Tag Archive for: Nurburgring

Nurburgring too hot to handle in Galway Plate

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Nurburgring galloped on strongly to run out a convincing winner of the €270,000 Guinness Galway Hurdle for Joseph O’Brien and J J Slevin.

The four-year-old was highly thought of by connections all last season and stayed on well to be fourth in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Having also been third in Grade One novice company at Punchestown, he had a recent warm-up spin on the level and was a well-backed 13-2 chance on his handicap debut over obstacles.

The Willie Mullins-trained pair of Anotherway and Williamstowndancer took them along in the early stages but Nurburgring was always travelling nicely in behind and jumped to the front two out before kicking for home.

He was not completely fluent at the final flight but found plenty after it to pull clear for an emphatic seven-length triumph ahead of the fast-finishing Ndaawi, who just pipped My Mate Mozzie for second place.

O’Brien said: “When he ran well in Punchestown, we decided this was a good mid-summer target. He had a little holiday and then had a nice run over a shortish trip on the Flat at Leopardstown to blow the cobwebs away.

“He came here with the four-year-olds’ allowance and really it was a fantastic ride from J J. He got a good start, a lovely position and made a lovely move at the top of the hill. It was a very impressive performance.

“He was a fresh horse today and was dropping from a Grade One into a handicap, which is always a help. Today was the target, so we won’t rush him back but he will be going back into graded races somewhere.”

Neil Sands, a member of his family’s Bronsan Racing syndicate, the winning owners, added: “We’re only involved in racing for four or five years, so a big thanks to Joseph O’Brien and his staff.

“There is a whole army of backroom people who never stand in the ring (winner’s enclosure) or never get a day like this, but they are the backbone of the team and they make these things happen.”

The Galway Races Summer Festival – Day Four – Galway Racecourse
J J Slevin celebrates with the Galway Hurdle trophy (Brian Lawless/PA).

The contest was the subject of plenty of pre-race attention when it emerged the well-backed Petrol Head had been withdrawn at the request of the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board.

A statement from the IHRB read: “Following notification from LGC Laboratories of a screening finding in a post-race sample taken from Petrol Head at Bellewstown on July 6 2024, the IHRB immediately commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the screening finding.

“At 11am on Thursday August 1, the IHRB received confirmation from LGC Laboratories of the presence of a prohibited substance in the sample taken at Bellewstown.

“As a result of this confirmation of a prohibited substance and following the IHRB investigation into the matter, the Directors of the IHRB have withdrawn Petrol Head from the Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap under the provisions of Rule 21 of the Rules of Racing.

“The IHRB will not be commenting any further on the matter until the disciplinary process is complete.”



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Plenty of options coming up for Banbridge return

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Joseph O’Brien is pondering the options for Grade One scorer Banbridge ahead of his impending return to the track.

A Cheltenham Festival winner over hurdles in 2022, the seven-year-old made a real impression in his novice chasing season, winning at Cheltenham in the autumn and chasing home El Fabiolo in the Irish Arkle before securing big-race success at Aintree in the spring.

Soft ground and the persistent wet weather has so far seen him kept under wraps this season, but O’Brien is eager to get his campaign up and running and is mulling over the numerous upcoming options.

A step up to three miles could be on the cards if electing to run in either Leopardstown’s Savills Chase (December 28) or the Savills New Year’s Chase at Tramore, while a trip to Kempton for the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase on January 13 is another possibility.

“He’s in good shape and he has a few options over the Christmas period and into the new year and when we find the suitable race for him he will be ready to make his reappearance,” said O’Brien.

“He has the entry at Leopardstown and there is also the Silviniaco Conti at Kempton in the new year and there’s the race on New Year’s Day at Tramore. There are different races over the next month or so that are all possibilities.

“We’re looking forward to getting him back out.”

Nurburgring (right) could be set for Leopardstown after winning at Fairyhouse
Nurburgring (right) could be set for Leopardstown after winning at Fairyhouse (Brian Lawless/PA)

O’Brien is also planning a Christmas appearance for taking Fairyhouse scorer Nurburgring, who will take the next step up the juvenile hurdling ladder in Leopardstown’s Grade Two Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle on December 26.

He added: “I’m very pleased with him and I thought he was quite impressive as well (at Fairyhouse).

“The plan for him is he is likely to go to Leopardstown at Christmas time for the juvenile hurdle there.”



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Nurburgring races home for Fairyhouse success

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Nurburgring swooped late to grab Grade Three honours in the Bar One Racing “Price Boosts Across All Channels” Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge was last seen coming home in front of Friday’s impressive Newbury Listed winner Wodhooh at Listowel in September, with Nurburgring later demoted to second by the stewards after bumping his rival in the closing stages.

He was again involved in a tight finish in this two-mile affair, with Kala Conti appearing to hold all the aces before Richard Deegan conjured a late burst from Nurburgring to prevail by half a length on the line.

The Zoffany gelding had to survive another stewards’ inquiry but was eventually declared the 17-2 winner, with 7-4 favourite Batman Girac unplaced.

Solness had been a Listed scorer at Fairyhouse in the colours of Bronsan Racing on Saturday and Neil Sands felt the victory had added poignancy following the death of renowned owner-breeder Theresa Marnane.

He said: “It has been an extraordinary week, as this has been our third winner in the space of seven days, which is very special.

“However, it is a win tinged with sadness, as the Marnanes from Bansha House are our partners who have sadly lost Theresa Marnane.

“I was particularly touched by the minute silence here yesterday for Theresa, which was observed with such sincerity.”

Common Practice was a second winner on the day for Joseph O'Brien
Common Practice was a second winner on the day for Joseph O’Brien (Brian Lawless/PA)

Common Practice (14-1) made it a double on the day for O’Brien and a fifth Fairyhouse winner of the weekend for owner JP McManus in the Bar One Racing “Paying Extra Places Daily” Handicap Hurdle.

Partnered by Mark Walsh, Common Practice found an extra gear in the closing stages to register a length-and-three-quarters verdict.

McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said: “It’s been a brilliant couple of days.

“Mark rode him in Naas the last day and he sort of forced him up a bit, so he said he’d change tactics today and drop him in and see what happened. It worked out grand.

“In hindsight, the trip today may have suited him better. He’s been a consistent little horse and it’s nice to see him getting one of those. He got a great ride.

“There are loads of those handicaps coming up worth a few quid and he can be competitive. We’re delighted with him.”

Brides Hill landed the opener for Gavin Cromwell
Brides Hill landed the opener for Gavin Cromwell (Brian Lawless/PA)

Brides Hill had to work hard to justify 2-1 favouritism in the Bar One Racing “Bet 10 Euros Get 50 Euros Sign Up Offer” Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase.

Keith Donoghue’s mount turned in a fine round of jumping but after taking the lead between the final two fences, she was all out to fend off the late challenge of Queen Jane by a head, with the pair pulling 14 lengths clear of third-placed Must Be Obeyed.

Trainer Gavin Cromwell said: “She was top weight and the classiest mare in the race. She needed the line and probably just over-raced a bit on that ground.

“Apart from the first, she jumped really well. We have done an awful amount of schooling with her and I think the penny has finally dropped.

“She wouldn’t want the ground any softer than that and is probably one more for the spring. We might look at Leopardstown, as the ground is often better there.”

The extended three miles and five furlongs of the Listed Bar One Racing “Guaranteed Overnight Prices” Porterstown Handicap Chase proved a stern test on deep ground, but Street Value rose to the challenge at odds of 22-1.

The eight-year-old had not won since January 2022 but he kept finding for Danny Mullins, keeping on to beat History Of Fashion by three lengths in a gruelling renewal.

John Flavin said: “He deserved that, as he got a wicked bad fall here in the race after the Grand National and I thought he was dead when he hit the ground.

“The lads (Miracle Cure Syndicate) deserved a big day like that and they have been with me from the very start.

Street Value was a winner for Danny Mullins
Street Value was a winner for Danny Mullins (Brian Lawless/PA)

“To come back and do that is unbelievable. He ran well over hurdles in Clonmel but the ground dried up too much in Carlisle the last day.

“This was always the plan. They went a wicked gallop, which I knew would suit him as he stays, and Danny gave him a great ride. He kept him wide and he jumped great.

“He loves soft ground and is much better going this way. If he got in, he might go for the Irish National one day. The National Trial in Punchestown could be a race for him.”

Petit Secret (2-1) held off Bleu De Vassy in a thrilling finish to the closing Bar One Racing “Guaranteed Multiples All Shops” (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race, with just a head separating the pair in a photo.



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