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Irish Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Willie Mullins to train horse for King Charles and Queen Camilla
Willie Mullins will train a horse for King Charles and Queen Camilla - and he is set to make his debut on Friday. It is believed it is the first time ever that a horse owned by a ruling British monarch has been trained in Ireland after John Oxx Snr trained a horse called Mascara in the 1970s for the Queen Mother. Named Reaching High, the four-year-old will make his debut in the final race at Leopardstown on Friday evening, the Leopardstown Lady Riders Handicap over 1m4f at 8.30. He will be partnered by Jody Townend, the younger sister of champion trainer Paul Townend who rode her first Cheltenham Festival winner this year when partnering Bambino Fever to victory in the Champion Bumper. Reaching High is a Sea The Stars gelding out of Estimate and was previously trained by Michael Stoute in England, who retired at the end of last season. Mullins was introduced to King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot and featured in the Royal procession at the meeting in 2023. Reaching High is to be aimed at the Ascot Stakes over two and a half miles on the opening day of this year's Royal Ascot meeting. The Irish and British champion trainer told The Irish Field: "We were introduced to King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot last year. The next thing, we got a phone call asking if we would take a horse for them. "I said I would be delighted and Reaching High arrived here shortly afterwards. We have schooled him over hurdles and had hoped to get a run into him over jumps recently but it didn't work out. "The plan now is to run him in a lady riders' race at Leopardstown on Friday night. Jody Townend will ride him and, looking further ahead, he could be a contender for the Ascot Stakes over two and a half miles on the opening day of Royal Ascot. His pedigree is all stamina, so those kind of races could suit him." Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email.
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Galopin Des Champs wins first Punchestown Gold Cup
Galopin Des Champs won a first Punchestown Gold Cup at the third attempt on Wednesday [Getty Images] Galopin Des Champs produced a dominant display to win a first Punchestown Gold Cup. Jockey Paul Townend guided the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner to a 22-length victory over Spillane's Tower. It proved to be third time lucky for the Willie Mullins trained 5-6 favourite, who twice finished second behind Fastorslow in the previous two years at Punchestown. Advertisement "He was back to his best, he was jumping at his ease," said Mullins. "Paul was just full of confidence in him. To win that race by 22 lengths was awesome. To me it was awesome anyway. "He's a very good horse. He has to be one of the best chasers we have ever had anyway." Mullins, who also enjoyed two surprise victories on Tuesday, picked up another two wins in the day's other Grade One contests. In the Novice Hurdle, Cheltenham victor and 13-8 favourite Jasmin De Vaux edged out Aintree winner Honesty Policy by half a length in a thrilling finale. Jasmin De Vaux, ridden by Townend, recovered from a mistake at the final hurdle to move ahead before the line. In the Champion Bumper, the 11-8 favourite Bambino Fever finished clear of Switch From Diesel in second.
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.'
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Jasmin De Vaux edges out Honesty Policy at Punchestown
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. Winning trainer Willie Mullins said: "He just does it when he has to. He's not the world's best jumper. Paul asked him for a big one at the last, he gave it to him but he nearly tipped him out of the saddle. "It was great jockeyship by Paul to stay in the saddle, with I think one iron probably. "It's a fantastic achievement to get that done, get the job done. He did what needed to be done. "He's got a huge engine, maybe he'll jump fences better - I don't know. "If you can just get him near the winning post, get him over his hurdles without losing too much ground, he's able to make it up on the flat."
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Templegate tips Willie Mullins to strike again on day two of Punchestown Festival
THE Flat is fully underway in Britain - but there is one more week of star-studded action in Ireland. Here, Templegate goes through the Grade 1s on day two of the Punchestown Festival, running through the big chances and revealing his tip for each contest. 1 Back a horse simply by clicking their odds below. 4.15 JASMIN DE VAUX was brilliant at the Cheltenham Festival when winning the Albert Bartlett in fine style. He saw out the similar trip there in good style and has had enough time to recover from his exertions. There should be a little bit in the ground he likes and Paul Townend stays on board. Honesty Policy landed Grade 1 honours when upped to 2m4f at Aintree last time and could find more improvement for going up again. Jarrive De Mee takes a big hike in class after an easy win at Haydock last time but he comes from Willie Mullins so anything is possible. 4.50 BAMBINO FEVER won the Champion Bumper despite covering more ground than her rivals out wide for most of the way. She showed good pace and got up the hill strongly so looks capable of following up. Kalypso'Chance was beaten ten lengths at Cheltenham when never really travelling. He won on debut here in November so the track switch could bring improvement. Colcannon missed Cheltenham and Aintree after winning at the Dublin Racing Festival and that freshness may be an asset. 5.30 BANBRIDGE didn't get home in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which came as no surprise for a horse who is so effective at Kempton. The ground should be a bit quicker than Prestbury Park which is another help today. He won at this meeting last season after a modest Cheltenham run and can complete the feat. Galopin Des Champs is the obvious danger after his Gold Cup second. He's been second in the past two runnings of this and could have to settle for the same spot again. This test should be ideal for Spillane's Tower who has been off since his King George fifth. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
