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RTÉ News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Lulamba lands Ballymore Hurdle for Nicky Henderson at Punchestown
Lulamba turned the tables on his Cheltenham Festival conqueror Poniros to land the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown. So impressive on his British debut at Ascot, Nicky Henderson's Lulamba looked set to follow up in the Triumph Hurdle after getting the better of a protracted battle with East India Dock. But both were caught late by the Willie Mullins-trained 100-1 shot Poniros, who was making his hurdling debut. Lulamba wins the Grade 1 Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) May 3, 2025 Lulamba was an 11-10 favourite to exact his revenge on Irish soil and give Henderson and jockey James Bowen a welcome boost following Constitution Hill's disappointing run in the Boodles Champion Hurdle just over 24 hours earlier - and ultimately did so in good style. Always close to the pace, Lulamba led Poniros into the home straight and finished strongly from the final flight to win the rematch by four lengths, with Hello Neighbour a close-up third. Lulamba was providing owners Joe and Marie Donnelly with their second Grade One winner of the week following State Man's victory over Constitution Hill on Friday. Henderson said: "These are big days, it's been a big week and a great week for the Donnelly family. Two winners like that is pretty special. "We tried to get in the way yesterday, it was a bitter pill, but well done them. Now we've done it together." He added: "This is a fantastic place, we love it. This is a proper horse for another day. He deserves it as much as everybody. "I wouldn't say he was unlucky not to win in Cheltenham, he couldn't do anything about it at the time and we got a bit of revenge there. "He's a lovely horse for the future, you wouldn't be surprised if he didn't come back over fences next year. I don't know, it's early days and it's only the fourth race of his life. "He's a big baby to be doing juvenile hurdles against Flat horses, so fair credit to him."
RTÉ News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Galopin Des Champs comes good to claim Gold Cup glory
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. Galopin Des Champs finally lands the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup with an impressive race from start to finish. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 30, 2025 Mullins said: "He was back to his best. His jumping was fantastic, at his ease, and Paul was just full of confidence on him. "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 had a look at the road, or gate or something. Paul said to me when he was able to do that, he felt that he was only playing in front. "When he got to the top of the hill, he said 'let's go a little faster and put them under more pressure'. He felt when he had time to do that sort of thing, he was really going at his ease. "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. A delighted Paul Townend talks through the race as Galopin Des Champs landed othe Gold Cup in style. #rteracing 📺 Watch: @rte2 & @rteplayer 📱 Results: — RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 30, 2025 "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." Watch the Punchestown Festival from Tuesday to Saturday with RTÉ Sport. Coverage begins at 3.30pm for first three days and on Friday at 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Watch on Saturday from 3pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
