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Irish Independent
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Punchestown Day 3: Teahupoo goes back-to-back for Gordon Elliott with defence of Champion Stayers Hurdle
Gordon Elliott's charge returned to County Kildare off the back of successive defeats this season, including when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. The eight-year-old filled the runner-up spot in the Cotswolds, having previously found star mare Lossiemouth too strong in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse, and was a 5-4 favourite to get himself back in the winner's circle under Sam Ewing. After being settled in midfield for the majority of the three-mile journey, Teahupoo travelled strongly before being nudged to lead rounding the home turn and the further he went the better he looked, with four and a quarter lengths the margin over Asterion Forlonge. Elliott said: 'This horse has got me out of trouble a few times and he's done it again. He's a star of a horse. 'I was panicking turning in to be honest. If we had a couple of winners, I'd have had my chest out. 'He's so laid-back at home and you nearly start questioning yourself 'is he a bit heavy going around the ring'. 'Sam gave him a no-nonsense ride and kept it very straightforward. I'm very lucky to have the riders I have, the staff I have and the owners. 'I was dreaming last night if Teahupoo could win today and Meath could win the Leinster final it would finish off what has been a rough season to be a great season.' Earlier, Britain's newly-crowned champion jockey Sean Bowen was at his brilliant best as he steered Putapoundinthejar to victory in the opening race on day three of the Festival. Taking to the saddle for the first time sine celebrating his title triumph with a big-race success aboard Resplendent Grey in Saturday's bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, the 27-year-old produced another power-packed ride on Tony Martin's 17-2 shot in the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle. Battle Of Ridgeway (50-1) was clear of the chasing pack on the run to the final flight, but Bowen conjured a late charge out of Putapoundinthejar, who got up to score by half a length. Bowen, who since Saturday has enjoyed his stag party in Tenerife, said: 'He did well to win as he didn't jump well at all. He got into a rhythm from halfway and did well to pick up the leader. 'I had a good clear run down to the last. He winged the last and picked up well from the back of it. 'It's good ground and he enjoyed that. He will have learned loads today.' Sean's brother James Bowen got his name on the winner's board after Jeriko Du Reponet (13-2 joint-favourite) led home a one-two for Nicky Henderson in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle. Doddiethegreat beat Jeriko Du Reponet in the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival and the Seven Barrows pair again came to the fore, but this time it was the latter who came out on top to give his rider a timely boost ahead of partnering Constitution Hill in Friday's Champion Hurdle. Henderson said: 'I felt sorry for one horse at Cheltenham and I now I feel sorry for the other one! There was no alternative route other than to come here and take each other on again. 'You've got to be delighted with both of them – two divisions would have helped! 'It all went wrong for Jeriko at the start of the season when he was meant to go chasing and we thought he was going to be the star. It all went wrong at Sandown on his first start, it was terrible and we had to come back over hurdles. 'The Pertemps became the objective, he didn't quite win that but he's got his consolation and we must go back over fences next year and get the job done properly.' There was further success for the raiding party in the Frontline Security Handicap Chase, with 16-1 shot Petit Tonnerre finishing with a flourish under Richie McLernon to strike gold for the father-son training partnership of Jonjo and AJ O'Neill. The latter said: 'We were hitting the crossbar earlier in the week but Richie gave that lad a really lovely ride, very patient, and it was lovely to see it coming off for all the team. 'JP (McManus, owner) is a massive supporter of the game and a massive supporter of ours, so it's amazing to have a winner on a day like today.' Joseph O'Brien and J J Slevin teamed up to land the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase with 7-1 shot Busselton. 'It's a special race, historic. It was really exciting for us as it was our first runner in it and even to have a horse for the banks this year was special,' said O'Brien. 'J J has done a great job schooling this horse and gave him a fantastic ride today. He's won under all codes and hopefully will win again.' O'Brien and Slevin completed a surprise double in the Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle, with Cottesloe Sunshine (33-1) beating the Cheltenham Festival runner-up and 8-13 favourite Sixandahalf into third place. O'Brien added: 'It was a great ride by J J and a very tough filly. She jumped well today and I'm delighted for Nick (Fahy, owner) and his family who are here today. 'We were coming here fresh and a lot of the competitors had been to all the Festivals over the last few months. I'd be lying if I said I expected her to win but we thought we might run well.' Finally, Majborough bounced back from his Cheltenham Festival defeat with a facile victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase. Last season's Triumph Hurdle hero had looked every inch a top-class chaser in the making after winning his first two starts over the larger obstacles, but a juddering error two fences from home ultimately led to him suffering a surprise reverse in the Arkle at Prestbury Park in mid-March. The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old was sent off at 4-11 to reward those who kept the faith back on home soil and while he pulled his way to the front on the second circuit and raced keenly throughout under Mark Walsh, he stamped his class from the home turn, pulling 14 lengths clear of the Arkle runner-up Only By Night. Mullins, saddling his 200th winner of the season in Ireland, said "He jumped today like we know he can jump. For some reason things didn't go right for him in Cheltenham, but he's redeemed himself today. "He's a huge, big horse but he's very light framed and is an athlete every time you look at him. Looking at him in the parade ring today, there wasn't one ounce of spare flesh on him, and I couldn't have galloped him one more time. "He's only five and hopefully he'll mature this summer. I'm looking forward to what he could mature into over the next 18 months or two years.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
AP McCoy hails successor Sean Bowen as he makes perfect start to stag do with huge win
Trainer Olly Murphy showed his emotions on ITV Racing as Bowen - set to go to Tenerife ahead of his wedding to Harriet Matthews - won the bet365 Gold Cup on 9-2 chance Resplendent Grey Sean Bowen was paid the ultimate compliment by the sporting star he followed to become champion jockey. The new top rider of National Hunt racing was lavished with praise by Sir AP McCoy after winning the bet365 Gold Cup on 9-2 chance Resplendent Grey. On the day he was crowned champion jockey, Bowen delivered the Olly Murphy-trained chaser with a perfect run to land the £175,000 feature race at Sandown Park. It was a final big win of 2024-25 for the Welshman, who heads off on his stag do in Tenerife on Sunday before his wedding to Harriet Matthews. And Bowen was sent on his way by all-time great McCoy, who took the championship on 20 occasions, hailing him as a "top class jockey." Reviewing Bowen's ride on ITV Racing, he said "You need to get horses to believe in you, to want to do it for you and give their all - that's what he is good at. Good at getting inside their heads. "He convinces them all the way through. You see from the second last to the last and from the last to the winning post, he always looked like he was getting there. "It was an all out ride but it was confident as well. He's a top class jockey, he won an Irish National last week. It is hard to get on good horses if you are not riding for Willie Mullins, Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson. What a way to end the season." Bowen will have to celebrate abroad without his best man and brother James, a super sub for Nico de Boinville on Constitution Hill at the Punchestown Festival next week or Harry Cobden, who joins him on the plane. But Murphy, who kept Resplendent Grey in top form all season, might be tempted to join the party in the Canary Islands on the back of a career best for his stable with 140 winners and £1.6million in prize money. "I've been a very small cog in Sean's wheel," he said. "He has been a massive part of Warren Chase. It's brilliant. "I'm always an emotional man when I have big winners. There is a big team behind us both. This is absolutely magic." Resplendent Grey travelled sweetly in first-time cheekpieces and collared Rachael Blackmore-ridden and Willie Mullins-trained Lombron after the final fence. "Honestly the best two weeks of my life," said Bowen. "I hope it carries on forever." Mullins - who saw off determined rival Dan Skelton to retain the trainers' championship - also saddled third High Class Hero (10-3 favourite), fourth Spanish Harlem (22-1) and fifth-placed Grangeclare West (14-1).
The Herald Scotland
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Skelton fears title chances may go up in Smoke
However, the Lodge Hill team are hopeful the decision to skip the Scottish Grand National will pay dividend as they bid to keep trainers' title dreams alive in a race that could prove crucial. A big success for the Skeltons with Hoe Joly Smoke! 🥇 How many winners will the Skeltons have this week at Cheltenham? 🏆#ITVRacing — ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 9, 2025 'We never entered him in the Scottish National, rightly or wrongly, because I always felt this was the right race for him. We didn't expect Grangeclare West to turn up, but that's happened because of circumstances and we're 12lb wrong before we start,' said Skelton. 'We've got to give it a go. I feel a bit sorry for Harry, who has got to do 10st 2lb, which is not exactly a walk in the park, but he'd do 9st 2lb at the moment for me – I know how much support I've got from him and I know how much he wants it. 'We've got a nice chance, but the data shows it's going to be 12lb difficult before we start.' Skelton will also be cheering on fellow British trainers Olly Murphy and Emma Lavelle, who saddle the tough Resplendent Grey and in-form King's Threshold respectively seeking their own slice of the prize-fund, with the value of the former's National Hunt Chase fourth to Haiti Couleurs given a significant boost recently. Resplendent Grey has been a smart performer for Olly Murphy this season (John Walton/PA) Murphy said: 'He ran well in Cheltenham. He didn't go round very well but he came home strong. We'll ride him a little bit differently. 'He's got first-time cheekpieces and hopefully they will help him, he's got a lovely weight on his back and if he gets into a rhythm, he's got an each-way chance.' Sean Bowen will pick up his first title on the day but had to get off Haiti Couleurs at Cheltenham to ride Resplendent Grey and still awaits a first Festival winner. He did, though, win the Irish National on Rebecca Curtis' charge on Monday. Murphy added: 'It would be great if Sean could wrap up the season by winning this. He's been freshened up and we're looking forward to running him.' Neil Mulholland's Transmission was a place behind Resplendent Grey at Cheltenham, while Skelton's old boss Paul Nicholls runs Threeunderthrufive. However, it is hard to ignore the aces Mullins has up his sleeve and as well as the aforementioned Grangeclare West, he will saddle the likes of defending champion Minella Cocooner and High Class Hero, who is the trainer's idea of the stable first string. Mullins said: 'Paul rides High Class Hero and he's one who is going to be high on the list, if not right at the top. High Class Hero leads the Willie Mullins team (Brian Lawless/PA) 'We switched from the Irish National to this late, we had a lot of rain in Fairyhouse and we just felt a drier track would suit him. 'Grangeclare West and Minella Cocooner both ran well in the National and must have their chances.' There is also a Grade One winner amongst the Closutton team in Dancing City, while Mullins fancies O'Moore Park to go close having knocked on the door at Cheltenham the last twice. 'Dancing City fell at Aintree but on his form before that you'd think he would have a really good chance and I think he's a good enough jumper, maybe we just concentrate on getting him around, then see,' said Mullins. 'O'Moore Park is due a big race and has been improving all season, whether that win is this or next season, I don't know.' Klarc Kent in action in the Scottish grand National (Jane Barlow/PA) Others on the Mullins teamsheet include Olympic Man, Lombron, Klarc Kent, Spanish Harlem and Chosen Witness, with the reigning champion trainer not ruling any out of contention. He said: 'Olympic Man was running a great race for Patrick in Ayr and will be ridden by Johnny Burke. He will be wearing a hood for the first time as he just raced with the choke out a little bit at Ayr and he won't be without a chance. 'Klarc Kent ran a cracker when second in the Scottish National, but even with Kieran Callaghan claiming 5lb, he's still going to be out the handicap. 'Spanish Harlem I think will like this nice ground and he's not out of it and the same applies to Chosen Witness. 'They are two horses I haven't really run before on this type of ground, but I think it's time they did and we take a punt on the ground. They are two big, chasing types that I had been keeping to ground with soft in, but at this stage of the game it's time to let them take their chance.'
Rhyl Journal
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Bowen hoping to be Resplendent with championship crown
The 27-year-old has finished second in the table for the past two seasons, missing out narrowly to Harry Cobden last term after a pivotal spell out of action due to injury. This time luck has stuck around throughout the campaign for the Welshman, who hails from Fishguard and was raised in a racing family as his father Peter trains on a joint licence that he will hand over solely to his eldest son Michael next year. Bowen credits the support of his parents for the upwards trajectory his career has followed up to his first title, a career which began on the family gallops and then the pony racing field. 'It's something you dream of as a kid and you're racing the ponies up the gallops. You dream of being AP McCoy, Richard Johnson and Brian Hughes, I can't quite believe it's going to be me,' he said. 'It starts with my parents, they've always been my biggest supporters, and then my agent (Alain Cawley) has done an incredible job. 'He's certainly kept me very busy anyway! By Saturday, I'll have had nearly 900 rides and AP McCoy only had over 900 rides in two seasons of his career. 'It's a lot of rides and it's kept me very busy.' Olly Murphy has provided the bulk of Bowen's runners and before the curtain falls on the season at Sandown, the two will team up with Resplendent Grey in the bet365 Gold Cup. Interestingly, the grey's form connects with Bowen's highlight of the season, which was winning the Irish Grand National aboard Rebecca Curtis' Haiti Couleurs – a horse who beat Resplendent Grey into fourth in the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. 'Olly Murphy has been my biggest supporter trainer-wise,' said Bowen, who has reached three figures for the Warren Chase Stables handler this term. 'Resplendent Grey was behind Haiti Couleurs and obviously that form has turned out very, very well. I think that experience of a handicap would have done him the world of good. 'He goes into the race with no weight on his back, he's got course form at Sandown and he's got form over the trip. To be honest, I can't find many negatives, he's my big ride on Saturday and I'm really looking forward to it.' While counting his blessings as the moment he receives the trophy approaches, Bowen is already determined to target a second title next season. 'It's a crazy amount of work, but I want to win it again, I'm very proud to have won once and as a kid the dream was to be champion,' he said. 'I'm so blessed, everything's gone so well and from the start of my riding career I couldn't ever imagine getting here. 'I'm so lucky and I've got great support, I'm really looking forward to picking up that trophy on Saturday. 'No one will ever take that away from me now, I want to do it again, but nothing will take away how good this season has been.' And if being crowned champion jockey is not enough to celebrate, Bowen will be marrying fiancee Harriet Andrews in the summer. He said: 'I am not very good at organising things like that, so I'm leaving it to Harriet! 'We are really looking forward to it and have been together since I was a conditional with Paul Nicholls.'
