Nico de Boinville was taken to hospital for further assessment following a fall at Plumpton on Monday.
De Boinville was aboard 3-1 favourite As The Fella Says for Nicky Henderson in the fourth race on the card, the Southern Cranes Novices’ Handicap Hurdle, when falling at the first.
The hurdle was bypassed subsequently, with De Boinville treated on the track before being taken to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.
De Boinville – who was reported by Sky Sports Racing to be conscious – is due to have a big end to the season, with Jonbon set to run at Sandown on Saturday and the potential of Constitution Hill starring at next month’s Punchestown Festival.
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Maxxum gave weight away to each of his rivals as he made all the running to win the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Gordon Elliott’s eight-year-old was carrying a penalty for winning the Boyne Hurdle at Navan, but had been pulled up last time out in the Coral Cup at Cheltenham.
Back in graded company rather than a big-field handicap, he was able to dominate under Danny Gilligan.
Maxxum (14-1) looked like he may be a sitting duck at the top of the straight with Eagle Fang, Spread Boss Ted, Gala Marceau and Feet Of A Dancer all on his tail.
But Gilligan had saved plenty and kicked on again approaching the final flight, holding off the favourite Gala Marceau by three-quarters of a length.
“Danny gave the horse a beautiful ride,” said Elliott.
“He missed the third-last, but after that it was poetry in motion. He’s a lovely, quiet rider and he suits this horse very well.
“In fairness, it just didn’t happen (in Coral Cup), he was slow away at the start in Cheltenham. He was good here today.
“Where we go with him, I don’t know. He could be a horse to go to France, he’s nearly better in a smaller field. We’ll have a look and see.
“He’s a good horse and he always wins on the big day.”
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Military Order showed no signs of rustiness after over a year on the sidelines when making short work of his rivals in the Listed-class Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Magnolia Stakes at Kempton.
The Charlie Appleby-trained five-year-old was sent off as second-favourite for the 2023 Derby after winning the Lingfield Derby Trial, but trailed home last of 14 behind Auguste Rodin.
After being gelded, he returned to form when landing last year’s Winter Derby but was then beaten again in the Prix d’Harcourt in early April and had not been seen in action since.
Despite that absence, William Buick enjoyed a smooth ride on Military Order in this 10-furlong contest, turning into the straight in a midfield position but then storming through to hit the front at the furlong pole before stretching clear to score by two and a quarter lengths at 11-2.
Military Order is a full-brother to the stable’s 2021 Epsom hero Adayar, and Buick told ITV Racing: “He’s a big horse and he’s probably taken a bit of time to come into his own. It’s the first time today I’ve got on him for a while and he feels like a much stronger version of himself and I think he’ll improve for that today.
“It’s the sharpest track he’ll have been round to date, I know he went round Epsom and he didn’t have too good a time, but I think he did really well there today.
“When you get in a position on the inside of the track here, it can be tricky but he travelled supremely well and he picked up nicely.
“He travelled beautifully throughout the race, he’s got a high cruising speed and he kicked off it, so that was a good performance and I think he should build on it.
“I’m sure there’s a good programme for him over here, a mile and a quarter and a mile-and-a-half races, so hopefully he can have an effective season.”
Buick also provided an update on Godolphin’s Betfred 1000 Guineas favourite Desert Flower, who impressed in a racecourse gallop at Newmarket last week.
He added: “She was faultless last year, very impressive in the Fillies’ Mile, and she looks to have wintered very well, so everything she has done so far has been faultless and with just under two weeks to go, it’s fingers crossed.”
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Blue Lemons bounced back from a disappointing run in the Triumph Hurdle to record a comfortable success in the O’Driscoll’s Irish Whiskey Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
Trained by Richard Hannon on the level where he reached a fairly high rating, the son of Blue Point looked promising when winning on his hurdling debut at Gowran.
Down to Grade Two company after Cheltenham, he briefly looked in trouble before sweeping to the front under Paul Townend to win by seven lengths from fellow 2-1 joint-favourite Its Bilbo.
Assistant trainer David Casey said: “It was obviously a big step down from the Triumph. Paul said they went quick and it suited the way he rode him.
“He had that bit of Flat pace anyway and Paul said that suited him because they went quick and they got a little bit tired in front. He was able to use his pace at the end, which is good.
“He’s in Punchestown and he’ll probably run, I suppose. He may as well at this stage.
“Not too many Blue Point’s jump hurdles! We’ll see where he can end up and he always has the option of going back on the Flat as well during the summer.”
Mullins had already won the Farmhouse Foods Novice Handicap Hurdle with the Mark Walsh-ridden Last Kingdom (10-1), who looked a long way ahead of his mark.
Casey said: “He might make into a Lartigue horse (Listowel) down the line, he’s only four. There’s no real long-term plan with him.”
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Sandown is set to benefit once more from the trainers’ title going down to the final day, with superstar mare Lossiemouth among a host of equine talent entered by Willie Mullins on Saturday.
Victorious at both Cheltenham and Aintree this year, Lossiemouth is entered in the £80,000 bet365 Select Hurdle – as is the ‘other’ Lossiemouth, a 10-year-old gelding trained by Polly Gundry.
In the feature bet365 Gold Cup – which is worth just short of £100,000 to the winner – Mullins has confirmed 15 of his 17 entries.
Several of his Aintree Grand National team remain in the mix, including Grangeclare West, who heads the weights, and last year’s winner Minella Cocooner. His Scottish national hero Captain Cody is a possible, although he may require a new jockey as Paul Nicholls has left in Threeunderthrufive and could claim Harry Cobden.
Dan Skelton’s contenders are Sail Away, Holy Joe Smoke and Theformismighty, but all three would be a long way out of the weights if Grangeclare West runs.
Skelton is more strongly represented in the bet365 Celebration Chase, with six in contention against Jonbon.
Nicky Henderson’s Jonbon may have most to fear from Mullins, however, who can choose from Energumene, Gaelic Warrior, Il Etait Temps and Impaire Et Passe.
Captain Guinness and Edwardstone are also among 17 entries.
There are 19 in the bet365 Oaksey Chase, with Mullins responsible for seven and Skelton five.
El Fabiolo, Blue Lord, Appreciate It, Gaelic Warrior, Gentleman De Me, Il Etait Temps and Classic Getaway are possibles for Mullins.
Pic d’Orhy and Hitman could represent Nicholls.
Mullins’ assistant, David Casey, said running plans would be confirmed much later in the week.
When asked if Lossiemouth or Gaelic Warrior will run at Sandown, Casey said: “I’ve no idea at this stage. Give me a shout at 9.55 on Thursday when the decs are out!
“They are all fine, they are all grand and they are all being prepared for Punchestown anyway.
“Who knows (who will win), Dan (Skelton) is going to have a lot of runners this week in races we don’t have runners in, so we will see by Thursday what way it is standing and then make a plan.
“Obviously, we were probably in front last year coming out of Aintree. We are behind this year, so it is a little bit harder.
“If it happens, great, and if it doesn’t, sure we gave it a try.”
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Constitution Hill faces a “crucial” gallop which will decide whether he runs at the Punchestown Festival on May 2 or not.
Nicky Henderson believes it will be easy to tell if the former champion hurdler – who enjoyed himself at the Lambourn Open Day on Good Friday – is in top shape after his falls at Cheltenham and Aintree.
“We had a parade of the old champs in the afternoon, Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Coneygree and I actually took Constitution Hill with them,” said Henderson, speaking on Nick Luck’s daily podcast on Monday.
“We were just trying to say ‘go and have a day out, walk round for 10 minutes and come home without getting too battered’, which he has been the last twice. It was a mental game really, I can’t say it made any difference and he just walked round like he does.
“I think he enjoyed the day, he went out yesterday and again this morning, he’s fresh and we’ve got to start making decisions shortly.
“I’m thinking he’s got to have a school and then one piece of work. That piece of work will determine whether we do or we don’t (go to Punchestown), it’s very simple.
“Nico (de Boinville) will have one ride on him, one piece of work and that will tell us. If he’s 100 per cent he will go and if he is 98 (per cent) he won’t, but we’re thinking he’s good.
“I don’t think we need to rethink anything in the autumn, we just start again. There’s only so many things you can do, we’ve had lots of advice needless to say, but he seems very bright at this particular moment.
“That gallop is going to be crucial and everything hinges on that. I hope we’ll be able to (go), so fingers crossed.”
Meanwhile, Henderson could have a part to play in the Dan Skelton and Willie Mullins trainers’ title battle, with Jonbon a likely favourite in the £175,000 bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown on Saturday.
“Paddy (Murphy) is very happy with Jonbon, he’ll jump a fence tomorrow which tells him a race is coming,” said Henderson.
“He’s got lost in the Mullins and Skelton thing, but Dan asks every day ‘how’s Jonbon’ as he could hold the key with all that prize-money, Dan is very keen on Jonbon!
“I think it’s great for the game, it’s given National Hunt racing a big kick at the end of the season. Both have got their fans and supporters and everybody is watching all these races, the novice hurdles worth five grand that Dan can win are becoming important.
“We don’t need to export everything, the UK budget has already been moved to Ireland! We’re all very good mates, but Dan deserves to have one.”
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Raz De Maree’s toughness and tenacity prevails in his 20th year as he remains the treasured apple of former groom Jenny Murphy’s eye.
The chestnut became part of the furniture at Gavin Cromwell’s Navan yard, spending his teenage years there after several seasons at the stables of Dessie and later Sandra Hughes.
His forte was staying handicap chases and his CV includes two wins in the Cork Grand National, a victory in the Munster National, a second-placed run in the Midlands Grand National and both a second and a first in the Welsh Grand National.
Congratulations to @james_bowen_ on winning January's Ride Of The Month for this brilliant effort aboard Raz De Maree to become the youngest jockey to win the Welsh Grand National… pic.twitter.com/c5wOOk5GQu
He also made it round twice in the Grand National itself, placing eighth in 2014 and 10th in 2018, but it was his Chepstow triumph that remains an unforgettable memory for his groom and now owner Murphy.
“I worked for Gavin for a very long time as head racing girl and Raz was there, he’d have been the oldest horse on the yard for a good while and I like taking the older horses under my wing,” she said.
“I’m a long time in racing and I’ve led up some good winners, but that was the best day’s racing of my life.
“People say Cheltenham this, Aintree that, but I’ve led up winners there and it wouldn’t even touch it.”
Such was Murphy’s attachment to the gelding that she was the obvious person to care for him in his retirement, but the arrangement with his owner fell through and it took her four years to be reunited with Raz De Maree.
Raz De Maree and Jenny Murphy (Jenny Murphy)
“He did another season and then the owner said I could have him, but it was a complicated situation and in the end it took me four years to find him,” she said.
“I started the usual ‘racehorse to riding horse’ route with him, he was so easy to retrain. We call him a pretty little pony because he’s only 15.1 (hands high).
“The first year we went to Dublin (Horse Show) and I’d told him ‘it took me four years to find you, we’re going to do everything we were meant to do together’.
“We took home no rosettes but I might as well have won the class with the way I felt. We’ve also taken him over to Chepstow to parade and that was lovely. It was him and Native River, the two rivals, and I have to say the Welsh crowd really recognised them and loved seeing them.”
Now 20 years old and still going strong, Raz De Maree has another season of showing ahead of him as he continues to be worth every moment of Murphy’s wait to resume the priceless, life-affirming bond with her horse of a lifetime.
#OnThisDay in 2018, Raz De Maree became the oldest-ever winner of a Welsh National! 🏆
“He’s 20 now, I won’t be riding him this year as I’m due for an operation but the daughter of a friend, who is 16, is going to take the ride,” she said.
“She’s going to crack on and do Dublin, and he’s parading at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday at the Irish Grand National meeting.
“I love him. You know that once-in-a-lifetime horse? He’s that for me. There’s one or two that catch your heart over the years but with this lad…I can’t explain it.
“There was a time at Gavin’s when I wasn’t too well and I had a picture of Raz next to my hospital bed and I’d look at it and say ‘right, buddy, I’m going to get well so we can go to Chepstow again’.
“He was the reason I got out of bed some mornings, to be honest he is probably the reason I’m still here. It’s not just that he’s my favourite horse, it goes a lot deeper than that.”
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I’m Slippy showed plenty of tenacity to win the Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse.
Trained by Robert Tyner and ridden by Josh Williamson, I’m Slippy was sent off a 9-1 chance on his racecourse bow and he travelled well throughout the valuable two-mile affair.
Look Me had first run on him up the inside rail, but I’m Slippy responded to his rider’s urging to emerge a half-length victor, with Early Dawning a further length and a quarter back in third.
Tyner said: “He’s never disappointed me since I put my hand on him. He’s a tall, athletic horse.
“I was concerned was he too nice to be a really good horse. He’s had a beautiful temperament from the word go.
“Josh gave him a nice ride. He’ll have a holiday now and he jumps well.”
Jonathan Burke steered Philip Dempsey’s Hillsdale to victory in the BoyleSports, Proud Sponsors Since 2014 Novice Handicap Chase.
The leading rider is based in Britain as stable jockey to Fergal O’Brien, but showcased his riding ability back on home soil with a near all-the-way success aboard 6-1 shot Hillsdale in this €50,000 Listed event.
Dempsey said: “He’s quirky but talented and switching back to two miles seemed to help. That trip will probably suit him for now.
“He’s free and wants to get on with things. He was a very difficult young horse and very hard to break or do anything with. It’s taken him a long time to learn about racing. He’s not the easiest to ride.
“We’ll look at Punchestown as it’s the last throw of the dice, but it may come a bit quick.”
Grann’s Boy was a 33-1 winner of the Cawley Furniture Novice Handicap Hurdle for Harry Rogers and Darragh O’Keeffe, narrowly denying the 7-2 favourite Sticwiththeprocess by a short head.
“I thought he’d run well but I thought the ground was against him. Heavy ground doesn’t really suit him, but it didn’t look that bad and Darragh was very good on him,” said Rogers.
Ted and Mark Walsh teamed up to claim top honours in the Sherry Fitzgerald Sherry Rated Novice Chase with 7-2 chance Buachaillbocht, while the Ryan’s Cleaning Maiden Hurdle went to the Tom Cooper-trained Icare d’Aubrelle (100-30), with Jordan Gainford the winning rider.
Cooper said: “He’s a horse with a lot of problems but got it together today. He won his bumper easily in Naas and could have been top drawer but for leg trouble.
“His legs are good now and he’s crying out for a fence. We’ll put him away now and then go chasing.”
Pat Fahy’s stable stalwart Drop The Anchor was a 12-1 winner of the Paddy Kehoe Suspended Ceilings Handicap Hurdle under 7lb claimer Harry Sexton.
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Absurde helped Willie Mullins reduce Dan Skelton’s lead in the trainers’ championship to £27,877 when leading home a one-two for the defending champion in the BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on Sunday.
Absurde was one of four contenders for Mullins in the £75,000 feature and having started the day £69,357 adrift of Skelton, the Closutton handler clawed back £58,080 in one hit after Daddy Long Legs (second) and Sir Gerhard (sixth) both picked up a slice of the prize-fund alongside the 9-4 winning favourite.
Mr Escobar added £7,290 when second in the concluding Phoenix Cycles Remember Ray Prior Handicap Hurdle to further eat into Skelton’s advantage, with Mullins finishing the day on £3,208,180 and Coral making the Irishman 1-4 to lift the UK champion trainer trophy for the second time at Sandown next Saturday.
Absurde is a Cheltenham Festival winner in the past (Mike Egerton/PA)
However, Mullins – who also enjoyed a Grade One double at Fairyhouse and a Cork treble – is refusing to get carried away.
Speaking at Fairyhouse, he said: “I’m just taking every race as it comes. It’s going to be hard fought, and Dan seems to have the upper hand now unless things really go our way.
“We’ve had a lot of luck in England and it’s hard to think we’ll keep having more.
“I just saw the end of the race (at Plumpton) so it looked good. Absurde looked very good and Nico (de Boinville) looked to be going very well on Daddy Long Legs.”
Absurde, who has previously won the Ebor and County Hurdle and twice run with credit in the Melbourne Cup, was expertly steered by Harry Cobden, who rode Captain Cody to a key Scottish National success for Mullins last week.
A 1-2 for @WillieMullinsNH in the BetGoodwin Sussex Champion Hurdle!
Cobden said: “He’s had a tendency to be keen in the past, but we went nice and fast early so I didn’t have any problems there and he settled well and jumped brilliantly.
“I thought Harry Skelton (on Knickerbockerglory) would take me into the race and I followed him everywhere, winged the third-last and then it was just a case of keeping a leg each side coming up the straight.
“Ruby Walsh, David Casey and Willie all said to have just one go at the last and when you are on a horse with as much class as him, it is easy.”
Skelton had taken his lead past £75,000 prior to the afternoon’s feature after Lady Kluck finished third in the opening ExTech Cloud Computing Mares’ Maiden Hurdle and Major Fortune (third) and Hidden Heroics (fourth) both contributed to the pot in the BetGoodwin Master Trainer Chris Gordon Handicap Chase.
Trainer Dan Skelton is refusing to lie down (Steve Welsh/PA)
Knickerbockerglory (fourth) and She’s A Saint (fifth) limited the damage of Absurde’s victory when picking up minor money behind the winner in the main event, while 5-2 favourite Shakeyatailfeather’s game victory in the BetGoodwin Top UK Online Bookie Handicap Chase saw Skelton to a total of £3,236,057.
“We’ve got a lot of entries over the coming week, but I’m sure it will come down to Sandown and I’ve said that the whole way through,” Skelton told Sky Sports Racing.
“You will see us at all the meetings this week and I’m not giving up. I’ve got too many supporters who are wanting us to do this and want us to do this as much as we do.
“So I’m not giving up and if we go and get kicked around the park on Saturday because we haven’t got the right team, then so be it. We’ll have led every day until the last day of the season.
“I’m actually enjoying it all as last year we got caught but never really felt like we could win, but this year we have a sporting chance. We’re not the favourites but we’ve a lot of support and it feels fun. It’s a privilege to be the competitor.
Dan Skelton is drawing inspiration from his father Nick Skelton’s Olympic heroics (Steve Paston/PA)
“At the end of the day we have to enjoy it as we’ve put so much into the season and had an unbelievable year and hopefully that is enough.”
Skelton is also drawing inspiration from his father Nick’s long wait for an Olympic showjumping gold medal and Rory McIlroy’s recent Masters triumph, adding: “I remember going to the Athens Olympics with Dad convinced he was going to win and he went into the last round leading, went and had three down and didn’t get a medal.
“The disappointment of that just reminds me things can be disappointing then come right afterwards.
“I know it’s on a different level, but look how long it took Rory McIlroy to win a Masters. I was watching that last weekend thinking ‘you know what, sometimes it is not meant to be easy’ and hopefully we will get our time one day.”
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Aurora Vega bounced back from Cheltenham Festival disappointment to lift the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
A daughter of Walk In The Park out of the six-time Cheltenham heroine Quevega, the Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old upheld family honour by winning six of her first nine starts under rules, including a Grade Three success at Fairyhouse in late January.
She failed to fire in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle in the Cotswolds last month, but Paul Townend kept the faith on her return to home soil and was duly rewarded with a Grade One victory.
Mullins said: “Like her mother she’s maturing with age. The family just seems to get better with age, and it looks like she’ll stay further.
“Quevega had a big heart and she’s breeding mares with a big heart as well.”
Aurora Vega disputed the lead from the flag-fall and went clear of her rivals heading out onto the second circuit.
She got close to the second-last and particularly the last hurdle, giving Fergal O’Brien’s British raider That’ll Do Moss a sniff of victory, but Aurora Vega found plenty for pressure on the run-in to emerge victorious by two and a quarter lengths.
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates after riding Aurora Vega to victory (Evan Treacy/PA)
Mullins, landing this prize for the fourth year in succession and a ninth time overall, added: “I was particularly pleased with the ride Paul gave her – he just stayed out wide and kept out of trouble.
“She had that one little mishap at the last, but other than that I think she jumped well and she looks like she’s just getting better with age.
“It’s unlikely she’ll run again this season, but we’ll see what there is in Punchestown for her. I’m not looking to run her again.”
Mister Policeman provided Willie Mullins with a fourth straight victory in the Michael O’Sullivan Chase at Cork.
Melon, Bachasson and the returning Asterion Forlonge had given the champion trainer a recent hat-trick in the Grade Three contest, with the latter a 4-5 favourite to successfully defend his crown.
Asterion Forlonge set out to make the running and was still in a narrow lead when blundering at the penultimate fence and catapulting Sean O’Keeffe out of the saddle, leaving his stablemate Mister Policeman and Fil Dor to fight it out.
Fil Dor, turning out just a fortnight after being pulled up in the Grand National at Aintree, had pressed Asterion Forlonge for much of the way though and having been ridden with a little more restraint by J J Slevin, 7-2 chance Mister Policeman had more to give late on, with seven lengths separating the pair at the line.
Slevin, winning in the famous colours of Rich and Susannah Ricci for the first time, said: “It is nice to win a race named in memory of Michael O’Sullivan and Janna (Walsh), who led Mister Policeman up, is Michael’s cousin and this horse was his first winner for Willie.
“Willie said to ride him for speed as he thought he was a quick horse, so I had one go at them and he just came alive. It was only a matter of getting over the last fence and he was very impressive. The minute I got my leg into him, it was all over.
“He obviously won his first few races quite well but was pulled up in a Galway Plate and at Punchestown last year, but might be back on track now.
“This is my first ride in these colours and it is great to be asked to ride for these people. Any time jockeys put on those colours you have a chance and fair play to Closutton for putting me up.”
Mullins, speaking from Fairyhouse, said: “Two years ago at the same race meeting Michael rode Mister Policeman to win a hurdle which was his first winner for us, which is uncanny as the same horse wins the race named after him.
“We all know how good Michael could have been and was going to be.”
Trainer Andrew Slattery is considering a step up to Grade One level for Smooth Tom (100-30) following his comprehensive victory in the Bar One Racing Hurdle.
“He was placed in the Irish Lincolnshire twice and the reason that race suits is that he goes on any ground, but he wouldn’t have any chance over a mile on good ground,” said Slattery.
“I had a mad idea of entering him in the Chester Cup (but didn’t). Padraig (O’Rourke, owner) is from the Punchestown area so we could also supplement him for the Champion Hurdle there. We’ll see what happens but if there’s only five runners, why not?
“I was thinking of the Galway Hurdle for him last year but I have his sister Royal Hollow for that. That’s her aim but we could run both – they are grand horses to have.”
Former Stayers’ Hurdle hero Lisnagar Oscar retains ability and character in abundance as he is cherished in his post-racing home.
The bay’s finest moment on a racecourse was a career-defining triumph in the three-mile Grade One at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, a win that came at odds of 50-1 and would prove to be his last despite two more seasons in training with Rebecca Curtis.
His path to his new owner was first trodden by his former stablemate Clancy’s Cross, another son of Oscar who had been trained by Curtis before a second career in Staffordshire with Jenny Bennett.
Bennett followed Oscar’s offspring after her success with Clancy’s Cross, and was particularly fond of Lisnagar Oscar having watched his exploits on the track before he became hers as the Christmas present of dreams in 2022.
“I knew Rebecca had a few in training by Oscar and he was one of my favourite horses, him and Paisley Park, I’d followed them both throughout their careers and loved them,” said Bennett.
Lisnagar Oscar picking up a red rosette in the show ring (Jenny Bennett)
“I went off down to Pembrokeshire and as soon as I saw Oscar I knew he was the one, I tried him and said I’d have him.”
Lisnagar Oscar took to retraining and his new life out of racing immediately, and was an instant success in showjumping and Retraining of Racehorses classes before a serious tendon injury threatened to end his new career and perhaps even his life.
The prognosis was not encouraging and the possibility of him being euthanised was even raised, but as the Bennett family live on a farm and have ample room for Lisnagar Oscar to convalesce, he was put out to pasture in the hope that time would heal him.
“In January and February we just lightly hacked to give him down time, then in March we started to do little bits with him and in April he went to his first competition,” Bennett said.
“He won British Showjumping classes, he won RoR classes, he qualified for the London International Horse show as a working show horse but then he did his tendon, that was a crash down.
Lisnagar Oscar and Jenny Bennett (Jenny Bennett)
“The vet said he was unlikely to return to work and in most cases he would have been put to sleep, but because we’re on a farm at home they suggested we chuck him out in the field for however long it takes until he’s sound again.
“We wanted to give him a chance so that’s what we did, and in June 2023 I started hacking him again because he was sound and he’d got to the point where he was unbearable!
“If you went to fetch one of the others he’d try and sneak in with them, we knew he needed to do something.
“He was turned out with the cows and he would just annoy my dad, following him up and down all day and he couldn’t even shoo him off.
“He’ll walk in anywhere you leave the door open, he was in the parlour once because someone had left the gate open and he’d just followed them through. He doesn’t care, so unflappable and he’s got so much personality.”
Fully recovered and now in his 12th year, Lisnagar Oscar has a hit the ground running with plenty of showjumping success already this year and some exciting plans on the horizon.
Lisnagar Oscar with connections at Cheltenham (Tim Goode/PA)
“He takes everything in his stride, he’s already got five British Showjumping wins under his belt this year and he’ll be aimed at the Bronze League Final that is at Horse of the Year Show, he’ll also do the RoR league this year,” said Bennett.
“Our family friend’s daughter, who is 15 and a total novice having come through a riding school, she’s going to ride him at our local county show at the end of May – he’ll do all that for me and then he’s as quiet as anything for her.”
Lisnagar Oscar clearly has the heart to go with his ability and is no less treasured by his new owner and his former trainer than he was in his glory days spent striding up the hill at Cheltenham.
“I don’t know how he was a successful racehorse, he’s so laid back! The bigger the show, the more chilled he is,” Bennett said.
“He’s an absolute angel, he’s so easy to do. My mum always gives him carrots and if he sees her, he’ll coming trotting over and whinnying.
“He’s very friendly and there’s not a single thing bad about him. He’s a little horse with a big heart, that’s the best way to describe him.
“Rebecca still messages me now to see that he’s doing well, she really does care what happens to them after racing.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/f84037cd-cbe5-4504-b741-05452a133fce.jpg9731946Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-04-20 15:08:132025-04-20 15:08:13Lisnagar Oscar continues to post winning performances
Spindleberry maintained her unbeaten record over fences to provide Willie Mullins with a record sixth victory in the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse.
The champion trainer saddled three runners in the Grade One feature, although that number was soon reduced by one after the early pacesetter Ile Atlantique unseated his son Patrick at the third fence.
His exit left his stablemate and 7-4 favourite Champ Kiely in front and he quickly built up a buffer over the chasing pack under Paul Townend, with Danny Mullins and Spindleberry his closest pursuer.
Champ Kiely remained in front rounding the home turn, but Spindleberry took over coming to the final fence and found plenty on the run-in to score by four and a half lengths, with Gordon Elliott’s Firefox staying on to beat Champ Kiely to the runner-up spot and deny Mullins a one-two.
Spindleberry with connections after winning at Fairyhouse (Alan Magee/PA)
Mullins said: “She shows a real liking for this place and I thought Danny gave her a lovely ride.
“Whether she goes on to Punchestown or not, we’ll have a look at the programme and see how things are, but she’s a nice mare for the future and I think she should be well able to go out to three miles next season.”
Champ Kiely was beaten a total of 10 and a half lengths in third and Mullins added: “I was a little disappointed with Champ Kiely, but I think he was having to avoid the loose horse and may have taken his eye off it.”
Cheltenham Festival hero Haiti Couleurs goes in search of another big-race victory in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse on Easter Monday.
The eight-year-old was an emphatic winner of the National Hunt Chase at Prestbury Park last month, providing his trainer Rebecca Curtis with a fifth Festival success.
The Welsh handler has sent a team of six horses across the Irish Sea to run across the three days of Fairyhouse’s Easter Festival and is hopeful her stable star can become the first British-trained winner of the €500,000 since Jonjo O’Neill’s Shutthefrontdoor struck gold 11 years ago.
“He seems in really good form, healthy and well,” said Curtis.
“We’re very excited to be bringing him over to Ireland. I couldn’t be happier with the horse. It was great to win at Cheltenham and he came out of that really well.
“He had a nice easy couple of weeks after and he’s been back in full swing for the last month. So, it’s all systems go.”
Jonjo O’Neill has two Irish Grand National wins on his training CV, having also claimed top honours with Butler’s Cabin in 2007. Now in partnership with his son AJ, the trainer goes in search of the hat-trick with Johnnywho, was was narrowly denied a Cheltenham Festival win in the Kim Muir.
AJ O’Neill has high hopes for Johnnywho (Joe Giddens/PA)
AJ O’Neill said: “He ran a lovely race at Cheltenham really and I suppose it seems the natural progression to go to Fairyhouse. He’s in good form, we’re looking forward to seeing him back on track and hopefully he can go one better.
“It’s very competitive, but hopefully we’re good enough on the day. It’s a great race and it’s great to have a runner who has shown good form on the way up.”
The home challenge features many of the usual suspects in terms of trainers, with Willie Mullins, Gavin Cromwell and Gordon Elliott all saddling multiple runners, while Paul Nolan fields the horse who beat Johnnywho by a neck in the Kim Muir, Daily Present.
He said: “He’s in very good form, everything has has gone well with him and we’re hoping he’ll run a respectable race.
“He really stayed at Cheltenham, he’s definitely a stayer and he got a very good ride.
“We’re just hoping he can operate again, he’s gone up a good chunk in the weights but it’d be great if he could still be competitive.”
Willie Mullins has saddled two previous Irish Grand National winners in Burrows Saint (2019) and I Am Maximus and is this year represented by two novices in Quai De Bourbon and Sa Majeste.
Quai De Bourbon (white cap) in action at Gowran Park (Brian Lawless/PA)
Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “Quai De Bourbon has been unlucky in Cheltenham (unseated) and Aintree (brought down), but perhaps that will be the silver lining on two clouds as he comes into Fairyhouse without having had hard races.
“Obviously, his jumping will have to stand up, but I thought he jumped well in Aintree in the main.
“Sa Majeste gets in with a nice racing weight (10st 12lb). He ran very well in Cheltenham (third in Kim Muir) and nicer ground might bring more improvement in him.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/279360128-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2025-04-20 13:19:572025-04-20 13:19:57Haiti Couleurs primed for Irish National service
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