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Extra.ie
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Punchestown: No stopping State Man on home ground
For the last three years, Irish racing fans have been asking Nicky Henderson to bring Constitution Hill to Ireland and now, at the age of eight, with his unblemished record in flames, he's finally coming across to take on the best we have to offer. It was too early to tell how he'd fare at Cheltenham before he crashed out and in the opinion of this writer, he looked beaten at Aintree. But now, with the birch hurdles at Punchestown, a new jockey and a new test around this track, can Constitution Hill re-establish himself as the best hurdler we've seen since Istabraq? Or will the Irish crowd get to witness his decline first-hand? Naturally, the first place you start for the Boodles Champion Hurdle (6.40) today is with the reigning Cheltenham champion, but nobody really believes Golden Ace can back up that performance, surely — can she? For the last three years, Irish racing fans have been asking Nicky Henderson to bring Constitution Hill to Ireland. Pic:It appeared that State Man had the race in the bag when he came down while clear at the last at Cheltenham. The cheekpieces added that day had seemed to re-establish his supremacy. He's won 11 Grade Ones, and he's seeking a third successive Boodles Champion Hurdle here at Punchestown, he's won three Irish Champion Hurdles at Leopardstown. He's kind of a winning machine and that fall was very much out of character. State Man on the way to Champion Hurdle success at Punchestown last year. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile But when this duo met in 2023, Constitution Hill was like a schoolyard bully in the way he dealt with State Man. There's no doubt in my mind that Henderson's horse is more talented, but I just don't know if he's the same article. I'm glad he's coming over, I think he's a true champion but this will be his biggest test, in a race which Willie Mullins has won nine of the last 14 renewals. State Man, in his own backyard, around a track he loves — he gets my verdict, but what a race we have in prospect. Expect record crowds to come to see this horse. The mare is good, but the boys are better and at 6.40 we will get to see what happens. Lovely Hurling could establish himself as one of the very good horses of next season. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy The Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (6.05) over two and a half miles has nine runners, three from the Mullins yard. The probable favourite will be Final Demand but I think Colm Murphy from Wexford, who has had great horses such as Impervious, Brave Inca and Voler La Vedette, has a really good horse in this. Lovely Hurling won a maiden as he liked at Naas back in February. He doesn't have Grade One form like The Yellow Clay or Final Demand and he doesn't have fancy credentials like Cheltenham or Aintree on his CV, but this guy's only at the beginning of his career, and I think Lovely Hurling could establish himself as one of the very good horses of next season. Let's see if he can start that ascent in this race. The Glencarraig Lady Mares Chase (4.50) was won last year in emphatic fashion by Brides Hill who lines up here in first-time cheek pieces. However, I think the track and trip will really suit Dinoblue, who seems in the form of her life this year after winning at the Cheltenham Festival, where she beat Brides Hill by eight and a half lengths, and Allegorie De Vassy, who also reopposes. Dinoblue on the way to victory at the Cheltenham Racing Festival. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile The ground will play right to Dinoblue's strengths and she's coming here, I think, as the class act. Her official rating has her nine pounds clear of her nearest rival and while she has to concede weight all round, I think she's good enough to do so. It's Dinoblue for the Mares' Chase for me. The QuinnBet Novice Handicap Chase (5.25) over two and a half miles sees a huge field of 20 assembled and the one I like here is Blizzard Of Oz. The ownership team of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede have already had a fabulous week with two winners on the board. This guy, who was third behind Harry Des Ongrais last time at Gowran, has a stand-out piece of form when he ran third behind Slade Steel and Lecky Watson in a beginners' chase at Naas earlier in the year. He remains a maiden over fences, which I think could mean he's well treated on his handicap debut, and I think he's going to run a big race for JJ Slevin here despite a high weight. Its On The Line is going to be all the rage in the Event Power Champion Hunters Chase (4.15). After all, he's seeking a hat-trick of wins in the race. But I have a sneaky suspicion that Big Interest could run a huge race for Northern Ireland trainer, David Christie. Big Interest won at Fairyhouse by 18 lengths. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile He loves dry ground conditions, he won at Fairyhouse by 18 lengths last time, unextended, and he actually beat Its On The Line when they met at Down Royal back in December. He's a much younger horse and I think this guy has more to offer in the sunshine, which he loves. In the Uniquely Novice Hurdle (7.10) over two miles, I'm going to go with Naturally Nimble. I fancied Naturally Nimble to win the Fred Winter at Cheltenham and he wasn't even declared; he then went to run at Fairyhouse in a similar type of juvenile event and he fell three out, but ultimately, at the time he looked beaten. I'm not surprised his connections have reached for the cheekpieces first time, because I've a funny feeling that this guy is saving a bit of ability for himself. He is one of only two four-yearolds to take on the older horses here. But with Joseph O'Brien's string in good form, this Flatbred horse should appreciate quick ground conditions and I think his rider JJ Slevin could be in for a big day. Naturally Nimble looked useful when he beat Willy De Houelle at Fairyhouse that day in December, and if he bounces back to that form, he's going to be hard to beat here.
Irish Examiner
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ruby Walsh: Constitution Hill can crown great week for raiding party
The sunshine continued to beam on a glorious Punchestown, but the sun had the good grace to go and hide behind a few clouds before racing started to take the real heat out of the day. That didn't mean things weren't hot on the track, where the British raiders enjoyed more success with Jonjo and AJ O'Neill getting on the score sheet along with Nicky Henderson. The Bowen brothers announced their arrival in Kildare, too, with a winner apiece, and the day flowed briskly by to the Grade Ones at the backend of the card. Before we got there, Sixandahalf went under in the Mares' Novice Hurdle, giving the bookmakers the ammunition to take on Majborough, but the punters didn't back down and chased their losses to 4-11 and never had a moment's worry. With their tails up, the punters chased Teahupoo and headed into today with cash in the bank. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Subscribe to access all of the Irish Examiner. Annual €120€60 Best value Monthly €10€4 / month Unlimited access. Subscriber content. Daily ePaper. Additional benefits.
Irish Examiner
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Galopin Des Champs finds rhythm and strolls to Gold Cup glory in Punchestown sunshine
Galopin Des Champs wowed the crowd of 23,285 as he turned the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup into a sunshine stroll on a glorious Wednesday afternoon at the Co. Kildare venue. If there were doubts about his ability to bounce back from his Cheltenham defeat, nobody told the punters who plunged into Willie Mullins' runner in the moments before the off, and just a couple of fences into the race, the writing was beginning to appear on the wall. Paul Townend was allowed an easy lead and his horse, in rude health, measured every fence beautifully and held his advantage with little fuss. There were fleeting moments when Spillane's Tower threatened to get involved but neither his nor Monty's Star's nor Banbridge's ever materialised as Galopin Des Champs seared the Punchestown turf on his way to a 22-length victory. 'We were disappointed in Cheltenham but, in hindsight, he ran a huge race to get as far as he did (given) the feeling I was getting off him,' said a jubilant Townend. 'We found a good auld rhythm here early enough, and he started to take me over fences. To be honest, it wasn't my finest moment at the last because I had revs up and was very long, and I probably changed my mind, but he figured it out and got me out of trouble. 'He's so easy to ride, so measured at his fences now, and it's so straightforward on him. 'That's as simple as it is riding him – you don't have to look for the others, you just have to ride your own horse, and if they go by you, they're fair horses.' Fair horses indeed, and few can claim to have done that to the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, three-time Irish Gold Cup, and 12-time Grade One winner. 'We all have the horse of a lifetime, but Audrey (Turley, owner) especially, and she deserves it too,' said the winning trainer. 'He's phenomenal. Paul showed him off today. To win a race like that, beating that opposition by 22 lengths, I thought was spectacular.' Spectacular, but not unexpected, could also describe the afternoon Mullins had as he saddled five winners, including all three Grade Ones, for a 296-1 accumulator. The staying hurdle division often struggles to fire the imagination of punters but the novices in that division served up a thriller in the Grade One Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle, and it was Albert Bartlett winner Jasmin De Vaux who shaded the verdict over Honesty Policy in dramatic fashion. When he landed steep at the final hurdle, he almost sent Paul Townend out the side door and, after losing one iron, rather than waste time trying to recover it on the run-in, the rider made the split-second decision to kick out the other one and get down to the business of driving the favourite home. 'I feel a bit stupid, to be honest,' he admitted. 'We all know what way he jumps, and we were spot-on, and I asked him for one, and he just got his ass a bit high and had a peck. My weight went one way, and he shifted at the wrong time, and I lost my right stirrup, and I thought it was quicker to kick out the other one and ride for the finish than try to get it back.' Bambino Fever silenced the doubters with a powerful display in the Grade One Race & Stay at Punchestown Champion Bumper, completing the Cheltenham-Punchestown double for herself and Jody Townend. Teak-tough and classy, she quickened up in the manner of a truly top-class sort to keep Switch From Diesel at bay. Next season feels a long way away, and perhaps the mares' route will be her destiny, but she has all the attributes to be a Supreme Novices' Hurdle contender and, perhaps, the one to emulate Like A Butterfly, who, in 2002, was the last mare to win the Cheltenham race. Said Townend: 'In fairness to the lads that own her, they are very good to me. They stick by me, and they have struck gold with this one. It's the first horse they've had in training, and they'll struggle to find another like her.' Kaid d'Authie, a horse of considerable scope, set the ball rolling for Mullins' domination of the day, winning the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle under Mark Walsh. Chasing will likely be next on the agenda, suggested Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus: 'He's very long-striding and he's awkward over his hurdles, but hopefully he will have more respect for his fences because he has very little respect for his hurdles. He's a fine, big horse, and hopefully he will put it all together over fences.' Patience and stealth reaped reward in the Grade Three Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase as James Du Berlais, brilliantly ridden by JJ Slevin, completed the Mullins five-timer.
Irish Examiner
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ruby Walsh: Galopin Des Champs best horse in the Punchestown Gold Cup but Banbridge must be respected
Tuesday afternoon started in glorious Kildare sunshine; suncream and sunglasses were necessary. Punchestown's drive to attract British runners got the injection it needed when the raiders collected two of the first three races before six faced the starter for the first Grade One, and all were Irish. In typical Punchestown fashion, nobody seemed to be following the script, and while Willie Mullins landed both opening Grade Ones, it came with his third and fourth strings. Mark Walsh and Danny Mullins didn't seem to notice that most of the punters here wanted Kopek Des Bordes and Ballyburn to win, but two fine rides on 18/1 and 22/1 shots landed them the spoils before the big showdown kicked off at 6pm. This is exclusive subscriber content. Already a subscriber? Sign in Subscribe to access all of the Irish Examiner. Annual €120€60 Best value Monthly €10€4 / month Unlimited access. Subscriber content. Daily ePaper. Additional benefits.
The Guardian
12-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
‘That's for Michael': Marine Nationale leads poignant day at Cheltenham
At the moment of his greatest racing triumph, after a lifetime in the sport as a spectator, an amateur jockey, and owner and now a trainer, Barry Connell's thoughts after Marine Nationale's victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday turned, immediately and inevitably, to Michael O'Sullivan, who rode the same horse to victory in the Supreme Novice Hurdle here two years ago and died last month, from injuries sustained in a fall. 'The obvious thing is how raw and poignant it's all been over the last four weeks,' Connell said. 'Michael and myself went on a journey with this horse, he rode him in all his races in his novice season over hurdles. He started as a 7lb claimer with us and I asked him to turn pro, and he ended up winning three Grade Ones as a claimer and was leading rider [with two wins] on the first day [at Cheltenham two years ago]. 'It's an absolute tragedy that he's left us but he's a record that he can be really proud of, he's achieved more in a lifetime than a lot of riders who ride a lot longer ever achieve. So I'd like to dedicate this win to Michael and to his girlfriend Charlotte, who was here with the horse before when we were saddling up. Our hearts go out to all of his family and friends and his girlfriend, racing is a great community and gets behind people when things like this happen.' Sean Flanagan, Wednesday's winning rider, also paid tribute to O'Sullivan's role in Marine Nationale's success. 'First and foremost, his family obviously have to find it very hard,' Flanagan said. 'All the jockeys in Ireland, the UK and in the world have been under a cloud for the last couple of weeks. 'I'm only the man that steered him round today. Michael is the man who made him what he is. He will never be forgotten for that.' Connell and Flanagan's words encapsulated the emotion on an afternoon when, incredibly, O'Sullivan's double on the opening day of the festival in 2023, with Marine Nationale and then Jazzy Matty in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle, was replicated on Wednesday's card when Jazzy Matty stormed home in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase just 40 minutes after the Champion Chase. Marine Nationale's victory, meanwhile, came at the end of another dramatic race at this year's meeting, and at the expense of another beaten odds-on favourite in Nicky Henderson's Jonbon. Jonbon is among the most popular and consistent horses in training, and went into Wednesday's race with a record of 17 wins from 20 starts. All three of his defeats, however, had come at Cheltenham, and the track got the better of him once again. He was slow to stride from a standing start, then took off a half-stride too soon at the fifth-last and all but catapulted Nico de Boinville from the saddle as he came down on top of the fence. De Boinville tried to work his way back into contention but the damage had been done, and Marine Nationale and Quilixios, the 40-1 outsider of the eight-strong field, had drawn clear as they raced towards the final fence. Flanagan appeared to be travelling best, but Quilixios was still alongside the winner when he hit the fence and fell, gifting an easy win to Marine Nationale as Jonbon stayed on into a distant second place. It has been a tough two days for Nicky Henderson, Jonbon's trainer, following the fall of Constitution Hill, the favourite, in Tuesday's Champion Hurdle, and the trainer suggested the standing start – on an afternoon when the riders seemed almost incapable of getting away first time – had put Jonbon on the back foot from the off. 'He missed his kick at the start,' Henderson said, 'and he was then not where he wanted to be. Nico was saying that the start was all contributory. They were right on the tape and it went straight across his face. 'The next thing was, he was chasing them, and he likes to be up there ramming it, but there we go. However, he has flown home.' Jonbon is priced up at around 10-1 to finally end his festival hoodoo in this race next year, but Marine Nationale, who is a year younger, seems the likelier of the two to be back as a major contender in 12 months' time, to continue his trainer's love affair with the two-mile chasing championship. 'He travels, he jumps, he has everything you'd want in a champion chaser,' Connell said. 'I've been coming racing here since I was a student in the 1980s, just as a punter, and it's the one race that I always wanted to win. 'It's pure, unadulterated, on-the-edge speed. The horses finish quickly, they don't finish tired like in the Gold Cup. It won't sink in for a long time.'
