Tag Archive for: Punchestown

Lossiemouth puts the seal on highly successful campaign

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Lossiemouth demonstrated her dominance over her Willie Mullins-trained stablemates to win the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.

The grey claimed two juvenile contests impressively at the start of the campaign but was then defeated when hindered in the Spring Juvenile Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Her conqueror was Gala Marceau and the two fillies met again in the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, where Lossiemouth prevailed by two and a quarter lengths and set the record straight.

Under Paul Townend at Punchestown she backed up that success when pulling away to a length-and-a-half victory over Zarak The Brave and Gala Marceau as the 1-2 favourite.

“We bought her in France from Yannick Fouin and he was full of her when he had her. We were lucky enough to get her,” said Mullins.

Paul Townend and Lossiemouth
Paul Townend and Lossiemouth (Niall Carson/PA)

“You think you are buying nice horses all the time but this filly looks to be a cut above, for a filly to go through the whole season and come out at every festival.

“Christmas, the Dublin Racing Festival and to get hammered there, back to Cheltenham and back here today, that’s incredible for a four-year-old filly.

“She’ll need a long break now after that to recover. She’s been very good to us.

“I’m looking forward to maybe the Mares’ Hurdle next year. Normally those juveniles work into staying hurdlers which would be the Mares’ Hurdle or the Stayers’ Hurdle, but I’m just wondering could she be a Champion Hurdle filly in two years’ time?

“She has huge reserves and she’s sound as a pound. Half the battle of being a good horse is being sound.

“We’ve so many talented horses, but they’re not sound and they miss a year. Look at the likes of Monkfish and Asterion Forlonge this week, if they were sound they could win a lot more but it’s a high level of training and racing and it’s tough.

“In any sport the top players pick up injuries and careers are done because they pick up injuries. Racing is no different.”

Echoes In Rain wins as she likes at Punchestown

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Echoes In Rain cruised home to land the Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend at Punchestown.

The seven-year-old was the 13-8 joint-favourite for the Grade One contest after finishing fourth in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle when last seen at the Cheltenham Festival.

Harry Fry’s Love Envoi was the other market leader, but was beaten around the final bend and faded to come home last in an unusually poor performance under Danny Mullins.

Echoes In Rain and stablemate She Wears It Well were left to share the lead and it was the former who pulled away easily to score by nine and a half lengths from John McConnell’s Anna Bunina, with She Wears It Well in third.

“She was very impressive,” said Mullins of the winning dual-purpose mare.

Paul Townend on Echoes In Rain
Paul Townend on Echoes In Rain (Niall Carson/PA)

“Once again Paul just rode her with complete confidence, he’s transferring his confidence through to his horses and they are on fire with it.

“She’s improving all the time. She’s hard on herself, but she’s just about learning to settle now.

“We’ll probably go back on the Flat with her, but Flat racing does upset her a little bit, it gets her too geed up for this job. We’ll see and have a good chat with the owners. She’s done the job here today and that’s what counts.

“She got very wound up in Cheltenham, but I think she’s maturing and some year she might be good enough to go back there.

“She’ll be aimed at it next year anyway.”

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend just champion again in Ireland

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Willie Mullins paid tribute to his owners, staff and Paul Townend after being crowned champion trainer for the 17th team on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.

It has been another memorable campaign for the master of Closutton, who in January sent out is 4,000th career winner and set a new record for the number of winners in a National Hunt season in Ireland when surpassing his previous best total of 202 at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.

Highlights on home soil include winning the Irish Gold Cup with Galopin Des Champs and the BoyleSports Grand National with I Am Maximus, while the likes of State Man, El Fabiolo and Facile Vega were all multiple Grade One winners domestically.

Jody Townend collects the champion lady amateur title award from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland, Charlie McConalogue
Jody Townend collects the champion lady amateur title award from Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland, Charlie McConalogue (Niall Carson/PA)

He said: “To win the champion trainer title is the icing on another great season for our team

“Galopin Des Champs winning at the Dublin Racing Festival, and I am Maximus winning the Irish Grand National were two personal highlights for me.

“Winning titles like this wouldn’t be possible without our loyal owners who send us these wonderful horses. It’s a huge team effort at Closutton – our staff go above and beyond in all weathers and keep the show on the road so winning the champion trainer title is a tribute to everyone at home.”

Expressing his admiration for Townend, Mullins added: “I’ve always had confidence in Paul. He was riding first jockey for me when Ruby (Walsh) was injured, but people always said he was just deputising for Ruby.

“He’s been excellent all the time. From the time he came to the yard, starting off, you could see there was something a little bit different about him.

“He’s probably coming into his own now with the horses that he’s riding. He’s had some spectacular rides this year – Galopin Des Champs at Cheltenham, I Am Maximus and Gaelic Warrior here the other day. No matter what the situation he’s able to quarry a win out of horses.

“Good jockeys ride good horses and win, but great jockeys are able to get horses to win that shouldn’t win races. That’s what he is doing now.

“He minds himself now and he’s happy just to ride the good horses. I prefer that, to stay right for the right horses.

“We’ve got some fantastic riders between Danny (Mullins), Sean O’Keeffe, Jack Foley and Patrick (Mullins) comes in for some of those rides now and again.”

When asked for his thoughts on the season as a whole, Mullins said: “Obviously the (Cheltenham) Gold Cup would look the one between the ride he got, the horse we had. We had faith in him, Paul did everything right and the horse did most things right. I suppose that has to be the standout.

Paul Townend (right) is handed his award by Charlie McConalogue
Paul Townend (right) is handed his award by Charlie McConalogue (Niall Carson/PA)

“I’m very lucky as I’ve got a great team. David Casey, Patrick, Ben Delmar, they keep the whole thing going and keep the horses coming out. I’m very lucky to have a team like that around me.”

Townend picked up the champion jockey title for the fifth consecutive season and sixth time in all.

He reached the 100-winner mark for the season when steering Gaelic Warrior to success at Punchestown on Wednesday, his fourth career century, while I A Maximus provided him with a first Irish Grand National triumph.

“I’m in a very privileged position, riding so many superstars for Willie Mullins,” said Townend.

“We had an unbelievable season, especially on the big days like Christmas, Dublin Racing Festival, the Fairyhouse Easter Festival and at Punchestown this week.

“It was a great thrill to win such an iconic race like the Irish Grand National and finally get on that special roll of honour with I Am Maximus. Galopin Des Champs winning the Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup was exceptional too.”

Mullins’ record-breaking son Patrick was crowned champion amateur for the 15th time, while Townend’s sister Jody picked up the champion lady amateur title for the third successive season.

Rising star Michael O’Sullivan received top honours
Rising star Michael O’Sullivan received top honours (Niall Carson/PA)

Rising star Michael O’Sullivan began the 2022/23 season as a 7lb claiming amateur, but ended it as champion conditional with three Grade One winners to his name, including the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard the hugely exciting Marine Nationale.

O’Sullivan, who is currently sidelined by a broken collarbone, said: “I’ve had a brilliant season. My partnership with Barry Connell and our Grade Ones together were the pinnacle.

Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer at Closutton, was top conditional jockey
Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer at Closutton, was top conditional jockey (Niall Carson/PA)

“I can’t forget my first big winner as a professional at the Listowel Festival. I had a double on the day and I won a big handicap for Terence O’Brien (Magnor Glory) and a had winner for Mikey Kennedy (Presenting J) – my local festival for local people.

“I had a double the following week for Barry Connell in Roscommon, including my first Graded success on board Enniskerry. The treble at Cork on Easter Sunday was also special.”

For the 20th time and for the third season running, JP McManus was crowned champion owner.

Impaire Et Passe an emphatic winner at Punchestown

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Impaire Et Passe showed a neat turn of foot and powered to victory in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins.

The five-year-old ran well within himself and Townend rode the Cheltenham’s Ballymore winner with supreme poise.

Send off a 1-3 favourite against just four rivals, he sat third throughout much of the extended two miles and three furlongs of the Grade One contest.

Though Impaire Et Passe made a novicey mistake six out, which saw him with plenty of ground to make up, Townend appeared to ooze confidence as stablemate Champ Kiely and the Joseph O’Brien-trained High Definition set the pace.

There was still plenty to do approaching two out and for a brief moment, High Definition and JJ Slevin looked set to cause a shock.

But Townend had plenty up his sleeve and the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned gelding soon cruised upsides and went to the front on the bridle after being given a reminder that this was not simply a piece of work.

Jumping clear at the last, he stormed home to record a seven-and-a-half length success, with High Definition hanging on for second, despite stumbling when hitting the running rail after jumping the last.

Mullins was far from happy with the performance, however.

He said: “He didn’t impress me at all, I was delighted he won, but throughout the race he wasn’t impressing me.

“He looked like he wasn’t enjoying it and maybe Cheltenham took much more out of him than we thought.

“At home he was on fire and maybe I did too much with him, because he was going so well.

“It’s hard to say something went wrong when you win by seven and-a half lengths.

“Maybe he loves the hill in Cheltenham, he just got going up the hill, whereas today is a flat track. I’ll have a quick chat with Paul later on and see what he thought.

“Turning for home, I wouldn’t have backed him, so to win after that just means that he has a huge engine, but he wasn’t really in love with what he was doing today, whether it was the ground or what I don’t know.

“I think we’ll freshen him up now. I was thinking maybe of going to France but I won’t, I think I’ll just put him away.”

Townend and Mullins were not too impressed with Impaire Et Passe
Townend and Mullins were not too impressed with Impaire Et Passe (Brian Lawless/PA)

Townend echoed the sentiments, hinting his charge needed waking up.

He said: “It was not as straightforward as I was hoping. Maybe it was just because I was left on my own. I think everyone could see that I was never really happy throughout the race.

“When I got upsides them, he came on the bridle for me and his class shone through then.”

He added: “He’ll have no problem jumping a fence, but I’d say it will depend on what the horse across the water (Constitution Hill) is doing as well!”

Anthony Bromley, racing representative of owners Isaac Souede and Simon Munir and the man who purchases most of their horses, intimated that while the five-year-old has the size to be a chaser, the move to larger obstacles might be put on hold while the education process continues.

“He was quite switched off in the race and Paul had to wind him up a little bit turning but he picked up,” noted Bromley.

“To be fair, some of his races haven’t always been impressive. In the Moscow Flyer (at Punchestown), he wasn’t ‘Wow,’ and that’s why they went up in trip. He just needs to be woken up. I think there’s so much talent under the bonnet and I think he’s still a work in progress.

A chasing career could be delayed for Impaire Et Passe
A chasing career could be delayed for Impaire Et Passe (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s a big frame of a horse. He only had one bumper run last year and that’s his fourth hurdle run. I think the plan might be to stay hurdling and learn a bit more. But, the great Willie will tell us. In Willie we trust!

“You worry turning in slightly, you have a little moment, and suddenly by the line it’s clear and he’s winning easing down. He’s got great potential.”

The ‘Double Green’ colours had already enjoyed Grade One success at the meeting, with El Fabiolo on Thursday.

“There’s a lot of nice youngsters at Willie’s and it’s so exciting,” Bromley said.

“Isaac and Simon get a lot of fun from it. They love the Dublin Racing Festival, they love Cheltenham but Punchestown has really worked and they’ve been here all week, and to get two nice big winners – proper big winners – and horses that look like they might be superstars, is brilliant.

“And that’s what it’s all about, isn’t it? They put a lot into it. They’ve got a lot of horses and we’ve kissed a lot of frogs. But these two are exciting.”

State Man in cruise control without Constitution Hill

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State Man justified odds-on favouritism with consummate ease in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The Willie Mullins-trained gelding had won four Grade Ones in succession before having his colours lowered by Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

But without Nicky Henderson’s star to contend with, Paul Townend’s mount was backed as if defeat was out of the question and those who took the restrictive odds of 2-5 never had a moment’s concern.

Townend was happy to lob along in front with stablemate Vauban saving ground to his inside and Pied Piper on his left flank.

Willie Mullins with State Man
Willie Mullins with State Man (Brian Lawless/PA)

However, State Man was asked to stretch three out, and whipping round the final turn, he took two lengths out of his rivals and had the race won approaching the last.

Although he got in a little tight, the six-year-old steadied himself and drew clear to score by three lengths from Vauban. There was plenty of daylight back to the staying-on Colonel Mustard.

Townend said: “He has been beating these horses all year and, thankfully, he was able to do it again today.

“As I said when I made it in Leopardstown, I thought he would be better with a lead and probably a bit the same there.

“He just looks to be the best of that bunch – he just ran into a superstar in Cheltenham.”

Mullins said: “Paul said if nothing was going on he’d make his own running and keep it simple.

“He just missed the last, but Paul said with where he would have had to stand off he just let him fiddle it instead. That’s what you want in a hurdler when they are too far back, to go in and fiddle it.

Paul Townend returns victorious with State Man
Paul Townend returns victorious with State Man (Brian Lawless/PA)

“He’s done enough for the season. We’ll freshen him up now and get him back to do the same things next season, I hope.

“I can’t really see him going over fences, I’d say he’ll be a hurdle horse. I don’t know whether I need to go out in trip with him.

“He’s a horse that still has improvement in him.”

On his run at Cheltenham, the Closutton trainer said: “Constitution Hill was just brilliant so we were happy to be second and he’s going to be hard to beat.”

When it was put to him about the change of tactics today, he added: “I’m not sure we wanted to make the running for Constitution Hill at Cheltenham. If we did that and got beaten we would have said we should have done something different.

“We did what we did and I was happy. Maybe if the opportunity happens next time we might do that. He’s well able to do it from the front and I think he’s relaxing a lot more now which is a big help.”

Impervious in a different league at Punchestown

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Colm Murphy’s top-class mare Impervious sauntered to success in the Hanlon Concrete Irish EBF Glencarraig Lady Francis Flood Mares Chase at Punchestown to remain unbeaten over fences.

The seven-year-old had taken her winning spree to four in the Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and her fifth victory could not have been any easier.

Tracking long-time leader Instit – one of three Willie Mullins-trained runners in the field of six – Brian Hayes’ mount cruised upsides three out when the leader blundered and quickly put daylight between herself and her toiling rivals.

Foot-perfect throughout the two miles and five furlongs of the Grade Two contest, the 8-11 favourite was eased to an 11-length triumph, with Instit holding off stablemate Allegorie De Vassy to claim second.

Murphy said: “She’s been an absolute revelation and it’s amazing how much she has improved from run to run. She’s stronger now than she was on any day during the year.

“She has loads of options and we can dream away for the summer. She can go up or down in trip, it doesn’t matter to her. She’s just a proper one.

“I’m sure JP(McManus) and Frank (Berry) will have a plan for her and she’ll slot in with the rest of theirs. We’re more than happy to go along with that.

“She seems to be settling better, she’s not as hard on herself and she’s making life easier for everyone.

“Every year when you come back here after Cheltenham you are afraid of what mark Cheltenham has left on them. On the evidence there she seems to be getting better.

“Hopefully she’ll keep improving, she’s learning a lot and settled better today.”

Impervious and Brian Hayes in full flight
Impervious and Brian Hayes in full flight (Brian Lawless/PA)

Murphy knows all about championship performers, having been responsible for the brilliantly tough hurdler Brave Inca.

He added: “She’s pure genuine and she’ll do her best for you. Without an exaggeration she would go through a wall for you. If you pointed her at it there is no doubt she’d take it on for you.

“You don’t come across too many of them too often, but when you do they are pretty special and she seems to be one of those.

“It’s nice to have her and it’s nice pressure to have. It’s nice to come here rather than going for an 80-95 down the country.”

Hayes said: “It doesn’t seem to matter whatever trip. She won over two miles down in Cork and two (miles) five (furlongs) today. She seems to go easy whatever gallop we are going

“She always picks up for a finish and finds more.”

Love Envoi flying the flag for Britain on final day of Punchestown

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Love Envoi bids to take the Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle crown back to Britain for the second year in succession on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.

Unsurprisingly the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One has been dominated in recent years by Willie Mullins, with the champion trainer landing seven of the last 10 editions.

However, Nicky Henderson’s Marie’s Rock ensured victory went to the raiding party 12 months ago and Love Envoi is rightly the hot favourite for Saturday’s renewal, having finished best of the rest behind the brilliant but now retired Honeysuckle in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old’s trainer Harry Fry has a good record at Punchestown, with dual Champion Stayers Hurdle hero Unowhatimeanharry among several previous winners for his team at the Festival, and the Dorset handler has high hopes of adding to his tally this weekend.

He said: “Love Envoi arrived safely on Thursday morning, Punchestown has been a lucky festival for us and we’re looking forward to taking our chance.

“She ran a great race at Cheltenham. We’re obviously taking on horses she beat that day, but we’re not taking anything for granted.

“She’s going to have to turn up and run her race. Hopefully she has a good chance.”

Harry Fry is looking forward to running Love Envoi at Punchestown
Harry Fry is looking forward to running Love Envoi at Punchestown (John Walton/PA)

With Love Envoi’s regular partner Jonathan Burke sidelined by a broken arm suffered in a fall in the Grand National at Aintree, Fry had booked Mark Walsh to take over in the saddle.

However, Walsh is now required to partner Epatante for his retaining owner JP McManus, meaning Danny Mullins instead comes in for the plum ride aboard the market leader.

“It’s been a bit of a jockey merry-go-round, but in the end we’ve managed to get Danny Mullins, with Johnny sadly on the sidelines. Hopefully it all goes well,” Fry added.

The Henderson-trained Epatante, who was third behind stablemate Marie’s Rock last season and has spent much of the current campaign chasing the shadow of Seven Barrows superstar Constitution Hill.

She was, however, a long way behind Love Envoi at Cheltenham and has since finished a well-beaten fourth in the Aintree Hurdle.

“She’s been a little disappointing recently, but it will be her last run of the season so we’ll see how she gets on,” said McManus’ racing manager, Frank Berry.

“She has to come back to her best form to have a chance.”

The home team is headed by the Mullins trio of Echoes In Rain, Brandy Love and Shewearsitwell, who finished fourth, fifth at ninth in the Mares’ Hurdle and therefore need to find improvement.

“Echoes In Rain could be a difficult ride over two and a half miles but ratings-wise, she would look the one for that, with Love Envoi the biggest challenge,” said Mullins.

Echoes In Rain is one of three declared runners for Willie Mullins in the Mares Champion Hurdle
Echoes In Rain is one of three declared runners for Willie Mullins in the Mares Champion Hurdle (Niall Carson/PA)

“In the same race, Brandy Love would probably prefer to go left-handed but I think she’ll improve a good bit on her Cheltenham run.”

The Gordon Elliott-trained Queens Brook split Love Envoi and Echoes In Rain when third at the Festival and is also in the mix once more.

Elliott said: “She’s been great since Cheltenham. She’s had a good season and ran a terrific race at Cheltenham in a top-class edition of the race.

“She’s in great order and we’re looking forward to running her.”

John McConnell’s outsider Anna Bunina, third when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr last weekend, completes the line-up.

Mullins appears to hold all the aces in the final Grade One of the meeting – the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.

Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau are the clear standard setters after finishing first and second in a one-two-three-four for Mullins in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“We haven’t missed much with Lossiemouth season – Christmas, Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham. That’s a lot on a filly and she’s not the biggest filly in the world but she has a huge constitution so hopefully, we ask for just one more day,” said the Closutton handler.

Willie Mullins at Punchestown earlier this week
Willie Mullins at Punchestown earlier this week (Brian Lawless/PA)

“There’s no reason to say that she won’t give it. She’s just so laid back, I don’t think racing or anything fazes her or takes too much out of her. She’s really top class.”

Mullins also fields Cinsa and Zarak The Brave, with the latter considered no forlorn hope on what is his first appearance since finishing second to Lossiemouth in a Grade Three at Fairyhouse in December.

Mullins added: “I think Zarak The Brave is a nice type. He showed a lot and then got a colic during the season and we had to put him to one side, but he’s a horse to keep an eye on.”

State Man ‘the one to beat’ ahead of Champion test

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With no Constitution Hill to worry about, State Man will be widely expected to end an excellent season on a high in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

Impressive in winning the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and a Grade One novice event at Punchestown at the end of last season, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old has this term taken the step up into open company in his stride.

Victories in the Morgiana Hurdle, the Matheson Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle earned him a shot at the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham – and while no match for Nicky Henderson’s brilliant winner, he was clearly best of the rest and aims to confirm his status as Ireland’s top two-miler on Friday.

“I was happy with him at Cheltenham and he’s in good form. There’s no Constitution Hill so hopefully he’ll be the one to beat,” said Mullins.

The champion trainer also saddles the admirable veteran Sharjah, who finished runner-up to Constitution Hill in the Aintree Hurdle a fortnight ago, as well as the five years younger Vauban.

The latter has finished behind State Man in his last three races, including when fourth in the Champion Hurdle, and Mullins already has one eye on a possible Flat outing later in the year.

He added: “We’ve Sharjah and Vauban in the race as well. Vauban possibly needs a longer trip and we’ll give him a good shot at the Flat later in the season to see what he can do there, but the plan is to go to Punchestown first.”

Gordon Elliott saddles Champion Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle third Zanahiyr and Pied Piper, who was last seen being beaten a head by Faivoir in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Colonel Mustard in action at Cheltenham last year
Colonel Mustard in action at Cheltenham last year (Mike Egerton/PA)

Colonel Mustard completes the field, with trainer Lorna Fowler preparing to send him back into action just six days after finishing second in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr.

She said: “I’m really happy with him. He was beaten fair and square in Ayr but he ran great, beaten by a horse (Rubaud) carrying less weight and a better horse at the weights, so I’d no gripes with it.

“We obviously think a lot of our horse. He’s been lightly-raced this season. Nobody can account for the bounce factor but we’ve given him every chance in every way to bounce back. He’s a good traveller, drinks well and I’m really happy to be going and really happy with him.

“On ratings he’s not going to beat a few, but it could be a tactical race and the prize money is fantastic.

“It just feels the right decision to be going and I really feel that he could run a good race. I hope so anyway.”

Impaire Et Passe puts lofty status on the line

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Impaire Et Passe puts his unbeaten record and tall reputation on the line in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.

The French bumper winner made a hugely impressive hurdling debut for Willie Mullins at Naas in December before dominating his rivals in the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown a month later.

The Closutton dogs were barking Impaire Et Passe’s name ahead of last month’s Cheltenham Festival and he duly delivered, easing clear in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in the style of a horse destined for even greater things.

Mullins had the option of running the five-year-old over the Moscow Flyer distance of two miles earlier in the week, but has elected to stick to a longer trip on the penultimate day of the meeting.

“We ran him over two miles in the Moscow Flyer in Punchestown before Cheltenham and the speed he showed in Cheltenham was fantastic but then again, that was against two-and-a-half-mile horses,” said Mullins.

“For Impaire Et Passe, it’s no problem doing two-and-a-half around Punchestown.”

High Definition winning on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown
High Definition winning on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown (Brian Lawless/PA)

The champion trainer also saddles Champ Kiely, who was seven and a half lengths behind Impaire Et Passe when third in the Ballymore and takes him on again.

One-time Derby favourite High Definition is stepped up in distance by Joseph O’Brien following a seventh placed finish in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham. The five-year-old also sports cheek pieces for the first time since pursuing a jumping career.

Amir Kabir (Gordon Elliott), Inothewayurthinkin (Gavin Cromwell) and Thecompanysergeant (Denis Hogan) are the other contenders.

El Fabiolo looking to round off superb campaign in style

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El Fabiolo bids to put the seal on a flawless campaign in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown on Thursday.

Willie Mullins has dominated this two-mile contest over the course of the past decade, saddling eight of the last 10 winners including each of the last seven.

Un De Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016), Chacun Pour Soi (2019) and Energumene (2021) all landed this prize on their way to even greater things and El Fabiolo is a warm order to add his name to the roll of honour on day three of the County Kildare festival.

The six-year-old, who carries the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede colours of 2018 victor Footpad and last year’s hero Blue Lord, is three from three over fences this season and is out to complete a Grade One hat-trick after winning the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown and the Arkle at Cheltenham.

“El Fabiolo looks like he could be the real deal and could be the one contending for championship honours next year,” said Mullins.

“We just hope we can keep him right, keep him sound. The type of performance he put in was fantastic. He’s a real nice prospect to have in the yard for next season.”

El Fabiolo is set to face just three rivals, including a couple of fellow Closutton inmates in Dysart Dynamo and Saint Roi.

Dysart Dynamo looked booked for minor honours when falling at the final fence in the Arkle at Cheltenham, a race in which Saint Roi finished third before going on to fill the runner-up spot in in another Grade One at Aintree a fortnight ago.

Dysart Dynamo in action at Cheltenham
Dysart Dynamo in action at Cheltenham (David Davies/Jockey Club)

Mullins added: “Dysart Dynamo can be his own worst enemy, but a lot of people like that in a horse too – that he’s so exuberant and loves his game.

“I’m hoping he gets older or gets a bit wiser he learns how to settle and temper his enthusiasm, but of course half his ability might be his enthusiasm, especially for two-mile chases.

“He’s always a horse to be afraid of and one day he’ll put it all together and maybe put in a huge performance.

“Saint Roi seems to have come back fine from Aintree and we might roll the dice and let him take his chance. It’s a big prize and he won’t be doing anything else after this.”

The field is completed by Mouse Morris-trained outsider Indiana Jones.