Latest news with #Lulamba
The 42
03-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Joy for Mullins as Jade De Grugy too good for Brighterdaysahead, Lulamba boost for Henderson
JADE DE GRUGY produced a career-best performance to continue Willie Mullins' recent domination of the SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown The Closutton handler had saddled eight of the last 10 winners of the Grade One contest and having finished best of the rest behind esteemed stablemate Lossiemouth in the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, Jade De Grugy was even-money to add to his tally. After initially being settled in third place by Paul Townend, the six-year-old was allowed to stride on in front heading out for the second circuit, a move which was covered by her main rival Brighterdaysahead, who was bidding to bounce back from a disappointing run in the Champion Hurdle. The big two were clear of the chasing pack rounding the home turn and Jade De Grugy always looked to be going the better, pulling further ahead in the straight to score by six and a half lengths. A tiring Brighterdaysahead was eventually beaten to the runner-up spot by the winner's stablemate Gala Marceau. Mullins said of the winner: 'She's a mare that's been improving all year. Nicer ground was a big help and tactically Paul was brilliant. 'Brighterdaysahead probably just had a very hard race at Christmas and she never really recovered from it. Advertisement 'We're delighted to be able to win a Grade One with a filly like this and I'd say we'll probably train her for the Mares' Hurdle again next year.' Later at Punchestown, Lulamba turned the tables on his Cheltenham Festival conqueror Poniros to land the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle. So impressive on his British debut at Ascot, Nicky Henderson's Lulamba looked set to follow up in the Triumph Hurdle after getting the better of a protracted battle with East India Dock. But both were caught late by the Willie Mullins-trained 100-1 shot Poniros, who was making his hurdling debut. Lulamba was an 11-10 favourite to exact his revenge on Irish soil and give Henderson and jockey James Bowen a welcome boost following Constitution Hill's disappointing run in the Boodles Champion Hurdle just over 24 hours earlier – and ultimately did so in good style. Always close to the pace, Lulamba led Poniros into the home straight and finished strongly from the final flight to win the rematch by four lengths, with Hello Neighbour a close-up third. Lulamba was providing owners Joe and Marie Donnelly with their second Grade One winner of the week following State Man's victory over Constitution Hill on Friday. 'These are big days, it's been a big week and a great week for the Donnelly family. Two winners like that is pretty special,' said Henderson. 'We tried to get in the way yesterday, it was a bitter pill, but well done them. Now we've done it together.' He added: 'This is a fantastic place, we love it. This is a proper horse for another day. He deserves it as much as everybody. 'I wouldn't say he was unlucky not to win in Cheltenham, he couldn't do anything about it at the time and we got a bit of revenge there. 'He's a lovely horse for the future, you wouldn't be surprised if he didn't come back over fences next year. I don't know, it's early days and it's only the fourth race of his life. 'He's a big baby to be doing juvenile hurdles against Flat horses, so fair credit to him.' Of Constitution Hill, Henderson said: 'He's OK. He's a bit sore, but he's fine. 'He's got a long summer in front of him, he'll be back.'
RTÉ News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Lulamba lands Ballymore Hurdle for Nicky Henderson at Punchestown
Lulamba turned the tables on his Cheltenham Festival conqueror Poniros to land the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown. So impressive on his British debut at Ascot, Nicky Henderson's Lulamba looked set to follow up in the Triumph Hurdle after getting the better of a protracted battle with East India Dock. But both were caught late by the Willie Mullins-trained 100-1 shot Poniros, who was making his hurdling debut. Lulamba wins the Grade 1 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 3, 2025 Lulamba was an 11-10 favourite to exact his revenge on Irish soil and give Henderson and jockey James Bowen a welcome boost following Constitution Hill's disappointing run in the Boodles Champion Hurdle just over 24 hours earlier - and ultimately did so in good style. Always close to the pace, Lulamba led Poniros into the home straight and finished strongly from the final flight to win the rematch by four lengths, with Hello Neighbour a close-up third. Lulamba was providing owners Joe and Marie Donnelly with their second Grade One winner of the week following State Man's victory over Constitution Hill on Friday. Henderson said: "These are big days, it's been a big week and a great week for the Donnelly family. Two winners like that is pretty special. "We tried to get in the way yesterday, it was a bitter pill, but well done them. Now we've done it together." He added: "This is a fantastic place, we love it. This is a proper horse for another day. He deserves it as much as everybody. "I wouldn't say he was unlucky not to win in Cheltenham, he couldn't do anything about it at the time and we got a bit of revenge there. "He's a lovely horse for the future, you wouldn't be surprised if he didn't come back over fences next year. I don't know, it's early days and it's only the fourth race of his life. "He's a big baby to be doing juvenile hurdles against Flat horses, so fair credit to him."
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Shock Triumph winner Poniros poised for Punchestown
Poniros and Lulamba are set for a rematch in the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown. The latter, trained by Nicky Henderson, was the second-favourite when the two horses met previously in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with Willie Mullins' Poniros sent off a 100-1 shot on his hurdling bow. It was therefore a major surprise when he pounced to score by a neck from Lulamba and now the two cross paths again. Henderson said of his runner: "He's only had two runs this season so he can afford another one. He's very, very fresh and well in himself so we'd thought we would give it a go and try to end the season on a high. "I think he's improving, but there is every reason to believe Willie's horse will improve as well, but we'll have the rematch and see if we can get them to flip-flop." Sean Graham, racing manager to Poniros' owner Tony Bloom, said of their gelding: "It's not going to be easy, it looks tough enough without Lulamba and with him in there we will have to be on our A game to win it. "Lulamba had one run in France and won so easily that he probably didn't really have a race, the first time he's been asked to come off the bridle was probably in the Triumph Hurdle and we beat him a neck. "The fancied horses in the Triumph were at each other's necks a long way out and maybe that's why we were able to pick them off and come through to win. "Poniros will have to improve from that, but we are very hopeful." Hello Neighbour was sixth in the Triumph, and like Poniros and Lulamba lines up a fresh horse having skipped the Grand National meeting at Aintree. "He just didn't work well enough for us in his last bit of work before Aintree, so that's why he didn't travel over there," said trainer Gavin Cromwell. "I suppose he had a hard race at Cheltenham and it was off the back of the Grade Two win on his debut at Christmas and then the Dublin Racing Festival. We just said we'd give him a chance. "It was a very quick turnaround this year from Cheltenham to Aintree and when you're borderline on sending him, I'm glad we didn't as that might have left a mark on him and we have Punchestown to look forward to now." On the same card Gordon Elliott's Brighterdaysahead looks to return to form in the SBK Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle. The six-year-old was a considered a real threat to the headline acts in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but along with Constitution Hill and State Man, her luck was not in and she could only finish a well-beaten fourth. Aintree was bypassed and she arrives at Punchestown fresh and ready to put her uncharacteristic Cheltenham run behind her. "Hopefully she's well, she hasn't done an awful lot since Cheltenham, but Gordon is happy with her and we hope she'll be lucky," said Eddie O'Leary of owners Gigginstown House Stud. "She wasn't right after Cheltenham, that was wasn't her at all, so hopefully we'll see a better effort here." 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.
Telegraph
05-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Live Grand National 2025 live: Latest updates from Aintree before today's big race
12:14PM What of the National favourite? It will be a tough gig for last year's winner I Am Maximus. He might start favourite but this time he has to carry top weight, a feat not achieved since Red Rum, and his build-up has not been as smooth as it was a year ago. However, at this moment in time Willie Mullins can pretty much walk on water - that appears to be what the punters think at any rate. The trainer runs six. Minella Cocooner bids to become only the second horse to win a National and a Bet365 Gold Cup but will relish the ground, Grangeclare West might have shown the handicapper his hand too soon when chasing home Galopin Des Champs at Leopardstown before the weights came out while Nick Rockett comes into the race in the form of his life and cannot be ruled out of giving amateur Patrick Mullins the day of his life 12:09PM An unlikely training duo Prominent National contender Iroko is trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero. Greenhall is the heir of a brewing dynasty while Guerriero is the son of a chef who came over to run an Italian restaurant in Penrith. The pair had two winners from just five runners at the Cheltenham Festival. Marcus Armytage tells their story here. 12:04PM Punters are already through the gates at Aintree 11:53AM Some notable non-runners The enigmatic Jeriko Du Reponet will not run in the handicap hurdle at 1.20pm but the bigger news is that Lulamba does not go in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle. The Nicky Henderson horse ran ever so well at Cheltenham but was pipped at the post in the Triumph. The ground is considered just too quick today, which is a shame for punters. Severable notable non-runners at Aintree today including Lulamba. — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 5, 2025 11:50AM Our experts' tips Looking for a steer in today's big race? Our racing experts have you covered as they name their National winner as well as a predicted first four home if you are looking for each-way chances. Click here to see who Marlborough, Charlie Brooks, Marcus Armytage and Tom Ward fancy. 11:48AM Ground in Hyland's favour for the National but dozen or so in with chances Good-ground horses have been increasingly marginalised in modern Grand Nationals as Aintree waters the track in an attempt to slow the race down but, with the going drying as fast as it can be irrigated this week, they will never get a better chance and Hyland can capitalise on that by winning the 177th edition of the world's greatest steeplechase. The eight-year-old novice, one of seven greys in this year's line-up, has a lot going for him; a light weight, the best ground he is ever likely to get in a National, Grade One form having chased home arguably the leading staying novice in the country at Christmas, a solid warm-up for this at Kempton in February and, crucially, he comes in without having had a hard race at Cheltenham three weeks ago. In the 'old days' running a novice in the National would have been considered foolhardy but Rule The World and Noble Yeats, both winners within the last 10 years, were novices, indeed Rule The World had not won a race over fences when he turned up at Aintree in 2016. As such there is every possibility Hyland is still ahead of the handicapper, another box which needs to be ticked in order to win a modern National. Much is made of his trainer Nicky Henderson's record, 43 runners since 1979 including nine first-fence fallers and no winners but in the early days Zongerlero, Classified, The Tsarevitch and Brown Windsor were all placed and his last runner, Mister Coffey, led the field over the Melling Road for the last time which will also have given Nico de Boinville a bit of confidence in the race. But this National is nothing if not open and a dozen or more have good chances. We'll be providing live updates from all the day's races, starting with the 17-runner William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle at 1.20pm.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Friday's Cheltenham Festival Placepot Tips: Day Four Selections for £750,000 Prize Pool
A larger than normal field for the JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.20pm) but both East India Dock and Lulamba set a high standard, and it will be surprising if neither reaches the first three. The former already boasts excellent track form courtesy of two wins at Cheltenham this season and, as a 90-rated horse on the level, has already showcased his class at his new vocation. The vibes are extremely positive for Ascot scorer Lulamba who created a superb impression on his British debut and is reported to have thrived since. As with many Cheltenham handicaps, Willie Mullins looks to have a firm grasp of the County Hurdle (2pm). The master of Closutton saddles four very strong contenders with last year's winner Absurde passed over by stable rider Paul Townend in preference for last season's Triumph Hurdle runner-up Kargese. Given Dan Skelton also boasts a great record in the race, the lightly raced Valgrand could go well returned to decent ground, while Hansard chased home the 1-2 in Tuesday's Champion Hurdle at Wincanton and, although that form can't be taken literally, his yard are in great form and the cheekpieces could work the oracle. Last year's Fred Winter winner Lark In The Mornin has shortened on betting sites and is also included, despite a poor showing at Leopardstown on his only appearance of the season. Dinoblue should arguably have won the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (2.40pm) last year when narrowly failing to overhaul Limerick Lace 12 months ago. She can make amends now connections are confident she stays two-and-a-half miles. The Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (3.20pm) can be a demanding race for novices, but The Big Westerner is bred to relish this exacting test and should be on the scene, while French raider Jet Blue already boasts form at the track courtesy of his decisive win before Christmas and is well fancied on horse racing betting sites. Given John McConnell's Festival record, the good ground loving Intense Approach is added to the perm with the brilliant Sean Bowen on board. History-seeking Galopin Des Champs and the supplemented Inothewayurthinkin are guaranteed stayers with strong course form, so they are the picks ahead of Banbridge in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 24-runner finale is another race which is going to need some unravelling, but Angels Dawn has already won at the Festival courtesy of her success in a handicap, while Willitgoahead is an emerging force in this sphere and is shortlisted. With an unbeaten course record, Fairly Famous makes some appeal too for his talented trainer/rider. Friday's Cheltenham Placepot perm 1.20 3 East India Dock 7 Lulamba 2.00 6 Hansard 7 Kargese 12 Valgrand 13 Lark In The Mornin 2.40 1 Dinoblue 3.20 8 Intense Approach 11 Jet Blue 20 The Big Westerner 4.00 4 Galopin Des Champs 6 Inothewayurthinkin 4.40 7 Fairly Famous 22 Willitgoahead 24 Angels Dawn 2x4x1x3x2x3 = 144 lines Bettors should always follow responsible gambling practices. Even the most knowledgeable punter can lose a bet, so always stick to a budget and never chase your losses. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive so please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, or any other gambling medium. It's particularly important not to get carried if you receive a casino bonus or any free bets, which are available in abundance during the Cheltenham Festival, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having: We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
