Latest news with #GavinCromwell
The Herald Scotland
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Vera's Secret graduates to Group Three glory at Leopardstown
She was an 11-2 chance to hit her stride instantly when stepping up to Group Three level, and quickly took the lead to make all of the running. It was a position she did not surrender as the race developed and in fact she only pulled further clear, eventually prevailing by four lengths from Gavin Cromwell's Fiery Lucy. 'She was good last year and hasn't had a lot of racing,' said the winning trainer. 'She is a big, strong six-year-old now, a quality filly and she proved it there today. 'She goes well fresh and is a bit more relaxed this year, so we kept it simple today. 'Nathan Crosse was to ride her. He's done a lot of work with her this year but he had to go to Germany today and Seamie was an able substitute. 'She's entered in the Lanwades Stud Stakes and later on in the year will probably come back here for the Matron Stakes, but that is a long way off. She doesn't take too much running. 'She will come on for that run today. She is over 600 kilos and takes plenty of work at home. She's a tough bit of stuff.'
Irish Examiner
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Kabylia lands the Mares Flat Race at Kilbeggan's first meeting of 2025
On the mark with exciting two-year-old Joyful Tidings in the Tipperary opener, Gavin Cromwell completed an across-the-card double when Kabylia landed the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race at Kilbeggan's first meeting of 2025. Ridden by Declan Lavery, the 14/1 shot came from last to first to outpoint Isbaella Johnson by five and a half lengths, prompting Cromwell to acknowledge, 'She's started to do things right at home. Declan pout her to sleep out the back and used her gears. She hit the line well, which is encouraging. Patrick Mullins, out of luck on favourite Sip Sip Hooray in the first bumper, delivered on 5/2 shot Fillyoureye, for Willie, in the finale, the Racing Again Tomorrow Flat Race. Carrying the familiar Flynn colours, the one-raced Leading Light gelding was driven clear to beat Artsncrafts, with favourite Ifallgoeswell staying on for third. Having his second run for his new stable, Allo Al Khawaneej, backed into 4/1, delivered in the opening Spring Two-Day Meeting Maiden Hurdle for the father and son combination of Charles and Philip Byrnes. The five-year-old Nathaniel gelding scored by more than three lengths from Walk On Annilog, prompting his trainer to comment, 'He picked up an injury last year and we had to take our time. We were happy enough with his first run over hurdles and he won nicely here. He's handicapped on the flat, so he'll be a dual-purpose horse for the summer.' Veteran Pakens Rock, now with Darren Collins, proved his liking for Kilbeggan when landing the Handicap Hurdle under jockey-in-form Philip Donovan. The twelve-year-old recording his third win on this track, delighted his trainer, who said, 'He retains plenty of his enthusiasm for the game, at home and on the track and likes it here. He'll probably go back chasing and will definitely come back here.' In-form trainers landed the divisions of the (0-100) Follow Kilbeggan On Instagram Handicap Hurdle, the second leg going to Tubberfinn Lady (Jordan Gainford), making it two winners and two seconds in as many days for Mick Mulvany. 'It's great to have a winner for new owners,' said Mulvany, 'we've been waiting for a bit of nice ground for her.' The first division went to the Gavin Brouder-ridden Turkey And Ham, another winner for County Derry handler Noel Kelly. Brouder commented, 'She has run over three miles, but felt a lot sharper today. She jumped and travelled better. She handled the ground, but would prefer more juice.'
Irish Daily Mirror
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish Grand National live updates and more from the big race at Fairyhouse
The BoyleSports Irish Grand National takes centre stage today as 30 runners go to the post for the biggest prize in Irish jumps racing. From Desert Orchid to Bobbyjo to I Am Maximus, this race has been won by some of horse racing's most famous names. And this year's edition has the makings of another fascinating contest. Willie Mullins has reigned supreme again this season and will look to add to his Aintree Grand National success. Having already saddled two Grade 1 winners at Fairyhouse on Sunday, Mullins runs two horses in today's feature race. Paul Townend will be on board the Michael O'Leary-owned Quai De Bourbon, who will need to shoulder a big weight to victory. Mullins' team is dwarfed, though, by the team of Gavin Cromwell. The Meath trainer is running seven in the race, including the JP McManus-owned Bioluminescence, who has been heavily backed in recent days. The big race is scheduled at 5pm but there are also plenty of great races to look forward to on the rest of the card. Stay with us for all the action. By Brian Flanagan Will Do can emulate I Am Maximus in 2023 and break his maiden tag over fences in Easter Monday's €500,000 Boylesports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Willie Mullins' subsequent Aintree hero famously won his first chase race in this two years ago and this Gordon Elliott-trained and Gigginstown House-owned gelding should relish the trip and ground today. The eight-year-old only scraped into the field yesterday morning as second reserve following the withdrawal of two runners, including Elliott's Tullybeg, but it could be a last minute move that reaps huge dividends. The ground is likely to be very testing at Fairyhouse and Will Do is a very strong stayer on deep ground and with Kevin Sexton claiming a hugely valuable 7lbs he's gets in here off a very light weight. Despite the fact he's yet to win a race he does boast some good form and finished third behind today's likely favourite Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham. "There is a lot of history to the race, you look at the greats that have won it in previous years. There is always new history to the race too, as well as the old videos, that always adds to it. "Maybe High Class Hero of Willie's he is probably better than what he has shown over fences this year, he got beat the last time out on quick enough ground at Thurles so stepping up, on lovely ground at Fairyhouse, I would say he could be just a bit better than his handicap mark. "I'd like Gavin Cromwell's horse, Now Is The Hour. He seems to have been lined up for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and he was going to run a really big race when he fell at the second last, there is definitely a big pot in him. "If he's been kept fresh with this, he has some form with Captain Cody at Navan who won the Scottish National, so I'd say he could get compensated now in the Irish National." There are eight races to look forward to on Irish Grand National day at Fairyhouse Racecourse. It all starts at 2.05 with the Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle. We then have three Grade 2s to look forward to before the big race goes to post at 5.00pm. We will previewing the Grand National throughout the afternoon, so stay with us for all the action.... Running Order - Fairyhouse 21 April 2025 2.05 Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle 2.40 O'Driscoll's Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 3.15 Fairyhouse Steel Handicap Hurdle 3.50 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle (Grade 2) 4.20 Jack McInerney Memorial Fairyhouse Steeplechase (Grade 2) 5.00 BoyleSports Irish Grand National Steeplechase 5.40 Envirogreen Building Services Handicap Steeplechase 6.10 Leinster Reinforcements & Brazil Piling (Pro/Am) Flat Race
Daily Record
21-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
I'm an Irish Grand National jockey riding a 50/1 shot but I really fancy the second favourite to win at Fairyhouse
O'Keeffe is a Cheltenham winner who was won on Galopin Des Champs and is thinking Irish at Fairyhouse Respected jockey Sean O'Keeffe senses trainer Gavin Cromwell's sensational year will continue by winning the Irish Grand National. O'Keeffe is a Cheltenham Festival winner who was won on Galopin Des Champs, now he is utterly convinced Cromwell will continue on a burgeoning year which includes Inothewayurthinkin in the Gold Cup and Stumptown in the Cross Country at this year's Cheltenham. Now O'Keeffe – riding Another Choice – fancies highly touted Now is The Hour to step up and deliver a glorious victory at Fairyhouse. Punters are expecting a treat after the thrills at Aintree and Ayr in recent weeks. Speaking to horse racing odds: "In these big chases, a lot can happen. You can go out with a plan but then you have to take it as it comes a lot of the time, a lot can happen with a big field. It's a great start, 30 runners spread across the track. It is a case of getting over the first three and then finding a nice position and getting into the rhythm, it is just another race after that. "There is a lot of history to the race, you look at the greats that have won it in previous years. There is always new history to the race too, as well as the old videos, that always adds to it. "Maybe High Class Hero of Willie's he is probably better than what he has shown over fences this year, he got beat the last time out on quick enough ground at Thurles so stepping up, on lovely ground at Fairyhouse, I would say he could be just a bit better than his handicap mark. "I'd like Gavin Cromwell's horse, Now Is The Hour. He seems to have been lined up for the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham and he was going to run a really big race when he fell at the second last, there is definitely a big pot in him. If he's been kept fresh with this, he has some form with Captain Cody at Navan who won the Scottish National, so I'd say he could get compensated now in the Irish National." Here is the full list of Irish Grand National runners and riders: Better Days Ahead (Rob James) Quai De Bourbon (Paul Townend) Johnnywho (Derek O'Connor) Bioluminescence (Keith Donoghue) Harry Des Ongrais (Rachael Blackmore) Duffle Coat (Alex Harvey) Favori De Champdou (Danny Gilligan) Search For Glory (Sam Ewing) Sequestered (Jack Gilligan) Desertmore House (JJ Slevin) Malina Girl (Sean Flanagan) Panda Boy (Ricky Doyle) Yeah Man (Kieren Buckley) Haiti Couleurs (Sean Bowen) Now Is The Hour (Conor Stone-Walsh) Shecouldbeanything (Jordan Gainford) Sa Majeste (Simon Torrens) Any Second Now (Mark Walsh) Lord Lariat (Paddy O'Hanlon) Stuzzikini (Gearoid Brouder) Tullybeg (TP Harney) Daily Present (Aidan Kelly) Mint Boy (Kevin Sexton) Dunboyne (Donagh Meyler) Final Orders (Patrck O'Brien) Kinturk Kalanisi (Darragh O'Keeffe) Bushmans Pass (Philip Enright) Moonovercloon (Ben Harvey) Hasthing (Brian Hayes) Noble Birth (Daniel King) You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to your phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Telegraph
20-03-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Grand National tips 2025: Three ante-post betting selections
The most exciting jump race off them all, the Grand National, is not just around the corner and so the time has come for Telegraph Sport to help you find a winner. After the latest round of forfeits, Intense Raffles has been left as the 7/1 favourite for the race following Gavin Cromwell's decision to withdraw red-hot favourite Inothewayurethinkin following his resounding win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. That decision has blown the market wide open, with several horses still entered boosting their credentials with good runs at the Cheltenham Festival. Last year's winner, I Am Maximus, remains on course to defend his crown for Willie Mullins. Click here for a full rundown of runners for this year's race. Here, Telegraph Sport lists three horses who should be on your radar ahead of the big race on April 5. Grand National 2025 tips Stumptown (Gavin Cromwell) 10/1 If there is one race that has proved a proper testing ground for Grand National success in recent years it has been the Cross Country at Cheltenham. Tiger Roll won the race in 2018 and 2019 and before taking the big prize at Aintree, while the likes of Cause Of Causes and Delta Work have run superbly Aintree after their Cross Country wins. This year's winner Stumptown is therefore of real interest at double-figure odds. He was a resounding winner of the Cross Country, slamming Latenightpass by seven lengths in the manner of a horse who had plenty more to offer at the line. That would have to give confidence that he will relish the extra five furlongs he will face at Aintree. He'll undoubtedly get a decent ratings bump for that display so should be well-in at the weights come the Grand National. Keith Donoghue will likely take the ride again for a trainer who is bang in form at the right time of year. There is little not to like about his chances. Perceval Legallois (Gavin Cromwell) 14/1 Another horse from the Cromwell stable who looks to have been laid out for this race all season. Perceval Legallois first caught the eye winning at the 2023 Dublin Racing Festival when he demolished a competitive handicap hurdle field off what, in hindsight, was a mark that far underestimated his abilities. Hi switch to chasing has not been without its ups and downs but he this season he has slowly come to the boil, running well in the Kerry National and the Troytown before dotting up in a big-field handicap at Leopardstown over Christmas off a mark of 142. He got an 11lb hike in the weights for his trouble that day but the manner of the success suggested there could be even more to come even off a revised mark. "THERE IS A BIG CHASE IN HIM!" 🏆 Perceval Legallois finally gets his day in the sun in the Listed @paddypower Chase under Mark Walsh for @gavincromwell1 and JP McManus 🟢🟡 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2024 Switched back to hurdles at this year's Dublin Racing Festival, he again took down a big handicap in what could prove to be the perfect prep for the Grand National. The only unknown is the trip but he's bred to stay and has looked strongest at the finish in both wins this season. He has a huge chance. Nick Rockett (Willie Mullins) 16/1 A Grade 2 winner over hurdles, Nick Rockett might just be the class angle in this year's Grand National. Winner of the Thyestes at Gowran in January, he followed that up with battling display to beat Grand National favourite Intense Raffles in the Bobbyjo Chase at Fairhouse. On the basis of that performance and the difference in their Grand National weights, it's easy to see why the market is the way it is but Nick Rockett could well be the graded horse lurking in a handicap in this race. The trip should hold no issues either, as evidenced by his staying-on third in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown over 3m4½f. With stablemate I Am Maximus carrying top weight, you can make a case that this is in fact the Wilie Mullins first string for the race. If nothing else, that has to bring him into your punting calculations. Expect his price to tighten up the closer we get to the big race.
