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Irish Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Willie Mullins' top 10 money earners after another record-breaking season
Willie Mullins capped another dominant season in national hunt racing at the Punchestown Festival last week by bringing his season tally in Ireland to €5,840,675. That was close to €2 million clear of second-placed Gordon Elliott, who, in turn, was €2 million clear of third-placed Gavin Cromwell. Punchestown was a particularly satisfying meeting for Mullins as he saw some of his stable's flag bearers settle old scores. State Man, who fell at the last flight with the Cheltenham Champion Hurdle at his mercy in March, left no doubt about who is the best two-mile hurdler in training. And Galopin Des Champs proved he was far from finished at the top level with a breathtaking success in the Punchestown Gold Cup. Mullins has broken just about every record in national hunt racing, and he has trained some of the best horses to go over jumps. But out of all his stars, who have been top money earners? It may surprise some that the likes of Annie Power, Douvan, Min and Florida Pearl don't even make the top ten. 10. Sharjah (Years Active: 2015-2024) Owner: Mrs Sussanah Ricci Winnings: £990,678 One of only two horses in the top ten not to have won at the Cheltenham Festival, Sharjah nevertheless made Leopardstown his home for many years. He won the December Festival Hurdle on four consecutive occasions between 2018 and 2021 and turned up at every big Festival. 9. Al Boum Photo (2015-2022) Owner: Mrs J Donnelly Winnings: £1,051,557 Who was the first horse to provide Mullins with a win in the Cheltenham Gold Cup? The answer is Al Boum Photo, of course. Although never enjoying the fandom of the likes of Faugheen, he won two Gold Cups, a rare feat in the modern era. 8. I Am Maximus (2020-Present) Owner: JP McManus Winnings: £1,070,875 I Am Maximus has turned into a grand national specialist. After being a suspect jumper early in his career, he came good in the 2023 Irish Grand National. He then went to Aintree the following year and sprinted up the hill for an emphatic success in the world's most famous steeplechase. I Am Maximus returned to Aintree this year and was only beaten by his stablemate Nick Rockett. Still, it saw his career earnings break the £1,000,000 mark, and you would not rule him out from another Grand National bid next year. 7. Faugheen (2012-2020) Owner: Mrs Susannah Ricci Winnings: £1,116,679 Nicknamed 'The Machine', Faugheen, at his best, was a relentless galloper who was unbeatable for a few seasons. Injury problems dogged him later in his career, but perhaps his greatest victory was at the Dublin Racing Festival in 2020 when he won a Grade 1 novice chase at the age of 12. In 26 races, he won 17 times and was in the top three on 22 occasions. 6. Thousand Stars (2006-2016) Owner: Hammer & Trowel Syndicate Winnings: £1,165,070 Perhaps a surprise to some to rank so highly. This loveable grey was so often the bridesmaid to Hurricane Fly, but he also landed some valuable pots on his own. The son of Grey Risk was a regular visitor to Auteuil in France, where he won five races, including three Grade 1s. 5. Energumene (2018-present) Owner: Tony Bloom Winnings: £1,138,817 Whatever Energumene has won on the racetrack, his owner Tony Bloom has probably won from landing bets on him. Despite having many injury issues, Energumene has had a habit of producing on the biggest occasions. He provided Mullins with his first Champion Chase winner and defended his title a year later. 4. State Man (2021-present) Winnings: £1,547,787 Still only eight years old, State Man still has the potential to be Mullins' biggest money-spinner. Bought from France, he fell on his hurdles debut at Leopardstown before winning on his next and then making a mockery of his handicap mark in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He has had his detractors over the past couple of years after proving no match for Constitution Hill in the 2023 Champion Hurdle. But 12 Grade 1 victories have proven his undoubted class, and he would have won a second Champion Hurdle this year if not for a fall at the last. 3. Un De Sceaux (2012-2020) Owner: Edward O'Connell Winnings: £1,583,124 As a young horse, Un De Sceaux was a tearaway, knowing only how to run as fast as he could for as long as possible. It made for fascinating viewing. Un De Sceaux was an exuberant winner of the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham, and although he never won the Champion Chase during the era of Sprinter Sacre, he was a remarkably consistent horse. Stepping up in trip later in his career, he won the Ryanair Chase in 2017, and finished in the top three in 30 of his 34 races. 2. Hurricane Fly (2006-2015) Owner: George Creighton & Mrs Rose Boyd Winnings: £1,894,422 A remarkable career saw Hurricane Fly win a staggering 22 Grade 1 races for Mullins. The honours are endless: five Irish Champion Hurdles, four Punchestown Champion Hurdles, three Morgiana Hurdles and two Cheltenham Champion Hurdles, to name a few. Although not the flashiest sort, he rarely lost a battle and had an unerring habit of finding a good jump at the last when most needed. And if these figures were adjusted for inflation and a steady rise in prize money, he would be at the top of this list. 1. Galopin Des Champs (2020-Present) Owner: Mrs Audrey Turley Winnings: £1,928,428 If Hurricane Fly is the best hurdler Mullins has ever trained, then Galopin Des Champs is unquestionably the best chaser. Bought from France, the gelding was a little slow to find his feet in Ireland before running out a decisive winner of the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Then, after making an electrifying chase debut at Leopardstown, he was kicking Bob Olinger out of the way in the Turners Novices' Chase until falling at the last. That has remained a rare blip in a magnificent chasing career that has included two Cheltenham Gold Cups, three Irish Gold Cups and a Punchestown Gold Cup. He has won 12 of his 18 races over fences and looks set to break the £2,000,000 mark next season.
Irish Daily Mirror
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish punter celebrates after placing £10,000 winning bet at Punchestown
An Irish punter put the bookies in their places by winning £21,000 from a £10,000 bet at the Punchestown Festival. The punter placed a staggering £10,000 on red-hot favourite Galopin Des Champs, who proceeded to storm to victory by 22 lengths from Spillane's Tower in Wednesday's Punchestown Gold Cup. The punter in question, who operates horse racing tipster account on social media, shared his bet with his followers, showing off a betting slip that shows a £10,000 stake on the 11/10 favourite. Willie Mullins' star duly delivered, taking home the Punchestown Gold Cup for the first time and easing concerns after failing to defend the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March. Mullins has seen some special things in his time, but even the Closutton was blown away by Paul Townend's ride on the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup king. "We all have the horse of a lifetime," Mullins said of the winner, who returned at odds of 5-6. "He's phenomenal. Paul showed him off today. He was asking him for every jump and the horse responded every time, he was loving it. "To win a race like that, beating that opposition by 22 lengths, I thought was spectacular."
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Galopin Des Champs storms to victory at the Punchestown Festival - as the 'horse of a lifetime' bounces back from shock Cheltenham defeat
Galopin Des Champs lit up the Punchestown Festival with a performance that left Willie Mullins believing he can conquer Cheltenham once again. The €300,000 Punchestown Gold Cup is always a highlight of the final festival of the season and Galopin Des Champs exuded power, as he thrashed his rivals by 22 lengths. It was the perfect way to bounce back from his defeat at Cheltenham in March. Inothewayurthinkin thwarted Galopin Des Champs's attempt to join Golden Miller, Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate as three-time winner of racing's blue riband steeplechase but Mullins sees no reason why he can't turn the tables next spring. In front of a bumper 23,285 crowd – an improvement on last year's figure of 21,652 for the same fixture – Galopin Des Champs was given a hero's reception and Mullins made no attempt to hide the esteem in which he holds the gelding. 'We all have the horse of a lifetime,' said Mullins, who had four winners on the card. 'He is phenomenal. Paul (Townend) showed him off. He had a little look at the road going past the stands and Paul made his mind up for him there. He felt he was dossing, just going around at his ease. 'He put him under pressure from the top of the hill and he jumped every jump. To win a race like that, beating opponents of that quality by 22 lengths, I thought was spectacular. I don't know about Cheltenham. We were beaten. But horses come back and at least he's proved he's a good horse. 'There is always next year. He is only nine, coming ten isn't he? He is still young enough to have another go. We will talk about today, rather than last month. A lot of people don't bring their horses back after Cheltenham but we were prepared to have a go. 'It's good for the sport. Win, lose or draw, you have got to turn up, I think. You have got to run the good horses in the good races and I am never afraid to be beaten. They have a short enough racing life. You take what you can when you can get it.' Audrey Turley, Galopin Des Champs's owner, was too nervous to watch the race as it happened but she was overcome in the winner's enclosure as she reflected on the journey that the gelding has taken them on. This season alone, he's won the Irish Gold Cup and Savills Chase at Leopardstown. 'He is an absolute legend and he has run his heart out,' said Turley. 'Willie has done so well, Paul has done so well, the horse has done so well. They are just the 'A' team. He is a mega star in horse racing. We're delighted that he is ours. He's our beautiful boy. He deserves every accolade he gets.'
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Galopin Des Champs wins first Punchestown Gold Cup
Galopin Des Champs won a first Punchestown Gold Cup at the third attempt on Wednesday [Getty Images] Galopin Des Champs produced a dominant display to win a first Punchestown Gold Cup. Jockey Paul Townend guided the two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner to a 22-length victory over Spillane's Tower. It proved to be third time lucky for the Willie Mullins trained 5-6 favourite, who twice finished second behind Fastorslow in the previous two years at Punchestown. Advertisement "He was back to his best, he was jumping at his ease," said Mullins. "Paul was just full of confidence in him. To win that race by 22 lengths was awesome. To me it was awesome anyway. "He's a very good horse. He has to be one of the best chasers we have ever had anyway." Mullins, who also enjoyed two surprise victories on Tuesday, picked up another two wins in the day's other Grade One contests. In the Novice Hurdle, Cheltenham victor and 13-8 favourite Jasmin De Vaux edged out Aintree winner Honesty Policy by half a length in a thrilling finale. Jasmin De Vaux, ridden by Townend, recovered from a mistake at the final hurdle to move ahead before the line. In the Champion Bumper, the 11-8 favourite Bambino Fever finished clear of Switch From Diesel in second.
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Willie Mullins hails ‘horse of a lifetime' Galopin Des Champs after Punchestown Gold Cup romp
GALOPIN DES CHAMPS stamped his class on the Punchestown Gold Cup with a dominant all-the-way win. Willie Mullins' superstar had been beaten in this race for the last two years - but it was third time lucky as he broke his jinx in style. 1 He jumped with speed and accuracy throughout, drawing mistakes out of Spillane's Tower and Banbridge as he turned the screw on the front-end. In fact, the only moment's worry came when he had a little look and a jink at a road crossing as he headed out on the second circuit. As soon as jockey Paul Townend asked him to put the race to bed, he stretched right away to win by 22 lengths, banishing the memory of his Cheltenham Gold Cup defeat last month. There was a tremendous atmosphere on track as he was led back into a raucous winners' enclosure by a bagpipe player and greeted by his very happy trainer. Mullins said: "We all have the horse of a lifetime. He's phenomenal and Paul showed him off today. "He was asking him for every jump and the horse responded every time, he was loving it. "To win a race like that, beating that opposition by 22 lengths, I thought was spectacular. "I thought some of his performances in Leopardstown were spectacular and in Cheltenham, but that was a hell of a performance to do what he did there. "I was worried about the ground but they had put a lot of water on it. They always make a tremendous effort here in Punchestown, that's why we always keep our best horses for Punchestown." He was cut into 5-1 from 7-1 for next year's Gold Cup, and Willie said all roads will lead back there next March. Mullins added: "Cheltenham is Cheltenham and we were beaten. Horses get beaten but he has come back and proved that he's a real good horse and there's always next year. He's still young enough to go have another go and we're happy to be here today." . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
