Tag Archive for: Punchestown

Diverge books Supreme ticket with Punchestown romp

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Diverge gave High Definition’s form a major boost ahead of this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival with a wide-margin victory in the opening race at Punchestown on Monday.

One-time Derby favourite High Definition made a smart start to his hurdling career at Leopardstown over the Christmas period and is set for an intriguing clash with Facile Vega in the Grade One Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle on Sunday.

Diverge was beaten 20 lengths into sixth place by High Definition on what was his Irish debut, and on the strength of that form he was a 10-11 favourite to open his account for Willie Mullins in Punchestown’s Bar One Racing “Best Odds Guaranteed All Races” Maiden Hurdle.

Those who took the cramped odds will have had few concerns for the duration of the two-mile contest, with the five-year-old son of Frankel pulling 23 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer Mon Coeur – leaving Mullins to consider a possible tilt at the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

“He did it well and improved a lot from the last day,” said the champion trainer.

“We changed the tactics as he was very free in Leopardstown. I said to Paul (Townend) ‘don’t be fighting him too much’. We thought there might be enough pace in the race, but our fella just seemed to want to jump past Danny (Mullins, on Stellium) so Paul let him on and let him enjoy himself. He loves jumping.

“He has entries at Cheltenham and we’d probably be looking at the Supreme. Any horse that wins his maiden by 23 lengths on his second run has to. He looks like he’s booked a place on the team anyway.”

Haxo and Danny Mullins return to the Punchestown winner's enclosure
Haxo and Danny Mullins return to the Punchestown winner’s enclosure (Gary Carson/PA)

The Closutton handler doubled up in the Bar One Racing ‘We’ll Lay You A Bet’ (C & G) Maiden Hurdle – but it was his apparent second string Haxo who claimed top honours.

Sir Argus was the 4-11 favourite under Townend, but he was reeled in on the run-in by 7-2 chance Haxo and Danny Mullins, who was also completing a double of his own following a dead-heat victory aboard Princess Zoe, trained by his father Tony.

“For jumping Haxo deserved to win that and that’s what won it for him in the end,” Willie Mullins added.

“He’s a second-season novice and jumped really well. He’s a nice type and looks a chaser in the making.

“Sir Argus, I think, just lost his confidence after his fall the last day in Clonmel. He’s done plenty of schooling, but on the racecourse he seems to have lost his confidence. We’ll have to keep him schooling and try to get him back right.”

Princess Zoe has to settle for dead-heat on jumping debut

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Princess Zoe had to settle for a share of the honours on her jumping debut at Punchestown, after a dead-heat finish to the Bar One Racing “Bet 10 Get 50 Sign Up Offer” Mares Maiden Hurdle.

The Tony Mullins-trained grey has been a fantastic servant over the past four years, with a Group One triumph in the 2020 Prix du Cadran the highlight of a Flat career that also saw he win the Group Three Sagaro Stakes at Ascot and finish second to Subjectivist in the Gold Cup.

She looked set to be retired for broodmare duties in 2023, but failed to meet her reserve price at the Tattersalls December Sale, prompting connections into a rethink.

Following a pleasing schooling session last week, Princess Zoe was given the green light to give hurdling a go with a view to a potential appearance at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Despite her exploits on the level, she was not even favourite for her first start in the National Hunt sphere, with the Willie Mullins-trained Pink In The Park preferred at a shade of odds-on at 10-11.

The top two in the market were the first two in the race for much of the two-and-a-half-mile journey, with 5-4 chance Princess Zoe asserting into a clear lead on the second circuit under Danny Mullins.

Having jumped adequately in the main, the eight-year-old looked to have victory sewn up after travelling strongly into the straight, but she flattened the final flight, giving Henry de Bromhead’s Ladybank – carrying the Honeysuckle colours of Kenny Alexander under Rachael Blackmore – a real shot on the run-in.

There was nothing to choose between the pair on the approach to the winning line and they flashed by as one. After a tense wait, the judge confirmed he could not split them and declared a dead-heat.

Paddy Power make Princess Zoe a 16-1 chance for the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, which appears likely to be her target over the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

Tony Mullins with Princess Zoe at Punchestown
Tony Mullins with Princess Zoe at Punchestown (Gary Carson/PA)

And Mullins, who admitted to being nervous about whether his stable star would take to the jumping game, is confident there is more to come from her ahead of the Festival.

He said: “We’re very happy with her. Danny said he thought she was a little guessy on her own at one or two of them.

“At the moment we’re thinking of the mares’ novice at Cheltenham but it’s not definite. It looks the logical way as opposed to the Albert Bartlett.

“I thought she was a little gassy having not run for a while. That might have emptied her a little.

“We had all her work done at home but she needs that run to bring her to herself. Danny said when she was gassy early on he’d let her go to the front and then she just had nothing with her. I think it was a very good performance to jump out and make all.”

He added: “I’m very happy with her. She’s taken to jumping and she’s brave, usually they might be ducking at hurdles but she didn’t do any of that.

“I don’t think she’ll run again before Cheltenham.”

Looking beyond the Festival, Mullins is not ruling out the possibility of Princess Zoe reverting to the Flat for some of the major staying prizes later in the year.

Tony Mullins with Princess Zoe at the 2020 Galway Festival
Tony Mullins with Princess Zoe at the 2020 Galway Festival (PA)

He added: “Paddy (Kehoe, part-owner) has always said to me that as long as she’s able to run breeding is only secondary to him. Who am I to complain?

“It’s great for the likes of me because we’ll never have the likes of her again. She’s just a great mare.

“Something did happen last year (on the Flat), we never noticed in her work but maybe Kyprios is such a powerhouse that it emptied her.

“Every time we thought we were going to get back and show him but we never did. I’d say Kyprios is one of the all-time greats, that’s what I think. We might have another go at him.”

Impervious impresses with gutsy Punchestown success

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Impervious remains unbeaten over fences after a tough triumph in the Madigan Group Novice Chase at Punchestown.

The mare won on her debut over fences and then took a Grade Two contest against her own sex last time for trainer Colm Murphy, leaving her to carry a penalty amongst a field of geldings.

That burden was largely negated by her mares’ allowance, and under Brian Hayes the seven-year-old started at 3-1 for the Grade Three contest.

Locked in a run for the line with Henry de Bromhead’s Journey With Me, Impervious battled to get her head in front and eventually prevailed by half a length with the rest of the field 22 lengths or more behind.

As a result, Impervious is now the sponsor’s 6-4 favourite for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

“I’m delighted with that,” said Murphy.

“It was a tall order giving weight to those boys.

“It was probably a little, tiny worry running her on heavy ground too, but she’s answered a lot of questions. We can make more plans now.

“She’s one of those, she wears her heart on her sleeve and she gives everything.”

When asked if she would go straight to the Cheltenham Festival  the trainer added: “Without talking to the lads I’m guessing so. I’ll have a word with Frank (Berry, racing manager) and JP (McManus, owner) and see then.

“She seems to be improving and especially with those fillies, when they start improving you don’t know where they’ll end up but I do know it’s nice to have her.”

Royal Thief returned from a 782-day absence to land the Total Event Rental Amateur National for Patrick Mullins and Henry de Bromhead.

The gelding made a winning start to his chasing career in 2020 before being brought down on his next run and he had been off the track since.

Mullins’ mount was a 14-1 chance and took no time to hit his stride after the long lay-off, jumping well and prevailing by 10 lengths.

“I’m delighted with that. Patrick was brilliant on him,” said De Bromhead.

“He said there was a fresh strip out at the wing and he went that way so fair play to him. It worked really well.

“He hadn’t run for a long time so it’s great and I’m delighted for (owners) Gigginstown. He ran well in the Pertemps a few years ago, then won his beginners’ chase and got hurt.

“We’re in no panic with him now, we’ll enjoy today and have no major plans.”

Davy Russell partners first winner since riding return

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Sa Fureur provided Davy Russell with his first winner since returning from a short-lived retirement to deputise for the injured Jack Kennedy.

Russell initially hung up his boots in mid December, leaving Kennedy to take up the role as Gordon Elliott’s stable jockey.

However, after Kennedy broke his leg in a fall last Sunday, Russell announced on Wednesday he would temporarily resume riding for Elliott and at Punchestown the rider enjoyed his first victory since doing so.

Partnering Sa Fureur for Elliott in the second division of the Seamus & Annie Hughes Memorial Maiden Hurdle, Russell was a four-and-a-quarter-length victor at 3-1.

“That’s grand, I panicked a little bit and took it up early enough, but to be fair to the horse he stayed at it well,” said Russell.

“Winning is what it’s all about and it’s great to be back in the winners’ enclosure.

“We’re a close team, Gordon knows I’ll be giving him 100 percent and vice versa. I’m having a good blow now!

“We’re very lucky as a sport with the people that follow us, they have a love and interest in the sport. It’s great and having a bit of life around the place is super.”

Impaire Et Passe jets home in Moscow Flyer

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Impaire Et Passe’s reputation continues to grow after an unchallenged success in the SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

The five-year-old had a French bumper win under his belt before joining Willie Mullins’ stable for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, after which he won a Naas maiden hurdle by 18 lengths in December.

That performance left him the 1-3 favourite in a small-field renewal of the two-mile Moscow Flyer, a price that was substantiated when the gelding strolled home six and a half lengths ahead under Paul Townend.

As a result Impaire Et Passe has been trimmed in the market for both the Supreme and the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival, becoming a 6-1 chance for both races with Betfair and Paddy Power.

“He was very good, he showed a good turn of foot. As we said after Naas, he doesn’t show us that at home,” Townend said of the Grade Two victory.

“I was very happy with him there, he jumped like a buck and the only hurdle he was slow at was the last when he was in front, but he picked up nicely at the back of it again.

“The worry was coming back in trip but he showed pace today.

“I don’t know (how good he is) because we can’t get him to do it at home to be honest, but he keeps doing it on the track.

“I think he’s very smart and he gave me a great feel today.”

Townend also added that the Dublin Racing Festival may come a bit too quickly for the horse, saying: “I don’t know if Willie normally comes here and goes to the Dublin Racing Festival.

“I’d say this is the one instead of it, but wherever he goes I wouldn’t mind being on his back.”

All eyes set to be on exciting Impaire Et Passe at Punchestown

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Impaire Et Passe, who made such an impression when winning on his debut for Willie Mullins at Naas, aims to live up to his reputation in the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novices’ Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

Owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, the French import blitzed the field by 18 lengths in a race which did see several hurdles omitted due to low sun.

He steps up to Grade Two level and takes on Gordon Elliott’s unbeaten mare Shecouldbeanything in a field of five, but he is set to go off a very short-priced favourite.

Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: “Some horses thrive after winning a race and you can see them grow in confidence and Impaire Et Passe has come out of the race really well and I’d like to think he will progress from it.

“We’d like to think that he will be at the top end of his division.”

Paul Townend was on board at Naas and will be again.

“He made a big impact when he won his maiden hurdle at Naas,” Townend told his Ladbrokes blog.

“It probably wasn’t the strongest of races but the way he won it was very impressive. He’s a lot better on the course than he shows us at home and that is no problem. That is the way you want them to be.

“His maiden was over two and a quarter miles, but he is back to two miles here. I don’t think that is going to cause a huge issue for him.

“We have to give 8lb to three of our rivals but if he is going to be the horse that we think he could be, I think he can handle that. I am really looking forward to getting back on him and he is my best ride of the day.”

The race has been moved to first on the card in an attempt to run it in the best possible conditions. The ground is already heavy and the maiden hurdle has been divided with maximum fields in each division.

Ha D'or (left) in action at the Punchestown Festival
Ha D’or (left) in action at the Punchestown Festival (Brian Lawless/PA)

Townend has picked Ha D’or over Glengouly in the Grade Three Madigan Group Novice Chase.

“He was very impressive when winning at Fairyhouse on his first run over fences,” he said. “He seemed much more manageable and relaxed that day than he had been last year.

“It is a competitive race. It is a hot little contest with Minella Crooner, Journey With Me, Glengouly, Impervious in there, who are all last time out winners.

“However, I think my horse has improved from the level he was running at over hurdles last year, and that was a pretty good level. Any improvement on that will put him bang in the mix here.”

Impaire Et Passe set to test Festival credentials at Punchestown

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Willie Mullins will test runaway maiden winner Impaire Et Passe among Grade Two company in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

The five-year-old joined the Mullins stable with a six-length French bumper win under his belt and made his debut over hurdles in a Naas maiden shortly before Christmas.

Carrying the double green silks of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, he was a leisurely 18-length victor from a busy field that included 23 rivals.

A step up in class now follows in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, a race Mullins has historically dominated with horses such as Vautour, Douvan, Min and most recently Dysart Dynamo.

“I think Impaire Et Passe is the obvious candidate for the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle,” said Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father.

“He is a big scopey horse who won well at Naas the last day.

“He had been working well at home going to Naas but certainly nothing like what he showed that day and that surpassed our expectations.”

The Mullins stable have a second entrant in the race in the shape of Tax For Max, a more experienced six-year-old who will represent the same owners.

Delight for Jack Kennedy with victory at Punchestown

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Jack Kennedy made a triumphant return from injury when steering Get Rich Die Plyin home in front in the Enter Now For Goffs December National Hunt Sale Maiden Hurdle at Punchestown.

The leading jockey enjoyed a smooth success on the Gordon Elliott-trained five-year-old, on his first ride since suffering a broken leg in a fall at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, an injury which came less than an hour after lifting the Irish Gold Cup aboard Delta Work.

Get Rich Die Plyin was the 5-4 favourite for his assignment and had no trouble dispatching the opposition as he opened his account by 15 lengths from Cardboard Gangster.

A delighted Kennedy said: “I couldn’t have asked for a better start, so long may it continue.

“I’ve been back riding out for three weeks, and I’m having a good old blow after that. Everything felt as good as expected.” 

Elliott was pleased to have Kennedy back in the fold after nearly seven months out.

The County Meath handler said: “It’s great to have Jack back with a winner. Everyone knows he’s been off since February, but he showed at the Dublin Racing Festival the class of rider he is.

“He’d just won the Irish Gold Cup and to get back with a winner is very important. Everyone is delighted for him.”

Of Get Rich Die Plyin, he added: “He’s a grand horse and he probably wants more of a trip. We’ll try to find a winners of one race over three miles.”

Following the victory, Elliott went on to reveal stable star Envoi Allen will pursue a career over fences this season.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding is unbeaten in eight starts under rules and was last seen winning at the Cheltenham Festival for a second time in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle.

Asked whether Envoi Allen will go chasing this term, Elliott told Racing TV: “He was bought to be a Gold Cup horse, so you can use your head after that.”