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The 42
02-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Willie Mullins' Final Demand stamps class in Punchestown Champion Hurdle
WILLIE MULLINS' FINAL Demand stamped his class on the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown with an all-the-way success. A winner at the Dublin Racing Festival, he was sent off favourite for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham but could only finish third behind The New Lion and The Yellow Clay. He faced Gordon Elliott's 5-4 favourite The Yellow Clay once again, but he took a heavy fall at the last when well held in third. In truth the race was over by the second-last as Paul Townend continued to wind up the pace in the final half-mile, with the 7-4 shot drawing further and further clear. 'It was an awesome performance over that trip,' said Mullins. 'Paul felt he didn't go fast enough in Cheltenham and he said to Caroline (Tisdall, owner) 'today I'm going to show him off'. 'I saw him jumping the first and second and I wasn't happy until he jumped the third that he was jumping well. Advertisement 'Then he was electric over a few of his hurdles, for a big chaser to jump the way he did – he was getting lengths at his hurdles when it mattered. 'I thought he was going to tire around the fifth-last or fourth-last after the pace, but then he'd go down to the hurdle and just take a length out of a horse behind him. 'If you can jump fences like that he's one to look forward to.' When asked if he had schooled over fences, Mullins added: 'No, not at home. There will be time enough next autumn. He won his point-to-point so he's well able to jump. 'He's not a horse you'd want to stand on your foot! He's really one to look forward to.' Dinoblue followed up her Cheltenham success in even easier fashion in the Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Chase. Only four went to post for the Grade Two event and it was dominated by the two Mullins stablemates, Dinoblue (4-7 favourite) and Allegorie De Vassy. Allegorie De Vassy was a late faller at Cheltenham after being passed by Dinoblue and the time before had been beaten a neck by the same rival in the Opera Hat Chase. This time Townend laid it all out from early on and took a sizeable early lead, but Mark Walsh gradually reeled her in on Dinoblue and went away to win by 35 lengths. Mullins later confirmed the runner-up had run her last race. 'She was very good today. I was hoping that Allegorie might get her own back on her after Cheltenham, but it wasn't going to be that way today,' said Mullins. 'Allegorie is in foal to Jukebox Jury so she's retired now. 'Dinoblue looks to be getting better and better and hopefully we have her for next season. I don't see her going to stud for a while yet.' Frank Berry said, winning owner JP McManus' racing manager, said: 'You could set your clock by her every day. 'She jumped great and she's just a pleasure to have around. She never lets you down. 'I'd say it's her best year and she's maybe better than ever. 'She'll have another season. She'll stick to the mares' races. There is a good programme for them and it suits her well.'
Irish Independent
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Punchestown Day 4: State Man rules supreme as Constitution Hill disappoints in Champion Hurdle showdown
The Grade One contest staged a mouthwatering rematch between the Willie Mullins and Nicky Henderson-trained superstars, who both fell in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, with the presence of Jeremy Scott's eventual Champion Hurdle heroine Golden Ace adding further spice. Despite suffering a second successive fall in the Aintree Hurdle, Constitution Hill was a heavily-supported 8-13 favourite to get back on the winning trail on his first trip to Ireland, but he was a spent force from before the home turned and weakened rapidly out of contention. In contrast, State Man (9-4) - who looked to have a second Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham at his mercy when crashing out at the final obstacle at Prestbury Park in mid-March - continued to pour it on in front under Paul Townend and came home with four and three-quarter lengths in hand over Golden Ace. Willie Mullins' Final Demand stamped his class on the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle with an all-the-way success. A winner at the Dublin Racing Festival, he was sent off favourite for the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham but could only finish third behind The New Lion and The Yellow Clay. He faced Gordon Elliott's 5-4 favourite The Yellow Clay once again, but he took a heavy fall at the last when well held in third. In truth the race was over by the second-last as Paul Townend continued to wind up the pace in the final half-mile, with the 7-4 shot drawing further and further clear. 'It was an awesome performance over that trip,' said Mullins. 'Paul felt he didn't go fast enough in Cheltenham and he said to Caroline (Tisdall, owner) 'today I'm going to show him off'. 'I saw him jumping the first and second and I wasn't happy until he jumped the third that he was jumping well. ADVERTISEMENT 'Then he was electric over a few of his hurdles, for a big chaser to jump the way he did – he was getting lengths at his hurdles when it mattered. 'I thought he was going to tire around the fifth-last or fourth-last after the pace, but then he'd go down to the hurdle and just take a length out of a horse behind him. 'If you can jump fences like that he's one to look forward to.' When asked if he had schooled over fences, Mullins added: 'No, not at home. There will be time enough next autumn. He won his point-to-point so he's well able to jump. 'He's not a horse you'd want to stand on your foot! He's really one to look forward to.' Dinoblue followed up her Cheltenham success in even easier fashion in the Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Chase. Only four went to post for the Grade Two event and it was dominated by the two Mullins stablemates, Dinoblue (4-7 favourite) and Allegorie De Vassy. Allegorie De Vassy was a late faller at Cheltenham after being passed by Dinoblue and the time before had been beaten a neck by the same rival in the Opera Hat Chase. This time Townend laid it all out from early on and took a sizeable early lead, but Mark Walsh gradually reeled her in on Dinoblue and went away to win by 35 lengths. Mullins later confirmed the runner-up had run her last race. 'She was very good today. I was hoping that Allegorie might get her own back on her after Cheltenham, but it wasn't going to be that way today,' said Mullins. 'Allegorie is in foal to Jukebox Jury so she's retired now. 'Dinoblue looks to be getting better and better and hopefully we have her for next season. I don't see her going to stud for a while yet.' Frank Berry said, winning owner JP McManus' racing manager, said: 'You could set your clock by her every day. 'She jumped great and she's just a pleasure to have around. She never lets you down. 'I'd say it's her best year and she's maybe better than ever. 'She'll have another season. She'll stick to the mares' races. There is a good programme for them and it suits her well.'
The Guardian
11-03-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Cheltenham festival day two tips: Jonbon can break his meeting hoodoo
A victory at the festival is the only notable omission from the remarkably consistent Jonbon's racing record and he will be a heavy favourite to finally make it into the winner's enclosure when he lines up for the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Wednesday. Jonbon has been beaten just three times in 20 career starts and all three defeats were at Cheltenham, but he ran out an easy winner of the Shloer Chase over track and trip in November and has plenty in hand of his opposition on ratings. He also saw off Energumene, the winner of this race in 2022 and 2023, with something to spare at Ascot in January and while Marine Nationale, the Supreme winner over hurdles in 2023, is an interesting and fresh opponent, he would need to step up significantly on his form over fences to date to stand any chance against an in-form Jonbon (4.00). Cheltenham 1.20 Another Willie Mullins-trained favourite for a novice hurdle to set the ball rolling on day two of the Festival, and like Kopek Des Bordes, Tuesday's Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, Final Demand surged to the top of the market after a convincing win at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. He faces worthy opponents in The New Lion and The Yellow Clay, both also unbeaten over hurdles, but the former's win in the Challow at Newbury was possibly more style than substance while The Yellow Clay's best form is on much softer ground. Cheltenham 2.00 An all-Irish affair for the second Grade One novice chase, and Ballyburn should take all the beating having won the two-mile-five Grade One at the DRF last month. He was a close second jumping the last but well on top and going further clear with every stride at the post, so this step up to three miles looks sure to bring further improvement. Cheltenham 2.40 A full field of 26 runners for the Coral Cup poses a fearsome challenge for punters, with strong cases to be made for Be Aware, Impose Toi and Bunting among others. Harry Fry's lightly raced Beat The Bat, though, could prove to be the pick of the early prices at around 14-1. He posted an excellent effort here as a novice in December 2023, made eye-catching late headway in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Newbury last time and looks certain to improve for the return to this trip. Cheltenham 3.20 A return to handicap conditions for the festival's cross-country event and Stumptown, a cosy winner over course and distance at the December meeting, looks a fair bet to follow up from an 8lb higher mark. Cheltenham 4.40 Dan Skelton has few peers when it comes to preparing a runner for a handicap at this meeting and Unexpected Party, successful off a 6lb lower mark last year, could well emulate the stable's Langer Dan, a dual Coral Cup winner, by returning to register a second successive win in a festival handicap. Huntingdon: 12.28 Early Morning Dew 12.58 Dark Mix 1.38 Not So Sobers 2.18 Imperial Jade 2.58 Greenways 3.38 Cloudy Wednesday 4.18 Naval Tribute. Cheltenham: 1.20 Final Demand 2.00 Ballyburn 2.40 Beat The Bat (nap) 3.20 Stumptown (nb) 4.00 Jonbon 4.40 Unexpected Party 5.20 Bambino Fever. Wolverhampton: 4.55 Rhythm N Hooves 5.30 Shamardia 6.00 Marhaba Ghaiyyath 6.30 Init Together 7.00 Kaaranah 7.30 Light Up Our Stars 8.00 Bungle Bay 8.30 Zooks. Newcastle: 5.05 Show No Fear 5.45 Too Much 6.15 Dc Cogent 6.45 Wondrous Ways 7.15 Broken Spear 7.45 Henery Hawk 8.15 Tasever. Cheltenham 5.20 Willie Mullins has a typically strong hand for the festival's Bumper as he looks for a record-extending 14th win, including warm favourite, Copacabana. Just one of the last eight started favourite, however, and unbeaten Bambino Fever, with Jody Townend taking the reins, is an interesting alternative at around 8-1 for a minor upset.
