Latest news with #ChampionNoviceHurdle
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
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 📱 Results: — 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 📱 Results: — 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 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 2, 2025
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Marine Nationale wins Punchestown Champion Chase
Marine Nationale got the better of Fact To File to win a thrilling Champion Chase on the first day of the Punchestown victory in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last month, Fact To File was the 11-10 favourite but struggled with the early the hyped head-to-head between the two Cheltenham winners, it was El Fabiolo who had provided Marine Nationale with the greatest challenge only to fall at the penultimate Sean Flanagan rode the 2-1 second favourite to a seven-length victory over Captain Guinness (28-1) under Rachel (11-1) was third with Fact To File the last of the four finishers. Grade One successes for Mullins Trainer Willie Mullins enjoyed a pair of shock victories in the day's other Grade One the Champion Novice Hurdle, 18-1 shot Irancy headed up a one-two-three-four for winner Kopek Des Bordes had been the heavy favourite in the race but finished fourth, with Irancy winning by nine lengths ahead of stablemates Salvator Mundi and Karbau."Irancy has always been a good horse and met with a setback after winning here earlier in the season, but it might have been the best thing to have happened as he came here fresh," Mullins told RTE. "I gave Kopek Des Bordes a nice break after Cheltenham and probably gave him too much and should have brought him to somewhere like Ayr or Perth."Looking at him in the parade ring, I thought he was carrying too much condition and that showed at today's pace."Mullins, having trained five of the eight riders, also enjoyed a one-two in the Champion Novice Kiely (22-1) took the lead at the penultimate fence before winning by six and a half lengths from 11-8 favourite Wednesday, Galopin Des Champs will be the main attraction as he aims for a first Punchestown Gold Cup.
