Latest news with #TurnersNovices'Hurdle
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.'
RTÉ News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Punchestown round-up: Final Demand routs rivals
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. Paul Townend and Final Demand take the Grade 1 victory in the Champion Novice Hurdle. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 2, 2025 "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. "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. Dino Blue lived up to expectations to win the Mares Chase by some distance at Punchestown. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 2, 2025 "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." "Dinoblue looks to be getting better and better..." - Willie Mullins is looking forward to another year with the winner. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 2, 2025
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cheltenham Festival 2025 LIVE: Snow falls on Day 2 - latest updates, news, odds and betting tips
Cheltenham Festival 2025 - LIVE! The action continues at the Cheltenham Festival on day two, which has got off to a very cold start as snow came down at Prestbury Park. It was a thrilling first day to the Festival, with Golden Ace a surprise winner of the Champion Hurdle as Constitution Hill went down earlier and State Man fell at the last when victory appeared to be wrapped up. The premier two-mile chasers take centre stage today in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Jonbon is the odds-on favourite for the feature race, with Nicky Henderson's star looking to emulate former stable greats Altior and Sprinter Sacre in winning the race under Nico De Boinville, who has three times tasted victory in it. Dan Skelton's The New Lion will look to bring British success trends in the opener, the Turners Novices' Hurdle, while Ballyburn is a big favourite for Willie Mullins in the Brown Advisory Novices's Chase. The Cross Country Chase should serve up entertainment as ever, before the card comes to an end with the Champion Bumper. Follow all the action with Standard Sport's LIVE blog below! Day 2 card in full How to watch: ITV Queen Mother Champion Chase preview Latest weather forecast after snow Best bets for Day 2 10:35 , Matt Verri 13.20: Turners Novices' Hurdle 14.00: Brown Advisory Novices' Chase 14.40: Coral Cup Hurdle 15.20: Cross Country Steeple Chase 16.00: Champion Chase 16.40: Grand Annual Steeple Chase Challenge Cup 17.20: Champion Bumper 10:24 , Matt Verri Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of the second day of the Cheltenham Festival! It's got off to a very cold start, with snow falling at Prestbury Park this morning. That's expected to clear up by later ahead of another seven races, headlined by the Queen Mother Champion Chase. We'll have all the latest updates, previews and tips right here, before full coverage of the card.
The Independent
11-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Cheltenham Placepot Tips: Day Two Placepot Bets For £750,000 Prize Pool
After the thrills and spills of the opening day of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival, race fans are treated to another brilliant curtain raiser with an all-star cast assembled for the Turners Novices' Hurdle (1.20pm). The unbeaten Final Demand, imperious at the Dublin Racing Festival, tackles leading British novice The New Lion, himself yet to taste defeat in four starts, three over obstacles. Willie Mullins' Closutton base have always held Final Demand in high esteem, and he certainly vindicated the faith last time. He is a banker for the placepot, and his chief rival in the Cheltenham odds should also be included as insurance. At the time of writing, seven runners are listed on betting sites for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (2.00pm), all Irish trained, meaning there are just two places up for grabs. Ballyburn could well secure one of those spots, but in the off chance he doesn't stay as strongly in this as he has been doing over shorter trips, let's add Better Days Ahead and Gorgeous Tom as a precaution and hopefully we can double up. The Coral Cup (2.40pm) is notorious for providing shocks, but it will be a surprise if the progressive duo Be Aware or Impose Toi don't take a hand in the finish given the record of their respective handlers. If there is to be a shock, then Beckett Road could provide it given he looked an improved horse over two-and-a-half miles at Fairyhouse last month and he has already beaten the well-fancied Bunting. Stumptown is reported to be one of his stable's strongest fancies of the week in the Glenfarclass Cross Country Chase (3.20pm) and the course and distance winner could repeat his display here before Christmas when accounting for Mister Coffey and Busselton. The wheels will seriously have to come off for Jonbon not to place in the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (4.00pm). Although the nine-year-old has recorded better data away from Cheltenham, he is 8-8 with Nico de Boinville on board so he ought to take all the beating as he searches for an elusive first Festival success. Jazzy Matty, a former winner at the Festival when landing the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle under the much-missed Michael O'Sullivan two years ago, looks to have had the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase (4.40pm) as a target all season. As a lightly raced chaser with some experience of Cheltenham, he makes some appeal on horse racing betting sites and is added to the perm alongside the talented, if enigmatic, My Mate Mozzie who should relish the likelihood of a strong gallop. Last year's winner Unexpected Party is being brought to a peak by his shrewd handler and, although no horse has gone back-to-back in this race in more than 60 years, he should go close to rewriting history. Cheltenham Day Two Placepot Perm 1.20 1 Final Demand 10 The New Lion 2.00 1 Ballyburn 2 Better Days Ahead 4 Gorgeous Tom 2.40 11 Impose Toi 17 Be Aware 12 Beckett Rock 3.20 1 Stumptown 11 Mister Coffey 12 Busselton 4.00 4 Jonbon 4.40 3 My Mate Mozzie 7 Unexpected Party 15 Jazzy Matty 2x3x3x3x1x3 = 162 lines Responsible Gambling Remember to gamble responsibly. It's easy to get carried away during big betting events like the Cheltenham Festival, but it's vital bettors stick to a budget and no matter the circumstances, never chase your losses. When using gambling sites be aware that sports betting can be addictive so please take steps to remain in control of your time and budget. The same applies whether you're using new betting sites, slot sites, casino sites, casino apps, or any other gambling medium. It's particularly important not to get carried if you receive a casino bonus or any free bets, which are available in abundance before and during the Cheltenham Festival, but must be approached with caution. You can stay in control by making use of the responsible gambling tools offered, such as deposit limits, loss limits, self-exclusion and time-outs. You may also want to visit the following free organisations to discuss any issues with gambling you might be having:
Telegraph
11-03-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Cheltenham Festival day 2: Tips, odds, races and weather for Wednesday
After a dramatic, emotional opening day of the Cheltenham Festival, attention now turns to day two on which another Nicky Henderson star, Jonbon, will take centre stage in the Queen Mother Champions Chase. The superstar chaser has only been defeat three times in 20 starts under rules and arrives at Cheltenham in the midst of a superb season, that has seen him sweep up two Grade 1 wins already. He looks a tough nut to crack but as ever there is danger lurking at every corner. Marine Nationale and Energumene are both former festival winners, while last year's Champion Chase winner, Captain Guinness, returns to take his chance. Looking for the latest Cheltenham betting offers? Our comprehensive list contains all leading bookmakers. Cheltenham Festival day 2 tips 1.20: Turners Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) Marcus Armytage: Challow Hurdle winners have a poor record at Cheltenham but there's never been an easier winner of it that The New Lion and this horse can change that. Charlie Brooks: Final Demand. The fact that he was entered by Willie Mullins in the Supreme and the Albert Bartlett tells you he has an abundance of speed and stamina. 2.00: Brown Advisory Novices' Chase (Grade 1) Marcus Armytage: Ballyburn was last year's two and a half mile novice hurdle winner looks ready made for this step up in trip. Charlie Brooks: Ballyburn. His defeat by Sir Gino was no disgrace and he looked back in his comfort zone over a longer trip at Leopardstown. This is the right race for him. 2.40: Coral Cup (Grade 3) Marcus Armytage: Impose Toi is an the radar Henderson runner who was once too keen to handle this trip, now wants it. Charlie Brooks: Bunting. Paul Townend wasn't overly hard on him over half a mile shorter than this in his prep race at Clonmel, where he was a good second. 3.20: Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (Listed) Marcus Armytage: Escaria Ten seemed rejuvenated by his first crack at cross-country when a close fourth to Stumptown and should, at least, outrun his odds of 50-1. Charlie Brooks: Mister Coffey. He has run some great races in defeat, but every dog has his day and this could be his. 4.00: Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) Marcus Armytage: Jonbon is the preeminent two mile chaser, don't listen to the popular argument that he does not like Cheltenham. Charlie Brooks: Energumene. I don't think he likes Ascot much, and so has a chance of turning things around with the favourite on a track he much prefers. 4.40: Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Marcus Armytage: A faller at the second last a year ago, The King Of Prs beginning to put together a good profile for this race now. Charlie Brooks: Conyers Hill. This is a good race for a novice, as they aren't totally exposed, and I liked the way he battled and showed a turn of foot last time out at Down Royal. 5.20: Weatherbys Champion Bumper (Grade 1) Marcus Armytage: Bambino Fever was a wide - margin winner of two bumpers and point-to-point and Paul Townend's going let his sister win one isn't he? Charlie Brooks: Copacabana. I suspect Patrick had first choice of Willie Mullins'; that's good enough for me. Cheltenham Festival day 2 ground and weather After a dry day on Tuesday, the ground should remain good to soft on Wednesday but there is a touch more inclement weather forecast. Temperatures will drop close to freezing overnight before a morning of sleet and rain. Afternoon temperatures will get up to around 7C with a few spots of rain also forecast. It will be important to monitor what the weather does to the ground throughout the afternoon when it comes to betting purposes. Betting on Cheltenham? There's a lot of competition between bookmakers for customers during the festival and they will often run their best promotions of the year, especially earlier in the week. Take a look at these Cheltenham betting offers to find free bets to use throughout the week. How to watch Cheltenham Festival day 2 ITV will show the first six races of the day on ITV1 on free-to-air television and via its streaming platform ITVX. For full coverage of all seven races, you need a Racing TV subscription.
