Latest news with #WillieMullins-trained
The 42
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Majborough earns Willie Mullins a 200th win of season on home soil
MAJBOROUGH BOUNCED BACK from his Cheltenham Festival defeat with a facile victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown. 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. Advertisement 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. 'What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip.'
BBC News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Teahupoo & Majborough win at Punchestown Festival
Teahupoo won the Grade One Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown for the second year in a row on the third day of the Ewing rode the 5-4 favourite to a dominant victory for trainer Gordon Elliott, who collected his first win of the on Thursday, the Willie Mullins-trained Majborough triumphed in the Grade One Novice Mark Walsh and Majborough ran out front from the offset and won by 14 lengths over Only by Night as Mullins claimed his 200th win of the season in won the opening race of the day in the Handicap Hurdle, while Petit Tonnerre came out on top in the Handicap Chase and Busselton won the Cross Country Cup Du Reponet led home Doddiethegreat in a one-two for Nicky Henderson in the Handicap Hurdle, before Cottesloe Sunshine won the Novice Hurdle and Baron Noir claimed the final victory of the day in the Flat festival in Kildare continues on Friday, with the Champion Novice Hurdle and Champion Hurdle the two Grade One events on the schedule.
RTÉ News
01-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Majborough demolishes field in Novice Chase at Punchestown
Majborough bounced back from his Cheltenham Festival defeat with a facile victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown. 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. Majborough wins the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase with a bit to spare. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 1, 2025 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. "What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip." Cottesloe Sunshine completed on a double on the afternoon for the combo of trainer Joseph O'Brien and jockey JJ Slevin, taking the Mares Hurdle by six lenghts. Cottesloe Sunshine, with JJ Slevin on board, takes the Mares Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 1, 2025 They had earlier 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." Britain's newly-crowned champion jockey Sean Bowen was at his brilliant best as he steered Putapoundinthejar to victory in the Specialist Group Handicap Hurdle. 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. Battle Of Ridgeway 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. Jeriko Du Reponet storms to victory in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 1, 2025 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."
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Majborough makes amends with ease at Punchestown
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. 'What he did there you are looking at the Champion Chase, but he has enough pedigree to stay a trip.'
The 42
30-04-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Galopin Des Champs strolls to Punchestown Gold Cup
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. Paul Townend wins The Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup (Grade 1) on Galopin Des Champs. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Mullins said: 'He was back to his best. His jumping was fantastic, at his ease, and Paul was just full of confidence on him. Advertisement 'To win that race by 22 lengths is awesome. Paul said he wasn't taking 'no' for an answer at any stage, he was going to put them to the sword and he did. 'I thought he was more at home today. I was a little bit worried about the heat and the weather, I'd imagine the other trainers were too. 'You could see from the start he was enjoying himself, there was a spark in him from jumping off. 'He's a very good horse, he has to be one of the best chasers we've ever had.' On coming back to Punchestown, he added: 'Good horses deserve to run in good races and good races deserve to have the good horses, as do big meetings like Punchestown, there are none bigger at this stage of the season. 'Cheltenham was Cheltenham and we were beaten, but horses get beaten. At least he's come back and proved that he's a real good horse. 'There is always next year and he's only nine, coming 10. He's still young enough to go and have another go but we're talking about today, not last month, and we're happy to be here today. 'We're happy that the horse has come home from Cheltenham and done this. A lot of people don't bring their horses back from Cheltenham, but I think 'let's have a crack', as it's good racing and good for the sport.' On the winner's past Punchestown record, Mullins said: 'That doesn't matter. You've got to run the good horses in good races and never be afraid to be beaten, I'm not anyway.' Jodie Townend on Bambino Fever celebrates winning The Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I-H. Flat Race (Grade 1). Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO Earlier Bambino Fever confirmed herself as the standout performer in her division when running out an impressive winner of the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race. Surprisingly for a race of such stature, only six went to post, with Willie Mullins responsible for the eventual winner, ridden by Jody Townend, and Copacabana, the mount of Patrick Mullins. The five-year-old had already won at the Dublin Racing Festival and she followed up impressively under Townend in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper. Paul Townend excelled as Cheltenham winner Jasmin De Vaux edged out Aintree victor Honesty Policy in a thrilling finish to the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. A notoriously iffy jumper at the best of times, Jasmin De Vaux appeared to be coming to win the race before making a mistake at the final flight. Townend lost his right iron shortly after landing and rather than try and get that one back, he kicked his left one out. That enabled him to get into a position to ride the strongest finish possible as quickly as he could – and it was an inspired decision. Mark Walsh had charted the inside course on Gordon Elliott's Honesty Policy, who lost little in defeat, as Townend swept around the outside. It was Jasmin De Vaux (13-8 favourite), winner of last year's Champion Bumper at Cheltenham before this year's Albert Bartlett success, who had the greater speed on the flat, though, and won by half a length.
