Latest news with #Townend
Irish Examiner
02-06-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
O'Sullivan finishes with a flourish with Listowel double
Lombardstown trainer Eugene O'Sullivan left it late to make his mark on the final day of Listowel's three-day meeting, but made up for lost time with a fine double in the last two races, both owned by Jack Singleton. Bugs Moran contested the Beasley Engineering Hunters' Chase, and the eight-year-old benefited from a fine front-running ride by Mick Kenneally. A useful sort when with Noel Meade, he is lightly raced over fences and is just the type to excel in this sphere. 'He's a lovely horse to get,' said O'Sullivan. 'He's rated in the 130s over hurdles and I got him with the intention of running him in the Foxhunters but didn't have him qualified in time. 'Jumping is what it's all about, and Mick gave him a great ride. In Mallow, he made a mistake at the first, and in Killarney he made three or four mistakes, but it's just experience he needs. I'm not sure what we'll do with him yet, but I'd like to plan towards Cheltenham next year. He's not the fastest horse but he'll stay all day.' The final race of the three-day meeting was the Bryan MacMahon Bumper and Themanintheanorak made a winning track debut under a confident ride by the trainer's nephew, Alan O'Sullivan. Well-backed favourite Additional Time dropped out of contention racing down the back, leaving Angelo Dundee to trade short in running, but all the while Themanintheanorak crept into contention, and once hitting the front he won as he pleased. 'Delighted with that,' said O'Sullivan. 'He's another nice horse to have, and Alan gave him a great ride. He fell in two of his point-to-points but he's not a bad jumper, and he has plenty of scope and will improve away.' Paul Townend travelled to the meeting for two rides and also completed a double, both for Willie Mullins. In neither case was there much to concern connections, particularly with Blood Destiny, who earned a long overdue return to winning ways in the John J. Galvin Chase. At odds of 1-8, nothing but a Monday stroll was expected, and Townend ensured it was thus. In front from flag fall, he sent his mount clear down the back, and getting in close to the final fence was all that kept it interesting. 'He enjoyed it, and winning will do him the world of good,' said Townend. 'He handled the ground well enough and did what he was expected to do. The last was big when we were coming to it, just because we were getting it so easy. 'I don't know if he's going to stay going or if he'll be left off. He's not old and he has other career options, not just farming these races. He's a horse with good form, but he's just hard to win with.' La Note Verte was all the rage in the market for the Nora Canty Mares' Maiden Hurdle and the five-year-old, having her first run since winning a bumper at this meeting in 2024, also delivered for Mullins and Townend with little fuss. Available at 6-4 in the overnight market and sent off 4-7, she raced in a prominent position, went to the front early in the straight, and won readily despite patent signs of greenness. Townend said: 'She likes it around here, and it wasn't the deepest of races, but she jumped like a buck, and that's her asset. She'll have to improve on that to be competitive through the summer, but her jumping should bring her a long way.' The Tony Martin-trained Day Trader, who showed real promise on his hurdling debut but disappointed when turned out just six days later, got off the mark at the third time of asking when winning the John B. Keane Maiden Hurdle under Daniel King. The lightly-raced Patty O'Farrell has shown improved form since going handicapping and Peter Maher's mare made the breakthrough over timber when taking the Southern Waste Management Mares' Handicap Hurdle in grand style. Never far off the pace under a smart ride by Sean O'Keeffe, the seven-year-old led two out and didn't have to be fully extended to beat the staying-on Katherine. Stuntman Steve gained a much deserved second success over hurdles when taking the Join Racing TV With A Free Trial Now Handicap Hurdle. Having run well in handicaps on consecutive days at the Easter festival in Fairyhouse and again when fourth in a good race at Killarney, he was popular in the betting this time. The 11-4 favourite, which Seán Flanagan rode for Gavin Cromwell, was under pressure from a long way out but responded well and won a shade comfortably.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Superstar' horse eyes first Badminton Horse Trials win
The Olympic gold medallist pairing of Ballaghmor Class and Oliver Townend, could become the outright most successful British combination in eventing history at Badminton this weekend. The pair have already enjoyed a distinguished career, claiming four five-star titles and leading Team GB to an historic Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Games. The 18-year-old gelding has not been placed outside of the top five on his past four visits to Badminton, finishing runner-up twice. And you can watch highlights of the 2025 Badminton Horse Trials on Sunday, 11 May (BBC Two and iPlayer from 13:45 BST). Townend, who has had the horse he calls "Thomas" in his yard since a four-year-old, told BBC Sport: "There's no other way to describe Ballaghmor Class apart from being a part of the family. "He's very shy to start with but I think he's become quite aware that he's a superstar now. "When the wagon goes down the road to a competition and he's not in it, he's banging the stable door down. Thomas is what you'd call a professional, a proper competition horse." The "quirky" horse first gained attention in winning the Burghley Horse Trials on his debut at the level in 2017. He has since achieved success at Kentucky, Burghley again and Maryland last autumn. Townend, 42, has won nine five-star level events, including Badminton in 2009 on Flint Curtis. "For me to try to show the world how good he is, is my main job but, so far so good. By the time he finishes everybody will realise quite what a special horse we've seen," he added. Townend is also riding Ballaghmor Class' stablemate Cooley Rosalent in a bid to claim his second Badminton title and 10th five-star win. Paris Olympic champions Laura Collett, Ros Canter and Tom McEwen are amongst the challengers, alongside the reigning World Champion Yasmin Ingham.
Irish Examiner
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Townend picks up where he left off with Tipperary success
Crowned champion jockey for the seventh time at Punchestown last Saturday, Paul Townend made a perfect start to the new season when scoring on board his first mount of the 2025-2026 campaign, Gold Dancer, in the Hotel Minella Beginners Chase in Tipperary. The Gigginstown-owned, Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old, raced prominently, jumped soundly in the main, and, in the closing stages, saw off Le Coq Hardi by four lengths. 'He's been so disappointing, but had a run over fences,' said Townend. 'Chasing was always going to be his game. He makes lengths over his fences and it'll take a good novice to lie up with him. I'd say we'll keep going with him.' Townend was expected to complete a double for the Closutton team on You Oughta Know in the Ryans Cleaning beginners Chase. However, the 11-8 favourite blundered and unseated the champion jockey at the second fence. Victory in this event went to the 134-rated, Gordon Elliott-trained Western Fold, positively ridden by Danny Gilligan to put his experience to good use. The six-year-old, having his sixth run over fences, jumped impeccably and relished every yard of the longer trip, powering home eight lengths clear of Oscars Brother. Representing Elliott, Lisa O'Neill said: 'He had plenty of experience and his jumping improved as he went along. Danny gave him a lovely, positive ride and said he got the run of the race. It's great to get him on the scoreboard. And I''d say he'll keep going through the summer.' Edward O'Grady registered his first success since November when St Faz, successful on the Flat and over hurdles, opened his chasing account in the Botanica International Handicap Chase. Ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe, the 5-2 favourite took command at the second last and stayed on to beat One Last Tango by two and a quarter lengths. 'The horses have been running well without winning, so I'm very pleased this fellow has won,' commented the veteran trainer, 'He's a five-year-old, so might progress and he'll run in those novice handicaps through the summer.' The father and son combination of trainer Alex and amateur Luke Burke-Ott struck in the Join Racing TV Now With A Free Month Trial Handicap Chase when Inchidaly Copper recovered from a last fence blunder to outpoint the flattering In The Trenches by a neck. 'The main thing is to keep him fresh and he's only in six weeks, so we thought he'd need the run,' said the trainer, 'I'd say he trains himself and we had no real plan for him. The distance was shorter than ideal for him.' Another father/son team was on the mark in the Buy Tickets Online Novice Hunters Chase as The Rebel County, owned and trained by Garrett Ahern in Bartlemy, County Cork and giving his son Josh a first racecourse success, saw off favourite Cause For Comment and Keep On Dreaming. 'He loved that summer ground,' declared the winning rider. 'He was wicked keen with me and I kept wide for the best ground. I gave him a squeeze turning into the straight and away he went.' The only four-year-old in the field, Chosen Comrade, described by her trainer Peter Fahey as 'not the biggest, but a nice staying filly', made an impressive debut in the mares' bumper, beating favourite Katie's Melody comfortably, and proving another winner for in-form John Gleeson. And, successful with I'm Slippy at Fairyhouse last month, Robert Tyner and Josh Williamson teamed-up again to take the geldings' bumper with six-year-old Quakerstown scorer Stanners Glen.
Irish Times
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Irish National Hunt season finishes at Punchestown as Willie Mullins claims 19th trainers' title
Ireland's 2024-25 National Hunt season finishes at Punchestown on Saturday with no doubt about the sport's balance of power and how it's dictated by Willie Mullins 's overwhelming dominance. Mullins will officially be crowned champion trainer in this country for the 19th time. For the second year in a row, he is top of the pile here and in Britain. That's after last weekend's dramatic conclusion to the British campaign when Dan Skelton was overhauled on the final day. It was the second time for Skelton to come close. But Gordon Elliott 's unfortunate lot is to finish runner-up to Mullins in the Irish trainer's championship for a 13th time. More than €4 million in prize money is once again not enough to dethrone his great rival. At the end of a season highlighted by his son Patrick guiding Nick Rockett to Aintree Grand National glory last month, this week Mullins has reached a double century of individual winners and almost €5.5 million in prize money in Ireland. READ MORE Patrick Mullins, closing in on 900 career winners, is champion amateur for a 17th time. Paul Townend is champion jockey for a seventh time, having lost out to Jack Kennedy on the final day a year ago. Townend's sister, Jody, is top lady rider again while for a 22nd season, JP McManus is champion owner. Mullins's supremacy is underlined once more on Saturday when he saddles nine of the dozen runners in the Ballymore Champion Four-Year-Old-Hurdle. They include Poniros, who made a stunning 100-1 debut over jumps in the Triumph at Cheltenham. Townend has opted for the former high-class Flat operator this time who again comes up against the Triumph runner-up Lulamba. Despite defeat, Nicky Henderson's runner emerged from the Triumph with his reputation enhanced. Still raw, he shaped as perhaps the most talented horse in the race, looking the winner until Poniros pounced late, leaving him little time to react. On official ratings, Saturday's other Grade One, the SBK Mares Hurdle, should be something of a formality for Brighterdaysahead. Champion Hurdle hopes were entirely valid for Elliott's star after a monster Christmas defeat of State Man. That she spectacularly failed to fire at Cheltenham was a big let-down and her performance will be keenly examined now. 'She hasn't done an awful lot since Cheltenham, but Gordon is happy with her and we hope she'll be lucky,' said Gigginstown Stud's Eddie O'Leary. 'She wasn't right after Cheltenham, that was wasn't her at all, so hopefully we'll see a better effort here.' Saturday's other six-figure pot is the Listed hurdle, where a pair of British hopes will try to maintain success here in handicaps this week. The Aintree winner Wellington Arch lines up after his defeat of Kopeck De Mee, while the Henderson team pitches in the topweight Impose Toi. If the latter can repeat his form behind Jimmy Du Seuil in Cheltenham's Coral Cup, he will be no back number. Sunday's domestic action is on the Flat at Sligo, where Joseph O'Brien's Angelo Pio could step up significantly from his run at Navan last month in the concluding handicap.
The Irish Sun
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Templegate tips in-form Willie Mullins to strike again on day three of Punchestown Festival
THE Flat is fully underway in Britain - but there is one more week of star-studded action in Ireland. Here, Templegate goes through the Grade 1s on day three of the Punchestown Festival, running through the big chances and revealing his tip for each contest. 1 Majborough can strike at Punchestown Back a horse simply by clicking their odds below. 5.25 MAJBOROUGH can make amends for his mishap in the Arkle but taking this. He did well to stand up after a crashing error at the second last and he was less than a length down at the line. He's had 51 days to recover from that and hopefully he'll jump better now he has three chases under his belt. He's a proven Grade 1 performer who has more to come and Willie Mullins has won the past NINE runnings of this. Only By Night is the obvious choice for the forecast spot after finishing a nose ahead of the tip last time. That was a major step forward and she could improve again with her 7lb mares' allowance coming in handy. Rubaud is best of the rest and he was short of this level at Aintree last time. 6.00 HIDDENVALLEY LAKE can get the better of ownermate Teahupoo who would like the ground a fair bit softer. The top was impressive when winning the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle last time with a fair bit left in the tank. He has plenty of stamina and won't mind the decent conditions. Most read in Horse Racing Teahupoo is still a live contender after his second to Bob Olinger in the Stayers' at Cheltenham. He won this last year so there are no trip or track issues. Asterion Forlonge was second in the past two runnings of this and is back over hurdles after making errors over fences at Cork last time. He can make the frame again for Mullins and Townend. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
