Tag Archive for: Punchestown

Vanillier ends victory drought in Punchestown double for Cromwell

Gavin Cromwell has already ensured that this is going to be his best season numerically as stable stalwart Vanillier highlighted a double at Punchestown on Monday.

Fresh from a trio of strikes at the star-studded Dublin Racing Festival, the former farrier registered his 72nd and 73rd winners of the season, surpassing his previous best of 72 set during the last campaign.

Just 11 years ago, Cromwell trained a solitary winner over jumps and his rise has been nothing short of remarkable.

In that time, there has been a Champion Hurdle success with the ill-fated Espoir D’Allen, two Stayers’ Hurdles for Flooring Porter and a Royal Ascot win with Snellen.

Vanillier (9-4 favourite) himself won the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival in 2021 but he had not got his head in front since the Florida Pearl Novice Chase that same year.

He had subsequently finished second in a Grand National to Corach Rambler but was in danger of losing his way until brought to life by the Banks course in the Ladbrokes P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase.

“It’s great to see Vanillier back winning again, as I thought he’d lost his way a bit. Just recently, for whatever reason, he’s really sharpened up and blinkers were a help today,” said Cromwell of the Keith Donoghue-ridden winner.

“He’s entered in the National and we have the option of the Cross Country in Cheltenham, but I don’t know exactly where we’re going to go. I’m delighted that he’s back motoring again and he enjoyed it.

“He’s on a mark that he might not get into the National, but this run today might help. The fact that he’s in form and has Aintree form too, he (the handicapper) might give him a little bit more.”

Ladbrokes cut him to 8-1 from 20s for the Cheltenham cross-country chase and 33-1 from 50s for the Grand National.

Just 30 minutes later, promising rider Conor Stone-Walsh partnered 9-4 favourite Theonewedreamof to success in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Handicap Chase.

“That’s winner number 73, so it’s my best ever season; we had 72 last year,” said Cromwell.

“Theonewedreamof disappointed the last day, and she can be a bit in-and-out, but that’s her. When she’s on a going day, she’s not too bad.

“Conor was good on her and she got a good tow into the race. A small field probably helps as well, as when she gets crowded, she can be inclined to back out a bit. She had loads of room there today and a good gallop to aim at.”

Carrying on his recent form, Willie Mullins had a treble, with Ethical Diamond (8-11 favourite) and Argento Boy (4-7 favourite) justifying short odds, while Sir Gerhard won the Up The Yard Challenge Race under a confident Aimee Morrissey.



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Back-in-action Maughreen makes no mistake on jumping bow

Maughreen strengthened her Cheltenham Festival claims with a front-running victory on her return to action at Punchestown.

From the family of the brilliant Champion Hurdle winner Faugheen, and similarly marked with a white blaze, the six-year-old made quite an impression on her bumper debut at Punchestown in January of last year, but had not been seen in competitive action since.

Despite the 378-day absence, Maughreen was the 4-11 favourite for her comeback in the 50,000 Euros BetVictor Graduation Bonus Series Mares Maiden Hurdle and led from pillar to post under Paul Townend.

Having jumped well in the main, the Willie Mullins-trained mare was in full command rounding the home turn and while she was steadied into the final flight, she picked up again on the run-in to beat the staying-on Dee’s Lady by five lengths.

Gordon Elliott’s five-time winner Familiar Dreams, who was last seen running on the Flat at Keeneland, was best of the rest in third.

Coral make Maughreen the 3-1 favourite from 5-1 for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

“I thought it was a huge performance for a mare having only her second run, against the experience that Familiar Dreams had,” said Mullins.

“She went out and made her own running, jumped from hurdle to hurdle. She made one or two little mistakes and got a bit close at the last, but Paul was happy to let her fiddle that. She learned.

“I’m not sure we’ll any more chances to give her a run between now and Cheltenham, we’ll see. Looking at that I don’t think she’ll need one. She should improve, I’m hoping she’ll improve from that. She took a blow and she was idling.

“All roads lead to Cheltenham.”

Maughreen was one of three winners on the card for the Mullins-Townend combination, with the treble initiated by Karbau in the 50,000 Euros BetVictor Graduation Bonus Series Maiden Hurdle.

The five-year-old was a 1-2 favourite off the back of finishing fourth on his Irish debut at Naas and duly raised his game register a 16-length success.

Mullins said: “That was a nice performance. He learned a lot from the first day and put it to good use.

“He was taking about half a length out of most of them (at his hurdles). I’m very pleased with him.

“He’s in the Supreme Novices’ and the Turners at Cheltenham. He’s a forward going type and he likes to race and jump.”

Port Joulain (11-10 favourite) completed the Closutton hat-trick with a clear-cut victory in the Festival Flexi Ticket Is Back Maiden Hurdle.

“At last he’s improving that fella. He’s probably not the simplest horse to ride, he’s very fussy with his mouth and we might try and sort that out,” Mullins added.

“Paul said when he got down and rode him he went straight for him and he was happy, but he has a very tender mouth.

“He’ll possibly be better going left-handed. I don’t know where we’ll go, he might be more Fairyhouse/Punchestown (rather than Cheltenham) but they are two right-handed tracks.

“He could make the top grade as a chaser.”



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Maughreen heads to Punchestown for hurdling bow

All eyes will be on the impressive bumper winner Maughreen when she makes her hurdling debut at Punchestown on Monday.

The six-year-old, who is from the family of the great Faugheen on the dam side, is trained like her relative by Willie Mullins and made her debut last January.

She started out in a Punchestown bumper and was an easy 11-length winner, with the form holding up as several of the mares behind her have fared well since.

Maughreen has not seen a racecourse since that effort, however, with a setback keeping her sidelined for the rest of the season.

Having recovered from that issue, she has been limbering up for her jumping debut recently and will return to Punchestown to contest the #50,000 BetVictor Graduation Bonus Series Mares Maiden Hurdle.

“We’re very happy with her, she worked during the week and her schooling is very good,” said James Fenton of owners Closutton Racing Club.

“We haven’t really asked her any serious questions at home or anything, so there’ll be improvement to come.

“We’re in against a very good mare in Familiar Dreams, she’s won four bumpers and two of them have been black type, so it will take a fair performance to beat the likes of her.

“We’re hoping she jumps well and puts in a big run, so we get our season off to a good start.

“The race has thrown up some nice mares over the last couple of runnings and she’s back to where she won her bumper.

“There’s nothing wrong with the form of that bumper. To the eye, she won it very impressively and if you look back, a lot of the mares behind her have come out and won since.

“She’s been off the track since, obviously, she had some small niggles. In the long run, things happen for a reason and the time she’s had off has been an asset.

“She’s developed now, she’s a big mare and those mares just need a little more time to fill out.

“With her size, it was always going to be a positive for her to have more time to mature, so maybe it was a blessing in disguise.”



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Pyke seals Punchestown treble for Mullins and Townend

Kappa Jy Pyke completed a Punchestown treble for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend with victory in the Sky Bet Acca Freeze Maiden Hurdle.

The French recruit had to make do with the silver medal when an odds-on favourite for his Irish debut at Cork last month and was an even-money shot to go one better at the second attempt.

Always up with the pace, Kappa Jy Pyke looked to have a real race on his hands on the run to the final flight, with market rival Don’tstopthemusic being produced with a well-timed challenge.

However, the latter suffered a crashing fall, leaving the Mullins runner in the clear and he had 17 lengths in hand over the eventual runner-up Brave Brigadier at the line.

Townend said: “It was a nice performance. He built on Cork well in every sense, jumping wise and the freshness was gone out of him with the benefit of the run.

“I thought he quickened up smartly down the straight. I was actually quite taken with him.

“The horse that beat us in Cork (Sky Lord) ran well in the race before (finished fourth in Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle), so the form was there if he built on it and I think he did.

“I didn’t know how the horse behind me was going but I was still picking up and I thought it would take a fair one to go by me.”

Nine Graces (centre) jumps the final fence at Punchestown
Nine Graces (centre) jumps the final fence at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Finny Maguire steered Nine Graces to a clear-cut victory in the Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Amateur National Handicap Chase.

Barry Connell’s charge was an 11-4 chance to go one better than when second in a mares’ chase at Fairyhouse last month and was not hard pressed to score by four lengths from Prince Zaltar.

“We were kind of expecting that, she’s very fit,” said Connell.

“When she was running over hurdles, off a higher mark, three miles on soft ground was what she wanted.

“Her jumping was a revelation there, she was very quick. She’s not the biggest mare but she’s just very accurate.

“She might squeeze in, off her revised mark, into something nice – a nice staying handicap chase like the Leinster National in Naas.

“I’m delighted for Finny, who is working full time for us. He’s getting the opportunities as we’re splitting the rides between Sean (Flanagan) and himself. He’s a very good rider.”

The father-and-son team of Edward and Kieren Buckley combined to land the Sky Bet Build A Bet Beginners Chase with surprise winner Ney.

Following previous spells with Prunella Dobbs in Ireland and Danny Brooke in Britain, the seven-year-old was a 33-1 shot on his first start for new connections having been off the track since June and not run over obstacles since March 2023.

Ney and Kieren Buckley on their way to victory at Punchestown
Ney and Kieren Buckley on their way to victory at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)

The seven-year-old jumped well on what was his chasing debut and was ultimately well on top as he passed the post with two and a quarter lengths in hand.

Trainer Edward Buckley said: “It’s his first run for us and it’s all down to Kieren. He said to me that the horse was going through the sales ring in Doncaster, I knew nothing about it, he said that he had won on him in Cork and he’d been in England for a while.

“I said we’d have a look at him and made a few phone calls and got a lad to have a look at him to make sure he wasn’t missing a leg or anything! I bought him online for £5,000 and the minute we got him home, I thought he was a right horse.

“He can’t half jump, he’s a big, strong lad and as brave as a lion. He won like he’d win again.”

Following a Saturday four-timer at Fairyhouse, Gavin Cromwell rounded off an excellent weekend’s work by saddling Londonofficecallin (7-1) to land the concluding Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifier Handicap Hurdle.



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Salvator Mundi swoops late for Moscow Flyer crown

Salvator Mundi made odds-on backers sweat before eventually coming good in the Sky Bet Club Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

Runner-up to the top-class Sir Gino on his only start in France, the five-year-old finished sixth in the Triumph Hurdle on his first run for Willie Mullins before making the most of having his sights lowered at Tipperary in the spring.

He was an 8-15 favourite to make a successful return in a Grade Two contest the champion trainer has farmed in recent years, with Mikael D’Haguenet (2009), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015) and Min (2016) among his 10 previous winners.

Salvator Mundi was keen from the off in the hands of Paul Townend and a mistake at the final flight before straightening up for home put him on the back foot.

The son of No Risk At All had to be ridden along to reel in those in front of him in the straight, but quickened up smartly to grab the lead between the final two flights and passed the post with three lengths in hand over stablemate Kel Histoire, who narrowly beat Relieved Of Duties to second.

Paddy Power make Salvator Mundi their 4-1 favourite from 5-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, while Coral trimmed his odds to 3-1 from 6-1.

Jockey Paul Townend with Salvator Mundi
Jockey Paul Townend with Salvator Mundi (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He was fresh and it was messy, so I would say it was going to be hard to be impressive,” said Townend.

“We know he can jump but he didn’t jump well today because I couldn’t let him. He had to dig in then off the bend on tacky ground in the straight. He had to find plenty, it’s hard to be impressive on that ground but at least he won.

“He’ll have to build on it but I think he will. He has gears and on that ground it’s hard to use gears to the best effect. I’d say a stronger run race on looser ground, wetter ground even, would be a help to him.”

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “The engine is massive. After half a mile I thought this horse can’t win on his first run in six months when he’s pulling like that on heavy ground.

“Because he was keen Paul didn’t want to let him jump and he didn’t jump, so he’d every reason to get beaten and still won.

“It looked to me like he took a blow after the second-last and you could see Paul went down and gave him a squeeze and came with a run down to the last. He kept everything tight down to the last and there should be a lot of improvement there.

“I think in a faster run race, being let jump, he’ll improve. Paul couldn’t let him jump today because he would have been even keener and jumping his way to the front. I wouldn’t be worried about his jumping in a stronger run race.

“I think he’s probably had a hard race today and I wouldn’t be surprised if he went straight to Cheltenham.”



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Lecky Watson makes all for Punchestown prize

Lecky Watson delivered a fine front-running performance to claim top honours in the Sky Bet, For The Fans Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The Grade Three contest has an illustrious roll of honour, with Carefully Selected, Envoi Allen, Bob Olinger and Spillane’s Tower among the recent winners.

Having proved too strong for Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hero Slade Steel on his chasing debut at Naas last month, the Willie Mullins-trained Lecky Watson was a 5-4 favourite to follow up in the hands of Paul Townend and was soon bowling along at the head of affairs.

Down Memory Lane, last seen finishing third in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown, was always Lecky Watson’s nearest pursuer and looked a major threat jumping the second fence from home.

However, the market leader found more once challenged and while he was untidy at the final obstacle, he was in the clear and went on to score by eight lengths.

Down Memory Lane was a clear second, with his stablemate Farren Glory the only other finisher in third after Ifiwerearichman crashed out when still in contention at the last fence.

Coral cut Lecky Watson to 12-1 from 16-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Lecky Watson and Paul Townend after winning at Punchestown
Lecky Watson and Paul Townend after winning at Punchestown (Brian Lawless/PA)

Townend said: “He enjoyed the scenery anyway, I had a job getting him to concentrate.

“At the fourth and third last when we were going on were the best jumps he threw, but the engine is in there and he settled it very quickly.

“He’s probably more mature this year as when Mark (Walsh, riding Down Memory Lane) did come with me, he wasn’t trying to charge off.

“The engine is there but we’ll have to work on his jumping, I suppose. It was frozen all week and we couldn’t give him a refresher either which probably didn’t help.

“He settled it quickly and they were no slouches behind him. I always thought he was a stayer but he was just so hard on himself. If he relaxes more it’s out (in trip) rather than back you’d be going.”



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All eyes on Salvator Mundi at Punchestown on Sunday

Willie Mullins aims to extend his domination of the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday with the promising Salvator Mundi – current ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

He made his debut in France in the same Listed Auteuil Hurdle as Sir Gino and owners Joe and Marie Donnelly’s bloodstock agent clearly rated the form as he ended up buying both horses.

Sir Gino went to Nicky Henderson and has already won a Grade One as a juvenile at Aintree, the Fighting Fifth this season and the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase on his debut over the bigger obstacles.

It has been slower going for Salvator Mundi, who made his debut for Willie Mullins in the Triumph Hurdle, where a lack of experience told as he finished sixth behind stablemate Majborough.

Unsurprisingly he had little trouble winning at Tipperary in May as a 1-12 shot, but Mullins will find out far more about him in this Grade Two he has won with the likes of Douvan, Min, Vautour and Mystical Power 12 months ago.

Coral make him their 4-5 favourite to win this weekend and 6-1 favourite for the Festival opener.

His main opposition this weekend comes in the shape of stablemate Kel Histoire, owned by JP McManus.

A French bumper winner, he landed a Cork maiden hurdle last month on his debut for new connections.

Henry de Bromhead’s Sky Lord created a good impression when he won at Cork and should not be forgotten, with the same applying to Gordon Elliott’s Relieved Of Duties, who was a 15-length winner at the Mallow venue when last seen.

Mullins’ Lecky Watson, who beat Slade Steel on his chasing debut, heads five runners in the Sky Bet, For The Fans Novice Chase.

Elliott fields three in the shape of Down Memory Lane, Farren Glory and Search for Glory, while Paul Nolan’s Ifiwerearichman, an easy winner at Punchestown, also runs in the Grade Three contest.



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Sainte Lucie hailed as ‘top drawer’ after Punchestown triumph

Willie Mullins could have another rising star on his hands after Sainte Lucie strolled to an 11-length victory on her yard debut at Punchestown.

The three-year-old is owned by Susannah Ricci and ran once for previous connections in her native France, finishing third in an Auteuil hurdle contest in April.

Under Paul Townend, she was the 8-11 favourite and ran towards the front of the field, taking up the lead over the latter obstacles before pulling away to claim an 11-length triumph.

“Paul was very happy with her and loved the way she galloped through that ground,” said Mullins.

“I’d imagine we’ll be going for the top events with her. She looks top drawer.”

There may have only been three runners in the Make The Tote App Your New Year’s Resolution Hurdle but Ballyadam had to fight hard for success under Rachael Blackmore.

Trained by Henry de Bromhead, the nine-year-old was last seen winning in the summer of 2023 and locked horns with Saint Sam to prevail by half a length at 7-2.

“It’s great to get his head in front. He’s been a very consistent horse and always runs his race,” said Robbie Power, assistant to De Bromhead.

“I’ve no idea where he is going next but it’s nice to get his head back in front.”

Gordon Elliott’s Shannon Royale continued the promising start he has made to his career over fences when winning the Your Free Entry Sponsored By Tote Ireland Beginners Chase.

The Robcour-owned bay finished second by small margins on his first two chasing starts, coming home behind talented horses both times and acquitting himself well.

At 2-1 under Jordan Gainford, this time he made all of the running throughout the three-mile affair, and though he did not always jump fluently, he was still able to secure a two-and-a-quarter-length victory.

Elliott said: “He’s a grand, big, honest, galloping horse who stays well. He’s probably more of a handicapper than a graded horse.

“Jordan gave him a good ride and I’d say he wasn’t doing a whole lot in front.”

Tom Dreaper’s Folly Master took the Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Handicap Chase in good style under Keith Donoghue with a three-length success as the 10-11 favourite.

“He’s very straight forward and very genuine and owned by great people,” the trainer said.

“I thought I was going to run him the last weekend of October and didn’t get a chance to get him out until two weeks ago. He wants proper soft ground and maybe even an extra mile.

“He won his point-to-point around a very stiff track in a great time.

“We’ll look for something over a bit further and he could be one maybe for a bigger day in the spring.”



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Sunshine lights up Punchestown Listed heat

The diminutive Hey Sunshine brought up her hat-trick in fine style when Paul Townend spotted a gap on the inside to run away with the Buy Your Punchestown Christmas Gift Mares Novice Hurdle.

There might not be much of the Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old, but she is improving at a rate of knots.

Victories at Kilbeggan and Downpatrick hardly suggested she was a good thing on this rise into Listed company but she comprehensively came out on top.

Rounding the turn for home, Townend looked like he may be struggling for room in the straight but the second he spied a gap, Hey Sunshine (11-8 favourite) shot through and quickened away to beat Tareze by three and a half lengths.

When it was put to him that the gaps opened up nicely, Townend said: “They did, but you need the animal to take them.

“In fairness to her, she’s improving every run and has a lovely attitude for it, really wants it.

“The step up in trip helped and she hit the line strong again. The ground was a bit of an unknown but she handled it well and it opens more doors for her again.

“I don’t know if she’d handle heavy ground but she’ll handle nice winter ground. She handled that better than I thought though, and maybe she will handle it.

“I’d say she’s just improving all the time and she’s tough.

“They raced off the end of the back straight which gave me a chance to get a gap down the straight then. She’s done it well.”

The feature race win was part of a four-timer on the day for Mullins to go with Dancing City (2-5 favourite), You Oughta Know (7-4) and Kitzbuhel (3-1).



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James’s Gate sheds maiden tag over hurdles at Punchestown

James’s Gate provided the connections of Fastorslow with a timely boost when he made a winning comeback from a lengthy absence in the Punchestown Festival 2025 Tickets On Sale Maiden Hurdle.

A talented bumper performer for Willie Mullins in 2022, finishing third to his then stablemate Facile Vega in the championship event at Cheltenham, he was then off for the best part of two years before returning for Martin Brassil.

He finished a fine fourth on that occasion in a hot Leopardstown maiden hurdle and was then pitched into the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle and finished third to Mystical Power, where he was beaten over 20 lengths and not seen since.

Sent off a 6-1 chance in the hands of Ricky Doyle, he travelled sweetly throughout and when the keen-going Joystick faded, James’s Gate was allowed to coast to a four-and-a-half-length success over the favourite Forty Coats, despite a mistake at the last.

Brassil and James’s Gate’s owners Sean and Bernadine Mulryan have recently been forced to rule their top-class staying chaser Fastorslow out for the rest of the season.

“He’s had his problems, but he’s been in a good place since he came back this summer,” said Brassil of the winner.

“We know he has raw talent from his bumper days and we’ll see how much we can capitalise on that.

“I’d like to see his jumping improve a bit, but he could be a talented horse going forward.

“He’s a nice horse to have around the place, he’s a lovely individual.”

The rest of the card was dominated by Mullins, who enjoyed a four-timer.

Hey Sunshine won the feature mares’ Listed hurdle and multiple Grade One winner Dancing City made a seamless transition to fences.

There was also the emergence of another potentially smart hurdler in the Joe and Marie Donnelly black and yellow colours when Kitzbuhel (3-1) won the Members Club 2025 Hurdle on his first start for the yard.

The Donnellys already have the current champion in State Man, the Fighting Fifth winner Sir Gino and another exciting French import in Anzadam, and Kitzbuhel was too good for a solid yardstick in Colonel Mustard.

“That was very nice. He stays really well, he looked that way in France, and he’ll handle the depths of winter,” said winning rider Paul Townend.

“He has a lovely temperament, he had experience and he’s probably jumping since he was a yearling. He jumped brilliant and he gallops and covers ground. He’ll stay a lot further.

“He beat good horses there and listening to the boys coming in I had them racing plenty early and he found loads. He’s a nice staying type.”

In the Irish Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle Townend chose Port Joulain of the Mullins runners but was forced to pull his mount up early, leaving Danny Mullins to bring home You Oughta Know (7-4) well clear.

The latter said: “It was good. It was a funny race with Paul’s lad pulling up lame. I was a bit raw in front but ability shone through in the end and it was a good performance from him.

“He started off last season very well but whatever went wrong he seems to be back showing what he can do now.

“He’s well able for that ground and his form last year says when it gets slower he should have no problem with it as well.”



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Dancing City obliges at first time of asking over fences

Triple Grade One-winning novice hurdler Dancing City made a satisfactory start to life over fences at Punchestown on Tuesday.

Willie Mullins’ seven-year-old always looked more of a chaser in the making yet he exceeded expectations over hurdles, winning Grade Ones at Leopardstown, Aintree and Punchestown.

His only defeat at that level came at Cheltenham when he finished third in the Albert Bartlett behind Stellar Story and The Jukebox Man.

Sent off the 2-5 favourite for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase, it shaped as an informative affair given Henry de Bromhead’s Mossy Fen Park and Gordon Elliott’s Shannon Royale had already shown decent form over the bigger obstacles.

However, the bigger threat may have come from his stablemate Olympic Man who still seemed to be travelling as well as anything when he made a real mess of the fourth-last, needing Danny Mullins to perform miracles to maintain the partnership.

That cost him any chance, and while Shannon Royale did close to within a length and a half of Dancing City after the last he never looked like catching Paul Townend on the winner.

Coral left him unchanged at 10-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, although Paddy Power were more impressed and cut him to 6-1 from 10s.

“That was nice, he jumped brilliant in the main and then took in the scenery down the straight!” said Townend.

“I gave him a slap going to the last to make him concentrate and he jumped it well. Then we heard another one coming he pulled out plenty again.

“It’s as good a start as you could hope for. He’s very good, he has been good since he started and we were hoping for that.

“I was happy enough to take a lead, but I didn’t break stride and let him roll along.

“I think he’ll come on for the run, all of ours are, especially over that trip (three miles), he took his blow, had a look and went on again so very happy.”



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McManus team to pause before plotting Durkan duo plan

Connections of Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower are in no rush to decide on future plans after the JP McManus-owned pair fought out a thrilling finish to the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

Both Grade One winners in novice events over fences last season, the pair graduated to open company with honours in Sunday’s elite level feature, with the Willie Mullins-trained Fact To File getting the better of Jimmy Mangan’s Spillane’s Tower by half a length.

With the winner’s dual Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stablemate Galopin Des Champs back in third, the form could hardly be stronger and McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry is looking forward to seeing what both horses can achieve over the rest of the campaign.

“We were delighted with both horses, it was a cracking race. Both horses jumped well and finished out the race nicely, so you couldn’t be happier with them,” he said.

“I thought the third horse (Galopin Des Champs) ran a blinder over the trip. He’s the one they all have to beat and he ran a cracker, but we’re delighted with our horses and hopefully they’ll come out of the race good.”

Whether the team are able to split up Fact To File and Spillane’s Tower next time remains to be seen, with the Savills Chase at Leopardstown the obvious target for both.

Spillane's Tower ran an excellent race in defeat
Spillane’s Tower ran an excellent race in defeat (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

The King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day is an alternative and would give McManus the option of splitting his aces, but neither horse is entered at this stage.

Berry added: “We’re going to sit on it for a week or 10 days, see how they come out of the race and make some decisions for around Christmas then.

“We’re not getting carried away, we’ll just see if the trainers are happy with both of them and see where we want to go.”



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Kalypso’chance impresses in Punchestown bumper

Gordon Elliott unleashed a hot prospect in the closing bumper at Punchestown as Kalypso’chance powered to a wide-margin win over State Man’s half-brother Soir De Garde.

That pair swept past W B Easy on the final bend in the 50,000 Euros BetVictor Graduation Bonus Series (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race and looked set for a good battle down the straight.

However, Harry Swan quickly asserted his authority on Kalypso’chance and the four-year-old pulled further and further clear in an eye-catching manner.

Bought for £85,000 by Gigginstown House Stud after winning a Corbridge point-to-point by 13 lengths in April, the son of Masked Marvel has been installed as an early 6-1 favourite for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham by Paddy Power.

Elliott said: “He looks a nice horse and is a big stayer for next year.

“He has a good attitude, and you’d like the way he dropped his head and galloped to the line.

“He looked flat out halfway down the back. He’ll stay in bumpers this season and he’s a next year horse really.”



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Touch Me Not takes Craddockstown crown

Touch Me Not further enhanced Gordon Elliott’s excellent record in the BetVictor Craddockstown Novice Chase at Punchestown by comfortably accounting for better-fancied stablemate Farren Glory.

Sam Ewing’s mount put in a magnificent round of jumping at the head of affairs and after being given a breather turning for home, he found plenty up the straight to score by six lengths at 8-1.

Elliott was winning the two-mile Grade Two contest for the fourth time in five years, having previously struck with Felix Desjy, Riviere D’etel and Imagine.

There was drama early on when Fascile Mode, who had beaten the winner at this venue last month, fell and brought down Jordans, which left Touch Me Not to control proceedings.

The Gigginstown House Stud-owned five-year-old and Ewing, who had been rerouted to Punchestown after Cork was called off, never looked back as they powered to a convincing victory, which earned quotes of 40-1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham from Betfair and Paddy Power.

Elliott commented on the winner: “Sam said he got as much fun riding him as he has on any horse in a long time.

“He came from the point-to-point field in England. He actually fell at the last in his point-to-point, believe it or not.

“I was worried about the ground but it was a good performance. He obviously came on from the last day.

“He was very keen at home as a young horse and he wasn’t showing me anything, but he’s come a long way in six months.

“I’m not sure where he’ll go next, but we’ll get him home and see where we go.”

Ladbrokes Festival of Racing 2024 – Day One – Down Royal
Gordon Elliott had a one-two in the Craddockstown Novice Chase (Brian Lawless/PA).

Farren Glory had shown plenty of ability over hurdles, claiming the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse last December before looking an unlucky loser when seeking more Grade One glory at Aintree, where he took a heavy fall in front at the second last.

He was no match for Inthepocket on his chasing debut at Wexford but went one better in fine fashion at Naas next time out and was a 7-4 shot to take this step up in class in his stride.

However, despite travelling smoothly through the race for Jack Kennedy and moving up to second place, he could never get to his stablemate at the business end of the contest.



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Fact To File prevails in John Durkan thriller

Fact To File edged out Spillane’s Tower in a thrilling finish to the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase, as last season’s crack novices got the better of established stars Galopin Des Champs and Fastorslow.

The latter pair looked to be in control of proceedings out in front for much of the contest, but Fact To File came cruising into contention under Mark Walsh once they turned for home.

He jumped the final fence in superb fashion to leap to the front past Galopin Des Champs, but Spillane’s Tower, carrying the second colours of winning owner JP McManus, was also finishing strongly and emerged as a serious threat on the run-in for Jack Kennedy.

However, Fact To File was always doing just enough and last season’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase victor scored by half a length at 7-2, giving Willie Mullins his 10th success in the race.

Stablemate Galopin Des Champs was two and a quarter lengths back in third and Fastorslow finished fourth.

Mullins declared: “What a race! I was trying to keep an eye on them all and I think it’s a testament to the race that the horse that tried to keep up with Galopin Des Champs, Grangeclare West, had to pull up before the last.

“I thought we were beaten when Spillane’s Tower came up alongside us halfway up the run-in, so it just shows that he’s made that leap from novice company to senior company that he could pull out more. I love that in a horse, that he could pull out a bit extra to get home.

“Mark said he took a blow but stayed on well to win. He’s over 17 hands but an athletic horse with it. He has a lovely temperament and true grit.

“It was a hell of a race, and I think all these horses are going to win big races between now and the end of the season.

Punchestown Races – Sunday November 24th
Fact To File and jockey Mark Walsh with groom Georgia Fenwicke Clennel (Niall Carson/PA).

“It’s fantastic that Punchestown have brought the race back to this time of the season and all these horses can recover in time to run around Christmas.

“I don’t know where they will go next but Fact To File and Galopin Des Champs could both run at Leopardstown.”

Fact To File is now favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with Betfair and Paddy Power cutting him to 11-4 and Coral going as short as 2-1.

Jimmy Mangan, trainer of Spillane’s Tower, said: “I’m absolutely over the moon, delighted with him. He hasn’t been on grass since he won here at the Festival. You couldn’t really because the ground has been so firm.

“There is everything to look forward to but don’t ask me where he will run next, as I couldn’t tell you. He has options between two and a half miles and three miles and last year’s novice form is working out well.

“It was a great race and you had the best of horses and the best of jockeys.”



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