Tag Archive for: Punchestown

All systems go for Love Envoi raid on Punchestown

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Harry Fry’s Love Envoi is aiming for Grade One glory in the Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.

The seven-year-old took the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season and was unbeaten in her two runs prior to the meeting this year, landing both a handicap and a Listed event when running at Sandown each time.

She was an 11-1 chance in a top-notch renewal of the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park and was eventually beaten a length and a half by Honeysuckle after a brave tussle with the winner over the last and to the line.

Punchestown was quickly mooted by connections as a next port of call should she fare well following the race, and the weekend is now on the horizon for the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate-owned bay mare.

“It’s all systems go for Punchestown, the plan is to go over there and take on the Irish horses,” said Fehily.

Love Envoi at Sandown
Love Envoi at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

“Harry is very happy with her, it was the obvious next race for her. We always said that if she came out of Cheltenham well enough then we would go to Punchestown with her and she seems to have come out of it very well, we’re going to run.

“She keeps on improving, keeps on surprising us. She’s just a very tough, likeable filly. She deserves a Grade One and hopefully we can tick that box.”

Love Envoi has been ridden by Jonathan Burke in all but one of her starts under rules, but the jockey broke his arm in a fall from Sam Brown in the Grand National and is out of action as his injury heals.

Mark Walsh has been called up to deputise, a rider who has enjoyed Punchestown success when teaming up with Fry before as the pair took the 2019 Champion Stayers Hurdle with Unowhatimeanharry and the Mares Handicap Hurdle with Pure Bliss in 2021.

Fehily said: “We’re delighted to get Mark on board, it’s very unfortunate for Johnny to be missing about because he’s probably been the making of this mare. She wasn’t easy in her early days and he handled her very well.

“It’s great to have Mark on board, he’s an experienced jockey and he’s ridden Grade One winners for Harry Fry in Punchestown before so hopefully he can ride another one for us.”

Bravemansgame given go-ahead for Punchestown on Wednesday

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Bravemansgame has been given clearance to run in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday with Bryan Drew confirmed as the sole owner.

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding, most recently seen finishing second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup to Galopin Des Champs, who he is due to meet again, was previously under the joint-ownership of Drew and John Dance.

Dance founded Vertem Asset Management, a prominent sponsor within racing, but that firm is one of three trading names of WealthTek LLP, which was ordered to cease trading by the Financial Conduct Authority due to “serious regulatory and operational issues coming to light”.

As a result Bravemansgame was prevented via a court order from running at Aintree, but Dance’s share has now been sold to Drew and he is able to run again.

A statement from the British Horseracing Authority read: “The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today informed the British Horseracing Authority that it has agreed to the sale, following an independent valuation, of Mr Dance’s 50 per cent share of Bravemansgame. The gelding was previously owned in partnership by John Dance and Bryan Drew, and has now been sold into the sole ownership of Bryan Drew.

“As a result Bravemansgame is now able to be declared for races, including the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup at Punchestown on Wednesday.

“The BHA remains in dialogue with the FCA and Mr Dance regarding the status of Mr Dance’s other horses.”

Nicholls can now look forward to getting Bravemansgame back in action, with the extra time from Cheltenham seen as a positive.

“We schooled Bravemansgame this morning and he was good. He’s fresh and well and we’re looking forward to travelling,” said the champion trainer.

Harry Cobden celebrates with Bravemansgame
Harry Cobden celebrates with Bravemansgame (John Walton/PA)

“He appeared to recover quickly from Cheltenham, but I think the extra 12 days will have done him good from when we had planned to run at Aintree. A lot of our horses are in really good form at the moment so it will have done him good.

“As long as you have the right horses, Punchestown is worth going to and it’s been good for us since Sporazene and Le Roi Miguel.

“Bravemansgame has never been away overnight before. It’s his first time travelling to run so hopefully he takes to that OK. Shantou Flyer is travelling to keep him company. They will stay at Punchestown and hopefully they settle down well. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Galopin Des Champs, meanwhile, is reported in top shape by Willie Mullins – who remains full of praise for Paul Townend’s ride at Cheltenham.

“Over the third-last, Paul had him back, collected and balanced in about three strides and I said ‘wow, he’s confident’.

Galopin Des Champs (left) and Bravemansgame clash again
Galopin Des Champs (left) and Bravemansgame clash again (Steve Paston/PA)

“He just pulled him together, you see him waiting to get around the bend and find a clear path. I hoped we had enough in the tank and the way it worked, he was very cool when he needed to be.

“He’s come out of Cheltenham well, we’re very happy with him.

Ryanair Chase hero Envoi Allen takes his chance for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore, with Shark Hanlon’s Gold Cup faller Hewick also in the mix after side-stepping the Grand National.

Gordon Elliott’s Fury Road parted ways with rider Jonjo O’Neill jr at the second in the Grand National and has been rerouted to Punchestown as a result, with Martin Brassil’s Ultima runner-up Fastorslow completing the field of six.

In the Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle there are a host of horses who finished the runner-up last time out, with Noel Meade’s Albert Bartlett second Affordale Fury and Mullins’ Ballymore second Gaelic Warrior both entered.

Donald McCain’s Maximilian brings Aintree form to the table as he was most recently seen coming home second to Apple Away in the Sefton at the Grand National meeting.

The Weatherbys Champion Bumper hero is back in action in A Dream To Share, for John Kiely in the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race.

It’s For Me, fifth in the Cheltenham race, is down to run for Mullins, as are unbeaten prospects Ballyburn and Tullyhill – with each horse having won a bumper and a point-to-point to date.

Energumene headlines day one at Punchestown

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Energumene looks set to be the star attraction on day one of the Punchestown Festival with the champion two-miler heading a six-strong field for the William Hill Champion Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old was sensational in successfully defending his crown in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month and will be cramped odds to do the same in County Kildare on Tuesday under Paul Townend.

Mullins also saddles the 2021 winner of this Grade One contest in Chacun Pour Soi, as well as Gentleman De Mee and Blue Lord.

Henry de Bromhead’s Magic Daze and Rebel Gold from Patrick Foley’s yard complete the line-up.

It looks set to be another dominant day for Mullins, with the champion trainer also appears to hold all the aces in the other two Grade Ones on the card.

The KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle appears to present Facile Vega with a good opportunity to get back on the winning trail after finding Marine Nationale too strong in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last month.

Diverge was third in the same race for Mullins and takes on Facile Vega again, as does his fifth-placed stablemate Il Etait Temps. Found A Fifty (Gordon Elliott) and No Looking Back (Oliver McKiernan) are the other hopefuls.

Appreciate It returns to the Naas winner's enclosure
Appreciate It returns to the Naas winner’s enclosure (Gary Carson/PA)

Five of the six runners declared for the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase hail from Closutton, with Willie Mullins saddling four and his nephew Emmet running one.

Townend has seemingly sided with Appreciate It over the Cheveley Park Stud-owned pair of Classic Getaway (Danny Mullins) and Sir Gerhard (Patrick Mullins), while Daryl Jacob partners the apparent fourth string James Du Berlais for his retaining owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Feronily represents Emmet Mullins, while Journey With Me looks a major contender for De Bromhead having been kept fresh since winning a Grade Three prize at Naas the weekend before the Cheltenham Festival.

Envoi Allen has ‘definite aim’ of going for gold at Punchestown

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Henry de Bromhead’s Envoi Allen will target the Punchestown Gold Cup after his fantastic Ryanair Chase success.

The multiple Grade One winner disappointed in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day day but was right back at his best at the Cheltenham Festival, defeating Nicky Henderson’s Shishkin by two and three-quarter lengths.

De Bromhead has drawn a line through the Kempton run and is now targeting the Cheveley Park-owned gelding at the Ladbrokes-sponsored showpiece on April 26.

“This is a definite aim for Envoi Allen,” he said of the Punchestown feature.

““He was a good winner of the Grade One in Down Royal (Ladbrokes Champion Chase) over three miles and his only blip this season was in the King George VI at Kempton.

Rachael Blackmore and Envoi Allen
Rachael Blackmore and Envoi Allen (Mike Egerton/PA)

“At that time, we had three horses that went over to England and ran appallingly, though Envoi and A Plus Tard had independent reasons for that. Still, they were all beaten after three fences.

“In fairness to Envoi, he has done very little wrong and was brilliant in the Ryanair. He seems really good since then.”

However, plans are still fluid for stablemate Minella Indo, who was pulled up with a lap to go when trying to reclaim his Cheltenham Gold Cup title.

“Minella Indo was very disappointing in the Gold Cup,” De Bromhead said.

“The start was a mess for him and nothing seemed to go right after that. He seems well again now and we’ve got three weeks to decide what we want to do.”

Envoi Allen and Minella Indo are part of a potentially stellar cast, which includes Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs (Willie Mullins) and runner-up Bravemansgame (Paul Nicholls). Shark Hanlon’s Hewick – who was still in the mix when departing two from home in the Gold Cup – is also engaged.

Martin keeping an open mind on Good Time Jonny plans

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Tony Martin will wait before making plans for Good Time Jonny on the back of his scintillating victory in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The eight-year-old gave the trainer a memorable success in the three-mile Grade Three event, coming from last to first under 5lb claimer Liam McKenna.

The manner of victory was all the more remarkable, as the rider had to overcome plenty of trouble in running.

“It was an absolutely brilliant ride for a lad claiming 5lb, but then Liam is a good rider,” said Martin.

“If the horse is not travelling or not jumping, or you’re not getting a clear run, there is just no point forcing them, they won’t get home.

“He didn’t have the nicest of runs through the race. The nerve to sit and the patience he showed, it reminded me of Ruby Walsh or Davy Russell.

“He was very similar to Ruby. When the race didn’t work out, he had the patience and the brilliance to sit and let the race come to him, and not chase it.”

The Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree is among the future options being pondered, along with targets closer to home.

“He’s good, so we will just see how we are as to where we go, whether it is Liverpool, Fairyhouse or Punchestown,” added Martin.

“He will go one way or the other. I’ve been very happy with him. We’ll give him a week before making a plan.

“The horses tell us themselves. We can make a plan if we have enough time. We will see how the race affects him. All the options are there.

“We would like to get two more rolls at the dice before we let him off, but if we get one where he can show his true colours, it would be far better for him that he could do himself justice, rather than try to squeeze in two where we’d rush him.”

Tony Martin reminding everyone he is still a force
Tony Martin reminding everyone he is still a force (PA)

Martin admits he has had a few lean years, but a Cheltenham winner has certainly buoyed the yard.

“It’s hard,” said Martin. “We had bad times for a few years and were out of the place we were. If you are not keeping the ship sailing, you are not attracting owners.

“There are a few lads on side at the moment, a brilliant man gave me an order for two nice horses the other day.

“Any Cheltenham winner ranks high. It’s like when you are playing golf at the Masters, or soccer in the European Cup, Cheltenham is really the be-all and end-all in National Hunt racing, similar to Royal Ascot or the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on the Flat. Of course you rank it highly.”

Three Card Brag team looking forward to chasing campaign

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Connections are keen to take the positives from Three Card Brag’s fifth-placed finish in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.

Stepped up to three miles for the first time, the Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old was sent off 4-1 second-favourite for the Grade One event on Gold Cup day.

However, despite travelling kindly throughout for Adrian Heskin and finding himself in a prime position to challenge as the protagonists rounded the home turn, Three Card Brag was unable to go on as the lung-busting scramble up the Cheltenham hill ensued and finished five and a half lengths adrift of the winner Stay Away Fay.

What might have been if the race had been run on any other day of the Festival will never be known – with drying conditions on the final day going against their charge. However, hopes are high he can return to Prestbury Park and make his mark at the big meeting in the future.

“He ran well and it was perhaps slightly frustrating he wasn’t in the first four,” said Iain Turner, racing manager for the McNeill family – who own Three Card Brag along with Patrick and Scott Bryceland.

“We were happy with Three Card and we probably couldn’t have done anything different with him.

“If there was a slight frustration it is you forget how quickly Cheltenham dries and we could have done with some of that ground they were going through on the Thursday. Some of that rain they were talking about for Thursday evening and Friday morning never really arrived.

Three Card Brag at Cheltenham
Three Card Brag at Cheltenham (Steven Paston/PA)

“He ran very well and with credit. Adrian was very happy with him over the three miles and said he felt an easier ride.

“Also promising, with the future in mind, is that he took the journey over and the travel well and then handled the track – everything which goes with a Festival race – which is all a positive for if we are to return in future seasons.”

Thoughts are already turning to next season and hopes are high Three Card Brag will rank high amongst the next cohort of novice chasers.

However, with both Aintree and Punchestown still to come, there is the possibility his novice hurdling endeavours are not fully finished, with a drop back to two and a half miles for the valuable Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final a tempting proposition during the Kildare venue’s five-day Festival next month.

“I don’t think you would be writing off going to either Punchestown or Aintree and he does have the option of dropping back in trip for the Red Mills Final which he qualified for at Galway right back at the beginning of the season,” said Turner.

“He still has the option of running in that race and there isn’t much difference in prize money between that and one of the graded races. But we will leave it up to Gordon. He came out of the race at Cheltenham fine and we’ll just see how he gets on over the next few weeks.

“If he doesn’t run again, he doesn’t owe us anything – he’s won a couple, placed in a couple of graded races then finished fifth at the Festival.

“He’s had a good season and we’re looking forward to novice chasing with him. He looks an exciting one for chasing next year, so fingers crossed he stays sound and then we’ve something to look forward to over fences.”

Queens Brook gets the better of Brandy Love at Punchestown

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Queens Brook justified strong market support and lowered the colours of Brandy Love in the process when winning the Racing TV Quevega Mares Hurdle at Punchestown.

The Willie Mullins-trained Brandy Love was the overnight favourite to return to action with a win as the only horse to beat Harry Fry’s Love Envoi to date.

However, the mare much prefers to go left-handed and she found conceding 9lb and race fitness to Gordon Elliott’s Queens Brook a step too far.

As race time approached, Queens Brook’s price contracted until eventually she was sent off the 11-8 favourite and having jumped economically throughout, when she took up the running before turning for home, Brandy Love could not bridge the gap.

Jordan Gainford did not have to get too serious and just kept his mount up to her work to win by four and a half lengths, with Anna Bunina staying on to pip Brandy Love for second.

“She’s very good, her form is rock solid. She enjoyed it around there and I thought from the bend to the last that she picked up very well. It’s nice to see her doing that,” said Gainford.

“That inside track is riding very tight today to be honest. She’s a mare that is consistent and she’s there every day.”

Brandy Love was pushed out to 10-1 from 7-2 for the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham by Betfair with the winner trimmed into 8s from 10s.

There was drama in the I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle which went the way of 66-1 chance Connors Cross.

Noel Meade’s 11-8 favourite Faulty still held every chance on the final bend when slipping up, causing jockey Bryan Cooper to give up his remaining mounts.

“I thought he’d run a lot better in Naas but he actually struck into himself, either going to the start or during the race,” said winning trainer James Fahey.

“I’m delighted for the boys that it worked out. I think they had a few quid on him, he was 100-1 this morning.”

The opening Racing TV Maiden Hurdle was also eventful as Elliott’s 6-4 favourite I Am Fortunata was in front at halfway before running out.

The race went the way of Pat Flynn’s Soldier Solid.

Barry Connell’s good recent run continued when Nine Graces (11-4) won the Racing TV Mares Maiden Hurdle under Michael O’Sullivan.

“We bought her out of a schooling hurdle in Tipperary about two years ago after she ran well in that,” said Connell.

“I ran her in three bumpers, she ran OK the first time, but ran worse the next time and worse the time after. She hated bumpers so we said we’d go back to square on and put her over an obstacle.

“We were getting 8lb from the second and we also had Mikey’s 5lb, so we’re not getting carried away.

“We’ll probably get a handicap mark and see where we are. If she improves a bit further, the mares’ program is there for her.

“The way she attacks the hurdles, I think she could be a graded mare over fences in time.”

Brandy back in action at Punchestown

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Leading Cheltenham Festival contender Brandy Love will return from 10 months off the track in the Quevega Mares Hurdle at Punchestown on Wednesday.

The seven-year-old will be a hot favourite to make a successful reappearance in a Grade Three contest Willie Mullins has farmed in recent years, with six of the last seven winners hailing from Closutton.

Brandy Love, who not been seen in competitive action since slamming Cheltenham Festival heroine Love Envoi in the Grade One Mares Novice Hurdle Championship Final at Fairyhouse in April, will sport new colours on her comeback having been snapped up by Gold Cup-winning owners Joe and Marie Donnelly.

She is a 7-2 chance with Paddy Power to provide Mullins with a 10th victory in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and those odds are sure to contract further if she can make a winning return in a race that has previously won by the likes of Annie Power (2016), Limini (2017) and Laurina (2019).

The biggest threat to Brandy Love in the Racing TV-sponsored contest appears to be the Gordon Elliott-trained Queens Brook, who was last seen chasing home another high-class Mullins mare in Shewearsitwell at Leopardstown in December.

John McConnell’s Scottish Champion Hurdle winner Anna Bunina also merits consideration off the back of finishing fourth to Gaelic Warrior in a competitive handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Declan Queally’s pair of My Design and Robyndeglory, the Stuart Crawford-trained Ailie Rose and Rebel Ivy from James Motherway’s yard complete the field.

Ballyburn helps Mullins tighten grip on Champion Bumper

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Willie Mullins strengthened his grasp on the Weatherbys Champion Bumper when Ballyburn powered home to land the Hospitality At Festival 2023 (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Punchestown.

An impressive winner of his sole point-to-point, he was sent off the 7-4 second-favourite behind Irish Panther in the hands of Patrick Mullins for his rules bow.

Keen throughout when tracking the pace-setting Quantum Storm, the son of Flemensfirth took some time to hit top gear once entering the straight, but had the after-burners switched firmly on at the finish in registering a going-away two-and-a-quarter-length success.

The winner was cut to 7-1 from 14s for the Cheltenham Festival bumper by Paddy Power, which means the Closutton handler is now responsible for five of the top six in the market for the Prestbury Park Grade One he won 12 months ago with Facile Vega.

“It was a very good performance from the horse and jockey. He was too keen the whole way and to produce a run like that after running so keen for a mile and three-quarters showed that he has a lot left in the locker,” said Mullins.

“He’s a horse that we’re really looking forward to going over jumps. He looks a real chaser in the making, however he probably booked a ticket to Cheltenham with that run.

“He looks an exciting recruit for Ronnie Bartlett and David Manasseh, who is a football agent.

“It looked a fair race, in very tough ground.”

Mullins was also on the scoresheet when the Danny Mullins-ridden Hauturiere (5-1) took advantage of favourite Harmonya Maker unseating Jordan Gainford to claim the Listed Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle

Hauturiere returns after winning the Listed Apple's Jade Mares Novice Hurdle
Hauturiere returns after winning the Listed Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle (PA)

“It was another fine tactical ride by Danny, I thought,” said Mullins.

“They went off very fast and anything that was up there early on couldn’t stay the pace. It took a lot of getting at that pace and she’s shown us that she’s a stayer.

“She was very keen early on in her career, but now she’s learning how to settle and race.

“She might get an entry in a handicap at Cheltenham or maybe wait for Fairyhouse. We’ll see what sort of rating she gets.

“You could look at the Martin Pipe or Coral Cup.”

Stealthy Tom enhanced Enda Bolger’s fine record in the ARKequine Aquatabs Inline P.P. Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase.

Stealthy Tom after winning at Punchestown
Stealthy Tom after winning at Punchestown (PA)

The Howardstown handler has won seven of the last 10 running’s of the this contest with the last four victories all on behalf of leading owner JP McManus.

And it was the green and gold silks that were carried to success once again by Simon Torrens as he came home a length and a quarter clear of 7-2 favourite Singing Banjos aboard the 8-1 shot.

“He ran a lovely race here in the spring. I was giving the other two a better chance because he hadn’t run since last August in Killarney,” said Bolger.

“He got a lovely ride from Simon and he was nice and patient on him. He’s only seven so he’s going to be a nice horse for this game for the future.

“I was happy I had him in today because the other two boys underperformed. He’s found his niche so we’ll stick with these with him.”

A trip to the cross-country equivalent at the Cheltenham Festival is not out of the question for the winner, but it appears that all roads lead back to Kildare track for the La Touche Cup during the Punchestown Festival.

“We’ll see, I’ll talk to the boss and see what they want to do – whether the experience would do him good,” added Bolger.

“Definitely all roads will lead to the La Touche with him and he would go on nicer ground as well which is a plus for the spring meeting.

“Cheltenham is a pretty hot race and we have to see where Galvin is going to appear as well. We’re only rated 105 but he excels over those.

“He hadn’t run for a while so we’ll see how he comes out of this and make a decision. The entries don’t close for a couple of weeks anyway. He’d be the only one for it.”

Torrens was also aboard Patrick Foley’s Verdant Place (5-2 favourite) when winning the David Trundley Artist At Punchestown Handicap Hurdle.

Coko Beach is Aintree-bound again following Punchestown win

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Coko Beach looks to have booked a return to Aintree having led home a Gordon Elliott one-two-three in the QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase at Punchestown.

Fourth to stablemate Death Duty in this 12 months ago, the eight-year-old went on to finish a well-held eighth behind Noble Yeats in the Randox Grand National two runs later and could now follow a similar path having found the scoresheet for the first time since February 2021.

The classy grey arrived at the Kildare track on the back of a respectable fourth in the Thyestes at Gowran last month and was sent off the shortest of the four Cullentra House representatives at 7-1.

Never far from the pace in the hands of Ben Harvey, he edged his way to the front travelling with plenty of zest at four out.

Sam Curling’s 15-8 favourite Angels Dawn was also moving menacingly into contention and looked a real threat when moving to Coko Beach’s tail three out.

However, the race was soon over as a contest when Angels Dawn unshipped Cian Quirke at the second-last and all that the blinkered Coko Beach had to do was burn off the retreating Stones And Roses and storm up the straight for a commanding five-and-a-half-length success over the defending champion Death Duty, with Defi Bleu the bronze medallist a further half length back.

Both Paddy Power and Betfair went 33-1 from 66s for the Grand National on April 15, and Elliott confirmed Aintree was on the agenda.

He said: “We said we’d ride him a little bit more restrained today, just take our time a little bit more as we’ve been making a lot of use of him lately.

“I thought he ran a good race, he jumped well and he said when he got to the front he didn’t do a stroke. He gave the last a big jump and it’s nice to win it.

“I’d imagine he’ll go to Aintree, there’s not much at Cheltenham for him. I’d imagine they’ll all be heading towards the Nationals, English and Irish.

Coko Beach, here ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr in action during the Randox Grand National in 2022, is on course for a return to Aintree
Coko Beach, here ridden by Jonjo O’Neill Jr in action during the Randox Grand National in 2022, is on course for a return to Aintree (Mike Egerton/PA)

“The winner runs his race all the time and is a grand horse. He finished eighth in the National last year and was right there until the third-last.

“Death Duty ran well, he said he would have been bang there only for missing the fourth- and third-last.

“He’s a good horse but he’s not easy to train”