Latest news with #Spillane'sTower
Irish Examiner
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Galopin Des Champs strolls to Punchestown Gold
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.
Daily Mail
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Can Galopin Des Champs finally get over the hump and win the Punchestwon Gold Cup? The gelding is a boosted 11/8 favourite to do so
The Punchestown Gold Cup takes place at 17:30 today - as an elite field of four battle it out over three miles and half-a-furlong at the famed Irish racecourse. Multiple-time Cheltenham Gold Cup and Irish Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs is a boosted favourite at 11/8 to finish first past the post. The French-bred horse has come agonisingly close to winning the Punchestown Gold Cup on two occasions, finishing second in both 2023 and 2024 by slim margins. Can the Willie Mullins-trained horse finally get over the hump and reign supreme in the Punchestown Gold Cup? Or, will he be upset once again? For those anticipating the latter, Spillane's Tower is perceived to be the biggest threat at 11/8. Spillane's Tower boasts solid course form, having won a Grade 3 and Grade 1 novice chase at Punchestown over the past 18 months. Meanwhile, if you're after an outsider, Banbridge and Monty's Star round out the field at 10/3 and 17/2 respectively. Sky Bet odds for the Punchestown Gold Cup today: Galopin Des Champs WAS 1/1 NOW 11/8 Spillane's Tower 3/1 Banbridge 10/3 Monty's Star 17/2 All odds are correct at the time of publication
Extra.ie
30-04-2025
- Sport
- Extra.ie
Spillane's Tower can rise above small but quality Punchestown field
Here are just four runners in this year's Punchestown Gold Cup, but you don't need quantity when you've quality of this level. Galopin Des Champs has been dethroned as the king of Cheltenham, but he's never really been the king of Punchestown, because from five visits to the track over fences, he has won only once. Banbridge is the King George winner who disappointed at Cheltenham and Spillane's Tower hasn't been seen since he disappointed in the King George. So there's many balls in the air here, and no certainties. Spillane's Tower, with Mark Walsh up, on their way to victory at Fairyhouse last year. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile I know my parents are really happy with Spillane's Tower and while they were disappointed they couldn't run at Aintree due to the drying ground conditions, they are confident he could run a career-best here. He's my selection to win this — call it what you want, maybe it's my heart leading my head. But to see Spillane's Tower winning today, well that would be the result of the week for me. In the Grade One bumper (4.50), I think Colcannon is going to run a big race for Noel Meade. Colcannon, with Derek O'Connor up, on their way to victory at Leopardstown earlier this year. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile The obvious solution to this puzzle is Bambino Fever, but she's a very short-priced favourite out of the Willie Mullins yard. I just think Colcannon could run a big race because his form from Leopardstown is working out really well. It's a small field in this as well, and he drops in last so his running style will really suit a small field. Expect Derek Connor to play his cards late and maybe catch the mare on the line. The day's other Grade One is the three-mile Channor Novice Hurdle (4.15), for which I like Honesty Policy, trained by Gordon Elliott. I think stepping up to three miles will really improve his chances. He was a winner at two and a half miles at Aintree, and he looked like he was going as quick as he could go everywhere, so the extra half-mile should really suit. Honesty Policy, with Mark Walsh up, on their way to victory at Aintree. Pic:And while I respect Jasmin De Vaux, I don't believe he's as fluent a hurdler as Honesty Policy who's a year younger and maybe has more improvement to come. Cork jockey John Shinnick is two winners off the leader in the race to be crowned champion conditional jockey and he will be hoping he can win on Fairyland Opera in the first race on the card, the Adare Manor Opportunity Final Handicap Hurdle (2.30) over two miles and three furlongs. She's a mare who was a very easy winner at Tramore last time and given her placed form before that, I think Fairyland Opera could defy a rating of 114 and provide Lorna Fowler with an opening race winner. Next is the Red Mills Auction Series Final (3.05) and Millforce catches my eye here. I was in Thurles when he won over two miles, six furlongs and he showed pace that day, so I'm not surprised they're dropping back slightly in trip. Keith Donoghue would have had the choice between Millforce and Champagne Jury as both are trained by Gavin Cromwell, and he's opted to stay loyal to the top horse. So I think Millforce has the experience and the potential class to win this race. The Louis Fitzgerald Hurdle is a race for horses who have won only once over hurdles. Spillane's Tower managed to get beaten in it two seasons ago. I think Kaid D'authie is better than we've seen. He won at Leopardstown over Christmas, making all the running, and obviously his connections rated him very highly because his next two runs, while he disappointed, were in Grade One company. Kaid D'authie (right) at Leopardstown in 2024. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile They're putting cheek-pieces on him now because perhaps he's keeping the lion's share of his energy up his own sleeve. I reckon Kaid D'authie is going to take a lot of beating in this race because it's a winners of one, but they thought he was a Grade One horse. Trainer Paddy Twomey is one of the rising stars of the Flat scene, but when he has one on the National Hunt front, you do take notice. I rode a Bumper winner for him at the Punchestown Festival many moons ago before he became the man he's known as today. That was on a 33-1 shot, Timing's everything, but today Seo Linn won't be any such fancy odds in the Grade Three Mares' Bumper (6.35). After winning at the Cheltenham November meeting and the Aintree meeting just gone, I think she can make it a treble by winning this one under Barry O'Neill. Trainer Paddy Twomey. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy In the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase, Must Be Obeyed catches my eye, but be warned — she does not tend to live up to her name. She can be very cantankerous, particularly at the start where she sometimes sabotages her own chance. But with the cheekpieces fitted first time, I think she can make it her first win since January 2023 under Darragh O'Keeffe, who is riding her at 10st 1lb. She's been dropped to a mark of 126, expect Must Be Obeyed to be on the pace with those first-time cheekpieces and she may well be hard to catch.
BBC News
03-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Grand National 2025: Your guide to three-day festival at Aintree
The Randox Grand National festival opens at Aintree racecourse than 150,000 racegoers are expected at the three-day event which is estimated to boost the economy by about £ racecourse, in Sefton, has hosted the festival since 1839, with Red Rum the most successful horse in Grand National history having won the steeplechase race three year, Saturday's main event is expected to be watched by 600m people worldwide, with 2024's Grand National winner I am Maximus getting the chance to defend his is a guide on how to get to the festival and when to see the racing. Getting there Racegoers heading to the iconic Aintree meeting are advised to plan ahead, use public transport where possible and leave plenty of is operating a special service during the festival and said there would be trains running to Aintree station every seven and a half travelling by bus, the 300, 310 & 345 services run regularly between Queen Square bus station and the Aintree will be operating a regular shuttle bus service from Liverpool city centre to Aintree Racecourse on all three days of the buses will depart from Elliot Street [Stop GE] and return shuttles will depart from Park Lane (opposite Aintree rail station) - return trips will be running on Friday 4 and Saturday 5 April those travelling by road to Aintree Racecourse, follow the A59 to Liverpool and the yellow/tourism signs as you approach the racecourse for routes to the car parks - which must be booked in Merseyside Police are advising people to use public transport as there are a number of road closures, diversions and traffic management measures in place and heavy traffic is expected on the A59. Opening Day - Thursday Gates open at 11:00 BST on Opening Day, which is often thought of as a day for true racing aficionados and can often be the place where new talent in the horse racing world will year, the 2023 champion hurdler Constitution Hill, trained by Nicky Henderson, returns to action after falling in the big race at Cheltenham last month when trying to regain his Dawning, trained by Dan Skelton, is likely to go off favourite for the Bowl, with Spillane's Tower and Gaelic Warrior among and Lifetime Ambition are among hopefuls in the Foxhunters' Chase over the National race times are as follows:13:45: EBC Group Manifesto Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f14:20: Boodles Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f14:55: Aintree Bowl Chase (Grade 1) 3m 1f15:30: William Hill Aintree Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f16:05: Randox Foxhunters' Open Hunters' Chase 2m 5f16:40: Close Brothers Red Rum Handicap Chase 2m17:15: Goffs Nickel Coin Mares' Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race 2m 1f Ladies Day - Friday Ladies Day, the second day of the annual meeting is all about glamour and style, alongside the horseracing on the course. The gates open at 10:30 BST - expect bright outfits and big hats as the crowd goes all will also see the Style Awards, where two best dressed racegoers will be crowned, along with the most sustainably dressed is the schedule for the second day of the Aintree meeting:13:45: Huyton Asphalt Franny Blennerhassett Memorial Mildmay Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 3m 1f14:20: William Hill Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f14:55: Trustatrader Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m15:30: My Pension Expert Melling Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f16:05: Randox Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Topham Handicap Chase 2m 5f16:40: Sefton Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 3m ½f17:15: Hallgarten and Novum Wines Handicap Hurdle 2m ½f Grand National Day - Saturday Gates open at 10:00 BST on Saturday, but all eyes will be on the 34 runners and riders taking on 30 unique fences for the main event, which takes place at at 16: 2024 winner I Am Maximus, trained by Willie Mullins, is among the leading contenders for owner JP McManus, along with Iroko and Perceval latter is trained by Gavin Cromwell, who also runs 2023 runner-up Vanillier and Stumptown, winner of the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham in year's Irish Grand National victor Intense Raffles and bargain buy Hewick, who cost just £800, are among other schedule for Grand National Day is as follows:13:20: William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle 3m ½f13:55: Turners Mersey Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f14:30: William Hill Freebooter Handicap Chase 3m 1f15:05: Liverpool Hurdle 3m ½f16:00: Randox Grand National 4m 2½f17:00: Maghull Novices' Chase (Grade 1) 2m17:35: Weatherbys Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race 2m 1f Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
