Latest news with #LadbrokesPunchestownGoldCup
The 42
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Galopin Des Champs strolls to Punchestown Gold Cup
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS gained a deserved first victory in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup with a superlative performance. Denied a third Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month, the Willie Mullins-trained star was out to prevent an unwanted hat-trick in this race, having been second to Fastorslow for the past two years. The nine-year-old looked much happier than he did at Cheltenham all the way through this time, jumping for fun at the head of affairs and leading his rivals a merry dance in the hands of Paul Townend. Monty's Star was the first to cry enough under Rachael Blackmore and then Joseph O'Brien's King George winner Banbridge began to struggle. Spillane's Tower was still on the bridle at the fourth-last, but just when Mark Walsh would have been hoping to make his move, he failed to pick up, making quite a bad mistake. With Walsh still seemingly going well enough, Townend kicked on and Spillane's Tower had to meet the next fence perfectly to have a chance, but failed to do so and the race was over. Galopin Des Champs pinged the last and the 5-6 favourite came home 22 lengths clear, to rapturous applause from those in attendance. Paul Townend wins The Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) on Galopin Des Champs. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Mullins said: 'He was back to his best. His jumping was fantastic, at his ease, and Paul was just full of confidence on him. Advertisement 'To win that race by 22 lengths is awesome. Paul said he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer at any stage, he was going to put them to the sword and he did. 'I thought he was more at home today. I was a little bit worried about the heat and the weather, I'd imagine the other trainers were too. 'You could see from the start he was enjoying himself, there was a spark in him from jumping off. 'He's a very good horse, he has to be one of the best chasers we've ever had.' On coming back to Punchestown, he added: 'Good horses deserve to run in good races and good races deserve to have the good horses, as do big meetings like Punchestown, there are none bigger at this stage of the season. 'Cheltenham was Cheltenham and we were beaten, but horses get beaten. At least he's come back and proved that he's a real good horse. 'There is always next year and he's only nine, coming 10. He's still young enough to go and have another go but we're talking about today, not last month, and we're happy to be here today. 'We're happy that the horse has come home from Cheltenham and done this. A lot of people don't bring their horses back from Cheltenham, but I think 'let's have a crack', as it's good racing and good for the sport.' On the winner's past Punchestown record, Mullins said: 'That doesn't matter. You've got to run the good horses in good races and never be afraid to be beaten, I'm not anyway.' Jodie Townend on Bambino Fever celebrates winning The Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I-H. Flat Race (Grade 1). Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Earlier Bambino Fever confirmed herself as the standout performer in her division when running out an impressive winner of the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race. Surprisingly for a race of such stature, only six went to post, with Willie Mullins responsible for the eventual winner, ridden by Jody Townend, and Copacabana, the mount of Patrick Mullins. The five-year-old had already won at the Dublin Racing Festival and she followed up impressively under Townend in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper. 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.
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.
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Galopin Des Champs comes good to claim Gold Cup glory
Galopin Des Champs gained a deserved first victory in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup with a superlative performance. Denied a third Gold Cup at Cheltenham last month, the Willie Mullins-trained star was out to prevent an unwanted hat-trick in this race, having been second to Fastorslow for the past two years. The nine-year-old looked much happier than he did at Cheltenham all the way through this time, jumping for fun at the head of affairs and leading his rivals a merry dance in the hands of Paul Townend. Monty's Star was the first to cry enough under Rachael Blackmore and then Joseph O'Brien's King George winner Banbridge began to struggle. Spillane's Tower was still on the bridle at the fourth-last, but just when Mark Walsh would have been hoping to make his move, he failed to pick up, making quite a bad mistake. With Walsh still seemingly going well enough, Townend kicked on and Spillane's Tower had to meet the next fence perfectly to have a chance, but failed to do so and the race was over. Galopin Des Champs pinged the last and the 5-6 favourite came home 22 lengths clear, to rapturous applause from those in attendance. Galopin Des Champs finally lands the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup with an impressive race from start to finish. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 30, 2025 Mullins said: "He was back to his best. His jumping was fantastic, at his ease, and Paul was just full of confidence on him. "To win that race by 22 lengths is awesome. "Paul said he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer at any stage, he was going to put them to the sword and he did. "I thought he was more at home today. I was a little bit worried about the heat and the weather, I'd imagine the other trainers were too. "You could see from the start he was enjoying himself, there was a spark in him from jumping off. "He had a look at the road, or gate or something. Paul said to me when he was able to do that, he felt that he was only playing in front. "When he got to the top of the hill, he said 'let's go a little faster and put them under more pressure'. He felt when he had time to do that sort of thing, he was really going at his ease. "He's a very good horse, he has to be one of the best chasers we've ever had." On coming back to Punchestown, he added: "Good horses deserve to run in good races and good races deserve to have the good horses, as do big meetings like Punchestown, there are none bigger at this stage of the season. "Cheltenham was Cheltenham and we were beaten, but horses get beaten. At least he's come back and proved that he's a real good horse. "There is always next year and he's only nine, coming 10. He's still young enough to go and have another go but we're talking about today, not last month, and we're happy to be here today. A delighted Paul Townend talks through the race as Galopin Des Champs landed othe Gold Cup in style. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 30, 2025 "We're happy that the horse has come home from Cheltenham and done this. A lot of people don't bring their horses back from Cheltenham, but I think 'let's have a crack', as it's good racing and good for the sport." On the winner's past Punchestown record, Mullins said: "That doesn't matter. You've got to run the good horses in good races and never be afraid to be beaten, I'm not anyway." Watch the Punchestown Festival from Tuesday to Saturday with RTÉ Sport. Coverage begins at 3.30pm for first three days and on Friday at 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Watch on Saturday from 3pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
The Herald Scotland
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Galopin Des Champs strolls to Punchestown Gold
The nine-year-old looked much happier than he did at Cheltenham all the way through this time, jumping for fun at the head of affairs and leading his rivals a merry dance in the hands of Paul Townend. Galopin Des Champs – all class in the 2025 @Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup! @punchestownrace — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2025 Monty's Star was the first to cry enough under Rachael Blackmore and then Joseph O'Brien's King George winner Banbridge began to struggle. Spillane's Tower was still on the bridle at the fourth-last, but just when Mark Walsh would have been hoping to make his move, he failed to pick up, making quite a bad mistake. With Walsh still seemingly going well enough, Townend kicked on and Spillane's Tower had to meet the next fence perfectly to have a chance, but failed to do so and the race was over. Galopin Des Champs pinged the last and the 5-6 favourite came home 22 lengths clear, to rapturous applause from those in attendance. Mullins said: 'He was back to his best. His jumping was fantastic, at his ease, and Paul was just full of confidence on him. 'To win that race by 22 lengths is awesome. Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with Galopin Des Champs (Niall Carson/PA). 'Paul said he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer at any stage, he was going to put them to the sword and he did. 'I thought he was more at home today. I was a little bit worried about the heat and the weather, I'd imagine the other trainers were too. 'You could see from the start he was enjoying himself, there was a spark in him from jumping off. 'He had a look at the road, or gate or something. Paul said to me when he was able to do that, he felt that he was only playing in front. 'When he got to the top of the hill, he said 'let's go a little faster and put them under more pressure'. He felt when he had time to do that sort of thing, he was really going at his ease. 'He's a very good horse, he has to be one of the best chasers we've ever had.' Paul Townend celebrates with the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup trophy (Niall Carson/PA). On coming back to Punchestown, he added: 'Good horses deserve to run in good races and good races deserve to have the good horses, as do big meetings like Punchestown, there are none bigger at this stage of the season. 'Cheltenham was Cheltenham and we were beaten, but horses get beaten. At least he's come back and proved that he's a real good horse. 'There is always next year and he's only nine, coming 10. He's still young enough to go and have another go but we're talking about today, not last month, and we're happy to be here today. 'We're happy that the horse has come home from Cheltenham and done this. A lot of people don't bring their horses back from Cheltenham, but I think 'let's have a crack', as it's good racing and good for the sport.' On the winner's past Punchestown record, Mullins said: 'That doesn't matter. You've got to run the good horses in good races and never be afraid to be beaten, I'm not anyway.'
Daily Mirror
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Galopin Des Champs rediscovers championship-winning form to break Punchestown jinx
Galopin Des Champs rediscovered his championship-winning form to break his Punchestown jinx on Wednesday. The outstanding chaser tried to make history at the Cheltenham Festival by clinching a rare Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick. Despite going off the 8-13 favourite, he was thwarted by rising star Inothewayurthinkin who defeated him by six lengths. Trainer Willie Mullins gave Galopin Des Champs a chance to redeem himself in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on a track which had not been a happy hunting ground lately. Paul Townend produces 'feat of horsemanship' to win Grade 1 for Willie Mullins with no irons James Milner and Danny Welbeck's exciting racehorse to challenge for 2,000 Guineas He had been beaten on his last three visits to the course, twice by Fastorslow and once in a race won by stablemate Fact To File. Galopin Des Champs faced three rivals in the latest renewal, including the King George VI Chase winner Banbridge. Jockey Paul Townend took him straight to the front and Galopin Des Champs drew further and further away from his opponents, winning by 22 lengths to claim his 15 Grade 1 victory, producing the performance of a chasing great. 'We are very, very fortunate to have him,' said the winning jockey. 'Obviously we were very disappointed coming away from Cheltenham. 'The reception he gets his special and we are just lucky to be a part of it. He's a unique horse.' Galopin Des Champs gave Townend his only scare when jinking at the road crossing and producing a scruffy jump at the last. 'It wouldn't be like him at all but the fact he done it meant he was doing things easy enough,' Townend said. 'In fairness he gave me plenty of warning. After that he got in a good rhythm and enjoyed it. 'He was taking me today whereas I was trying to hang in there in Cheltenham. He wasn't right in Cheltenham and thankfully it didn't leave a huge mark on him which it could have with the effort he put in. 'He got me out of trouble at the last, there's no lying about it. He's all class."
