Latest news with #BarberstownCastleNoviceChase
The 42
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Majborough earns Willie Mullins a 200th win of season on home soil
MAJBOROUGH BOUNCED BACK from his Cheltenham Festival defeat with a facile victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown. Last season's Triumph Hurdle hero had looked every inch a top-class chaser in the making after winning his first two starts over the larger obstacles, but a juddering error two fences from home ultimately led to him suffering a surprise reverse in the Arkle at Prestbury Park in mid-March. Advertisement The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was sent off at 4-11 to reward those who kept the faith back on home soil and while he pulled his way to the front on the second circuit and raced keenly throughout under Mark Walsh, he stamped his class from the home turn, pulling 14 lengths clear of the Arkle runner-up Only By Night. Mullins, saddling his 200th winner of the season in Ireland, said: 'He jumped today like we know he can jump. For some reason things didn't go right for him in Cheltenham, but he's redeemed himself today. 'He's a huge, big horse but he's very light framed and is an athlete every time you look at him. Looking at him in the parade ring today, there wasn't one ounce of spare flesh on him, and I couldn't have galloped him one more time. 'He's only five and hopefully he'll mature this summer. I'm looking forward to what he could mature into over the next 18 months or two years. 'What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip.'
RTÉ News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Majborough demolishes field in Novice Chase at Punchestown
Majborough bounced back from his Cheltenham Festival defeat with a facile victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown. Last season's Triumph Hurdle hero had looked every inch a top-class chaser in the making after winning his first two starts over the larger obstacles, but a juddering error two fences from home ultimately led to him suffering a surprise reverse in the Arkle at Prestbury Park in mid-March. The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was sent off at 4-11 to reward those who kept the faith back on home soil and while he pulled his way to the front on the second circuit and raced keenly throughout under Mark Walsh, he stamped his class from the home turn, pulling 14 lengths clear of the Arkle runner-up Only By Night. Majborough wins the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase with a bit to spare. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 1, 2025 Mullins, saddling his 200th winner of the season in Ireland, said "He jumped today like we know he can jump. For some reason things didn't go right for him in Cheltenham, but he's redeemed himself today. "He's a huge, big horse but he's very light framed and is an athlete every time you look at him. Looking at him in the parade ring today, there wasn't one ounce of spare flesh on him, and I couldn't have galloped him one more time. "He's only five and hopefully he'll mature this summer. I'm looking forward to what he could mature into over the next 18 months or two years. "What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip." Cottesloe Sunshine completed on a double on the afternoon for the combo of trainer Joseph O'Brien and jockey JJ Slevin, taking the Mares Hurdle by six lenghts. Cottesloe Sunshine, with JJ Slevin on board, takes the Mares Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 1, 2025 They had earlier teamed up to land the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase with 7-1 shot Busselton. "It's a special race, historic. It was really exciting for us as it was our first runner in it and even to have a horse for the banks this year was special," said O'Brien. "J J has done a great job schooling this horse and gave him a fantastic ride today. He's won under all codes and hopefully will win again." Britain's newly-crowned champion jockey Sean Bowen was at his brilliant best as he steered Putapoundinthejar to victory in the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle. Taking to the saddle for the first time sine celebrating his title triumph with a big-race success aboard Resplendent Grey in Saturday's bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, the 27-year-old produced another power-packed ride on Tony Martin's 17-2 shot. Battle Of Ridgeway was clear of the chasing pack on the run to the final flight, but Bowen conjured a late charge out of Putapoundinthejar, who got up to score by half a length. Bowen, who since Saturday has enjoyed his stag party in Tenerife, said: "He did well to win as he didn't jump well at all. He got into a rhythm from halfway and did well to pick up the leader. "I had a good clear run down to the last. He winged the last and picked up well from the back of it. "It's good ground and he enjoyed that. He will have learned loads today." Sean's brother James Bowen got his name on the winner's board after Jeriko Du Reponet (13-2 joint-favourite) led home a one-two for Nicky Henderson in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle. Doddiethegreat beat Jeriko Du Reponet in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival and the Seven Barrows pair again came to the fore, but this time it was the latter who came out on top to give his rider a timely boost ahead of partnering Constitution Hill in Friday's Champion Hurdle. Jeriko Du Reponet storms to victory in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 1, 2025 Henderson said: "I felt sorry for one horse at Cheltenham and I now I feel sorry for the other one! There was no alternative route other than to come here and take each other on again. "You've got to be delighted with both of them – two divisions would have helped! "It all went wrong for Jeriko at the start of the season when he was meant to go chasing and we thought he was going to be the star. It all went wrong at Sandown on his first start, it was terrible and we had to come back over hurdles. "The Pertemps became the objective, he didn't quite win that but he's got his consolation and we must go back over fences next year and get the job done properly." There was further success for the raiding party in the Frontline Security Handicap Chase, with 16-1 shot Petit Tonnerre finishing with a flourish under Richie McLernon to strike gold for the father-son training partnership of Jonjo and AJ O'Neill. The latter said: "We were hitting the crossbar earlier in the week but Richie gave that lad a really lovely ride, very patient, and it was lovely to see it coming off for all the team. "JP (McManus, owner) is a massive supporter of the game and a massive supporter of ours, so it's amazing to have a winner on a day like today."
Irish Examiner
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Majborough has ability to make up for Cheltenham disappointment
Majborough's defeat in the Arkle Chase was an early disappointment at the Cheltenham Festival but with a reasonable round of jumping, he almost certainly would have justified odds-on favouritism. Back on a retrieval mission in the Grade One Barberstown Castle Novice Chase on day three in Punchestown, he can reverse form with Only By Night, who finished runner-up in the Cheltenham Grade One. Willie Mullins' 2024 Triumph Hurdle winner made quite an impression when leading all the way in a beginners' chase at Fairyhouse and followed up with a much more authoritative display in a Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival. On the back of that, he was a short-priced favourite to complete his treble with Arkle success, but his jumping was indifferent, and a mistake at the second-last almost brought him to a halt. He did well to recover well enough to finish third, beaten just three parts of a length in total. The five-year-old has been given plenty of time since that run and barring similar accidents, he will reverse form with Only By Night. The ground will not be in favour of Teahupoo and yet he is difficult to oppose in the Grade One Ladbrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle. Winner of the Cheltenham Stayers' Hurdle in 2024, he followed up in this race and while he has been beaten in both outings to date this season, the first was behind Lossiemouth, and the second in an unsuitably slow running of the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. As is his wont, his track appearances are few and far between, but there is no reason to believe he won't be capable of running to the same level as he did when winning this 12 months ago. The mercurial Hiddenvalley Lake was back to his best at Aintree, though it wasn't an incredibly strong race. Rocky's Diamond's fourth-place finish in the Stayers' Hurdle leaves him with something to find with the selection, but Declan Queally's horse is just a five-year-old and he has strong each-way claims if coping with the ground. Sixandahalf is likely to be all the rage in the listed Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares' Novice Hurdle and Gavin Cromwell's filly will take all the beating if running to the same level as when runner-up in the equivalent race at the Cheltenham Festival. However, she has an interesting rival in the shape of the Nicky Henderson-trained Timetoshine, and that one makes each-way appeal given she is very much unexposed. The five-year-old, who has plenty of Flat form in France, was quite green when making a winning debut over hurdles, and while her jumping on her second outing was quite clean, she was a little high over the obstacles. Nevertheless, she quickened away after the last to win as she liked, and she appeared to have the measure of Miss Altea Blue when that one fell at the last. Third time up, at Chepstow, she showed a little improvement in her jumping and didn't have to be asked a question to justify odds of 1-25. This is clearly a huge step up relative to those assignments, but she rattles off good ground, loves a strong pace in a race, and really stretches out in the closing stages. Whether she has the ability of Sixandahalf or not will only be revealed shortly after 4:50 but at early prices close to 20-1, she makes each-way appeal. The nap goes to Ksar Fatal, who contests the finale, the JP & M Doyle Bumper. When winning his only outing in a point to point, he had the useful Cardcounter five lengths back in second place, and he confirmed that promise by making a winning start on the track, at Gowran Park, readily going clear. This is a nice step up in company, but he comes here fresh, full of potential, and can continue on his winning ways. Tommy Lyons' picks: 2:30 Green Sky 3:05 Jasko Des Dames 3:40 Stealthy Tom 4:15 Jeriko Du Reponet 4:50 Timetoshine 5:25 Majborough 6:00 Teahupoo (nb) 6:35 Ksar Fatal (nap) Next best: 2:30 Withabitofluk 3:05 Midnight It Is 3:40 The Goffer 4:15 Park Of Kings 4:50 Sixandahalf 5:25 Only By Night 6:00 Rocky's Diamond 6:35 Kilwaughter
Irish Times
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Punchestown: Teahupoo and Hiddenvalley Lake give Robcour strong hand in bid to seal Stayers' dominance
The Stayers division isn't most owners' dream category, but Brian Acheson's Robcour team will try to seal their dominance of it this season when Teahupoo defends his Ladbrokes Hurdle title at Punchestown on Thursday. Gordon Elliott 's star is joined in the €300,000 feature by another prime Robcour hope, Hiddenvalley Lake, all while the ownership's star turn this season, Bob Olinger, is at home enjoying the sunshine. Bob Olinger recorded an emotional success in the Cheltenham Stayers when beating Teahupoo for a memorable Robcour one-two. Neither was at Aintree last month where instead Hiddenvalley Lake stepped up to land the Grade One stamina test there. All of it is a notable display of ownership supremacy despite Teahupoo, the undisputed 2024 Stayers champion, not scoring at the top level this season. He's likely to start favourite to put that right at 6pm on Thursday. READ MORE If ground conditions were soft, Teahupoo would likely start an even shorter favourite. When defending his Cheltenham title he ran a perfectly honourable race only to fall prey to Bob Olinger's superior finishing kick. He won this race a year ago on quicker ground, although the surface does look to leave him a little more vulnerable. Robcour is named after Acheson's two children, Robert and Courtney, and Hiddenvalley Lake scored an initial success at the top level for them in Liverpool less than four weeks ago. That's his only start in over three months but it's still a relatively quick turnaround. At his best, Home By The Lee would shake them all up, but recent form figures are a worry. The cross-channel hope Crambo is another proven Grade One winner while Asterion Forlonge, runner-up for the last two years, is Willie Mullins 's number one hope. Rocky's Diamond and Jetara could both prefer easier going. It's 20 years since Carlys Quest was a big price 25-1 winner of this race. But at the end of a long season, and on quick spring ground conditions, there could be value in taking a punt on Mullins's other contender. Willie Mullins has won the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase for the last nine years and Majborough is likely to start a heavy favourite to bring up 'La Decima'. Photograph:Winter Fog has had a lucrative late career in picking up Grade One place prize money at two miles, including third in Cheltenham's incident-packed Champion Hurdle. He was originally campaigned as a stayer, though, and won on his last start at three miles a couple of years ago. Regular rider Brian Hayes may adopt his usual patient tactics on the veteran and come through to pick up some valuable pieces, maybe even up to the winning pot of €180,000. Mullins has won Thursday's other Grade One, the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase, for the last nine years and Majborough is likely to start a heavy favourite to bring up 'La Decima'. Majborough's jumping fell apart when the pressure came on in the Arkle at Cheltenham where Only By Night also filled the frame. The English pair Rubaud and Brookie look to have a task on their plate, but a clean round of jumping this time will probably have Majborough in front. Thursday's great spectacle is the Mongey La Touche marathon test over the famous banks. A field of 16 includes the 2023 winner Vital Island, although Vanillier is likely to be a popular choice. Ground conditions will be very different compared to when the grey scored here in February, where The Goffer was well behind him. The Goffer's fine Topham effort at Aintree last time suggests he may prove a very different proposition now. Vanillier's trainer Gavin Cromwell has a number of other good day three chances, none more so perhaps than The Other Mozzie. He lines up for the opening handicap hurdle off a topweight mark of 119. Considering The Other Mozzie won a good chase at Ayr on his last start off a mark of 138, he could prove a 'blot' here. Cromwell's Sixandahalf skipped a Grade One at Fairyhouse over Easter when the ground turned testing, but the Cheltenham runner-up gets better conditions for a Listed contest and looks the one to beat. JP McManus has four hopefuls for the three-mile handicap hurdle with Mark Walsh on board Park Of Kings. Aidan Kelly takes 5lbs off Win Some Lose Some who also skipped an Easter engagement due to the going.
Extra.ie
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
This Diamond in the rough is ready to sparkle at Punchestown
What a fantastic week we're having here at Punchestown, it's great to enjoy such quality racing in glorious sunshine. Let's start our look at day three's card with the feature race, the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle (6.0). I think we could get a funny result here. Many of the main protagonists don't appreciate quick going conditions. Teahupoo, Home By The Lee, Crambo, Asterion Forlonge, they all prefer the rain. With that in mind, I'm going to go for an outsider, and I think Declan Queally's Rocky's Diamond could spring something of a surprise. Rocky's Diamond winning at Gowran Park earlier this year. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy Despite his win in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park and his promising run when fourth in the Cheltenham equivalent, I think this guy will actually improve for drying ground conditions, given his breeding. Hiddenvalley Lake will be tough to beat but Rocky's Diamond, under Shane Fitzgerald, might just spring a surprise for the Dungarvan family. The Barberstown Castle Novice Chase (5.25) over two miles is a foregone conclusion — if Majborough jumps, he wins. Majborough at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown earlier this year. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile Despite throwing his chance away at the Cheltenham Festival with multiple jumping mistakes, he still only got beaten less than a length by Jango Baie and Only By Night, who reopposes. He was never considered a bad jumper before Cheltenham, and I hope he'll put that right with a clear round of jumping here. That would be giving Willie Mullins his 12th win in this race. The Close Brothers Mares' Novice Hurdle is at 4.50. Plenty of these have had busy campaigns, including running in the Grade One Honeysuckle Hurdle over Easter at Fairyhouse. One filly that skipped that assignment was Sixandahalf and that was due to the rain softening the ground — how a couple of days make such a difference. Sixandahalf racing at Cheltenham in March. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile The sunshine here will really be up her street. The quick ground and the trip will really bring out the best in her, because I consider her a very speedy filly. Rachael Blackmore picked her pocket at Cheltenham so make no mistake Keith Donoghue will be playing his cards late here. Both are likely odds-on favourites, Sixandahalf and Majborough could be two for a double. The Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (4.15) run over just shy of three miles is a hugely difficult puzzle for which I'm going to side with Flicker Of Hope for Mark Fahey. Disappointing in the Albert Bartlett Grade One at Cheltenham last time, I think there's more to come from this six-year-old and I'm willing to give him another chance. His run behind Perceval Legallois at the Dublin Racing Festival is an encouraging one, and with Conor StoneWalsh taking three pounds off his allotted weight of 11st 2lb, I think he has an each-way chance to make an impression in a big field. Perceval Legallois and Flicker Of Hope battle it out at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown earlier this year. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile The Frontline Security Handicap Chase (3.05) over two miles is a prize headed for export, in my opinion. We saw the British horses hit the board on the first day of the Festival, and I expect they might just take home a few more euros here, too courtesy of No 13, Keep Running. Warren Greatrex has plundered prizes at this Festival before and this guy had a solid run at Kempton in February behind Bad, before which he showed his aptitude for quick ground by winning at Ludlow and Ffos Las. I think this guy with the newly crowned British champion jockey Sean Bowen aboard can make a big impression. The opening race of the day is the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle (2.30). Trainer Gavin Cromwell. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy The Other Mozzie carries top weight in this, but for a good reason. If he were running over fences, he would be running off a rating of 145, but he is running off his hurdle rating today of 119. That's obviously attractive. And that combined with the fact that I think he'll appreciate good ground conditions suggests to me that he is well handicapped. He disappointed behind Caldwell Potter in the novice handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival, but reverting to hurdles could be an inspired move by Gavin Cromwell. He's still only a six-year-old and I think The Other Mozzie can justify his burden of top weight in the opener to get us off to a flying start.
