile should really suit. Honesty Policy, with Mark Walsh up, on their way to victory at Aintree. Pic:And while I respect Jasmin De Vaux, I don't believe he's as fluent a hurdler as Honesty Policy who's a year younger and maybe has more improvement to come. Cork jockey John Shinnick is two winners off the leader in the race to be crowned champion conditional jockey and he will be hoping he can win on Fairyland Opera in the first race on the card, the Adare Manor Opportunity Final Handicap Hurdle (2.30) over two miles and three furlongs. She's a mare who was a very easy winner at Tramore last time and given her placed form before that, I think Fairyland Opera could defy a rating of 114 and provide Lorna Fowler with an opening race winner. Next is the Red Mills Auction Series Final (3.05) and Millforce catches my eye here. I was in Thurles when he won over two miles, six furlongs and he showed pace that day, so I'm not surprised they're dropping back slightly in trip. Keith Donoghue would have had the choice between Millforce and Champagne Jury as both are trained by Gavin Cromwell, and he's opted to stay loyal to the top horse. So I think Millforce has the experience and the potential class to win this race. The Louis Fitzgerald Hurdle is a race for horses who have won only once over hurdles. Spillane's Tower managed to get beaten in it two seasons ago. I think Kaid D'authie is better than we've seen. He won at Leopardstown over Christmas, making all the running, and obviously his connections rated him very highly because his next two runs, while he disappointed, were in Grade One company. Kaid D'authie (right) at Leopardstown in 2024. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile They're putting cheek-pieces on him now because perhaps he's keeping the lion's share of his energy up his own sleeve. I reckon Kaid D'authie is going to take a lot of beating in this race because it's a winners of one, but they thought he was a Grade One horse. Trainer Paddy Twomey is one of the rising stars of the Flat scene, but when he has one on the National Hunt front, you do take notice. I rode a Bumper winner for him at the Punchestown Festival many moons ago before he became the man he's known as today. That was on a 33-1 shot, Timing's everything, but today Seo Linn won't be any such fancy odds in the Grade Three Mares' Bumper (6.35). After winning at the Cheltenham November meeting and the Aintree meeting just gone, I think she can make it a treble by winning this one under Barry O'Neill. Trainer Paddy Twomey. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy In the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase, Must Be Obeyed catches my eye, but be warned — she does not tend to live up to her name. She can be very cantankerous, particularly at the start where she sometimes sabotages her own chance. But with the cheekpieces fitted first time, I think she can make it her first win since January 2023 under Darragh O'Keeffe, who is riding her at 10st 1lb. She's been dropped to a mark of 126, expect Must Be Obeyed to be on the pace with those first-time cheekpieces and she may well be hard to catch.
