Tag Archive for: Lot Of Joy

Punchestown Joy for Mullins and Townend

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Lot Of Joy dominated the Listed Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle from the front for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend at Punchestown.

Townend set a strong gallop early on, as the six-year-old looked to follow up last month’s comfortable triumph at Gowran Park.

He allowed the chasing pack to close up but then kicked again after turning for home, with the 6-4 favourite powering four lengths clear of runner-up Risk Belle.

Mullins said: “I think she enjoyed being left alone in front and Paul was happy with her. She took her breathers and jumped better. She’s settling better.

“We didn’t think she would handle that sort of ground, but it’s good to know that she’s able to handle it and we can continue with her. We were half thinking of putting her away.

“She could go to Leopardstown, and I wouldn’t mind stepping up to two and a half. She has to improve a bit, but we’ll give her the opportunity.”

Both Betfair and Paddy Power introduced Lot Of Joy into their Cheltenham Festival Mares’ Hurdle market at 20-1.

Stumptown made every post a winning one for a courageous success over the banks in the Colm Quinn BMW Risk Of Thunder Chase under Keith Donoghue.

Gavin Cromwell’s 3-1 chance took top honours in a cross-country event at the Punchestown Festival in May and clearly enjoyed himself in this sphere again, seeing off the challenge of market leader Coko Beach before galloping on to beat outsider Three By Two by two and three-quarter lengths.

Punchestown Races – Sunday November 24th
Stumptown en route to victory at Punchestown (Niall Carson/PA).

Cromwell said: “He’s taken to it so well, he loves it. He’s careful enough over his fences in chases and you might think that he wouldn’t have the heart for it, but he’s taken to it really well.

“There is a race at Cheltenham in December and he’ll probably go there.

“I don’t know too much about it but Keith says the course is very different to here. We’ll be happy to get him over there at the next meeting and get him around it.”

The Big Westerner continued Henry de Bromhead’s fine run of form when rallying gamely to get the better of Argento Boy in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle at 4-1.

Bought for £120,000 after a Ballycahane point-to-point victory, the five-year-old mare showed an admirable attitude after the firm favourite had moved alongside approaching the final flight.

Punchestown Races – Sunday November 24th
The Big Westerner winning at Punchestown (Niall Carson/PA).

De Bromhead said: “She looks a nice mare, jumped great and travelled well. Darragh (O’Keeffe) was great on her and I’m delighted to get it for the Marigas, who are great supporters of ours.

“She picked up well after missing the last a bit. She’s still a bit green. I think she’ll handle festival ground, but she’ll go through the winter stuff. I hope so. She’s a big, scopey mare and hence the name, I suppose.

“We’ve some lovely young horses – we hoped we had coming into the season and felt we had bought well, but you never know. We’re happy where we are at the moment and we’ll try to maintain it.”

Franciscan Rock could be heading back to Cheltenham after digging deep to land the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle qualifier at 12-1 under Gavin Brouder.

The Mouse Morris-trained seven-year-old was fifth behind Langer Dan in last season’s Coral Cup and secured a second career success in a determined manner, beating Karl Des Tourelles by half a length.

Punchestown Races – Sunday November 24th
Franciscan Rock ridden by jockey Gavin Brouder at Punchestown (Niall Carson/PA).

Morris said: “The horses have been running well for the last couple of months and it’s nice to get a winner for the O’Flynns, who have been with me for years and are lovely people.

“He ran well in Cheltenham last season and also in a Grade One here. He’s qualified to run in the final but it’s a long time between now and March.”

Sonny May followed up his recent Gowran Park triumph by taking the Sherry Fitzgerald Brady O’Flaherty Supporting Longford GAA Novice Handicap Hurdle at 4-1 for Denis Hickey and Sean O’Keeffe.

Hickey said: “It’s great to win with a homebred and I’ve only two horses in training. I ride him most days. He had a few problems and only ran twice last year and ran badly, but we’ve ironed out a few problems.”



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Lot Of Joy books Cheltenham ticket with Fairyhouse success

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Lot Of Joy appears to have booked her ticket to the Cheltenham Festival in opening her account over hurdles at Fairyhouse.

The five-year-old finished fourth in a Galway Premier Handicap on debut for Willie Mullins before placing in the Irish Cesarewitch when a length third to Waterville.

The daughter of Camelot has since finished second behind a pair of useful operators in both of her outings over timber, but made no mistake when sent off the 1-7 favourite for the Fairyhouse Schooling Races Mares Maiden Hurdle.

Having tracked the pace in the hands of Paul Townend, Lot Of Joy breezed to the front approaching two out before pulling an impressive 12 lengths clear of the runner-up to set up a tilt at the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park – a race for which she is as short as 8-1 with Paddy Power.

“She’s learning and bringing her back to two miles was probably the best thing to do. She’s learning to race like a National Hunt mare now rather than a Flat mare,” said Mullins.

“She’s settling better and jumping better. We’re very pleased with her progress.

“She’s in the mares’ novice at Cheltenham and I’d imagine that will be her next target. She’ll be easier to ride there as there is usually a very good pace in that. We’re looking forward to it.”

The victory was part of a treble on the day for Mullins who got on the board immediately when Instit (2-7 favourite) landed the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase in facile fashion.

The three-timer was secured when Viva Devito justified 4-5 favouritism in the Fairyhouse Easter Festival Maiden Hurdle.

Second to Paul Nolan’s Joyeux Machin over course and distance on his hurdles bow before finishing fifth at Leopardstown at Christmas, the six-year-old showed his quality when recording a decisive 21-length success.

“I’m not sure that he settled but he looks a powerful jumper,” said Mullins.

“He’s very forward going and I’d imagine I’ll plan a campaign at home and maybe end up at Fairyhouse at Easter.

“I’m hoping that going over fences could settle him and we’ll look forward to that, maybe next season.”



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