The recent rain will be welcomed at Punchestown where the five-day National Hunt Festival starts on Tuesday, 29 April. Let’s take a look at some of the expected highlights on the track.
Tuesday, 29 April
One of the most special moments at this year’s Cheltenham Festival was the success of Marine Nationale in the Champion Chase. Owned and trained by Barry Connell, this horse launched the career of jockey Michael O’Sullivan, the 24-year-old who died in February.
Marine Nationale won the Champion Chase by almost 20 lengths and the opposition he faces in the William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown should not be too taxing.
“He’s great, in super form,” reports Connell. “He came out of the race brilliant. I think he was the easiest winner of the whole week and he’s come out of the race in super shape.
“We couldn’t be happier with him now looking forward to Punchestown, and whatever turns up, we’ll be happy to take them on.”
Mary and Jimmy Mangan have high hopes for Spillane's Tower.
Photo: Healy Racing
Wednesday, 30 April
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin has been sent on his summer holidays, but his owner JP McManus has another strong contender for the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup in the shape of Spillane’s Tower.
A Grade 1 winner at this meeting last season, Spillane’s Tower loves Punchestown and can be forgiven for his below-par run around the tight Kempton circuit last Christmas. He avoided both Cheltenham and Aintree but his trainer Jimmy Mangan reports the horse to be ready for action.
“He’s 100%,” says Mangan. “I was a small bit disappointed that we didn’t get to run in the Bowl. We were in the pre-parade ring and luckily Mark Walsh rode in the race previous and he hopped off and came over to Frank Berry and myself and said, ‘The ground is gone, Jimmy, withdraw the horse.’ He had travelled over well and everything was 100% and I was expecting a massive, big run out of him. But the horse is home, safe and sound, and getting ready to run in Punchestown.
“It was great to win at the festival last year and he won his beginners’ chase there as well, and a Grade 3 after that, so he loves Punchestown. It would be great to have a crack at the big one there this year and that’s certainly the aim.”
Thursday, 1 May
Bob Olinger and Teahupoo, both owned by Tipperary businessman Brian Acheson, are on target to renew their rivalry in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle. Acheson even has a third string to his bow in Aintree winner Hiddenvalley Lake who, like Bob Olinger, is trained by Henry de Bromhead.
But of these three, the Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo looks the most reliable. He won the race last year and has a better record around here than he has at Cheltenham. Don’t rule out Home By The Lee who comes here following two poor runs at Cheltenham and Aintree – he never seems to run well in Britain but is a different proposition on home soil.
Friday, 2 May
This is the big one. The last three Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winners are being aimed at the Boodles Champion Hurdle: current titleholder Golden Ace, her predecessor State Man and the 2023 winner, Constitution Hill. There is also the possibility of the mares Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead taking part.
Following the ‘wacky races’ Cheltenham race won by 50/1 shot Golden Ace – after the shock falls for both State Man and Constitution Hill – few would dare predict how the rematch will go. State Man is probably the safest option but my advice is to back Golden Ace each-way. Trained in Somerset by Jeremy Scott, she got no credit for her Cheltenham success but she is the one who comes into the race with no question marks.
“She came out of Cheltenham very, very well,” Scott reveals. “I’m really happy with her and am looking forward to coming over. We were probably a very lucky winner of the Champion Hurdle, so in terms of pressure, I’m not sure we’re feeling a huge amount because we achieved more than we were expecting to this season anyway. So this Punchestown trip is a bonus, if she runs well, and I hope she will.”
Saturday, 3 May
Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead are far more likely to run in Saturday’s SBK Irish EBF Mares’ Champion Hurdle. That in itself would be a marvellous spectacle, with Lossiemouth appearing to hold the upper hand based on recent form.
Also on Saturday, we have the Ballymore Champion 4YO Hurdle, which could feature a rematch between Cheltenham winner Poniros and runner-up Lulamba.
Withdrawn from Aintree due to fast ground, Lulamba was arguably ‘mugged’ at Cheltenham after a battle up-front, and is fancied to reverse Triumph Hurdle form with Poniros.
The recent rain will be welcomed at Punchestown where the five-day National Hunt Festival starts on Tuesday, 29 April. Let’s take a look at some of the expected highlights on the track.
Tuesday, 29 April
One of the most special moments at this year’s Cheltenham Festival was the success of Marine Nationale in the Champion Chase. Owned and trained by Barry Connell, this horse launched the career of jockey Michael O’Sullivan, the 24-year-old who died in February.
Marine Nationale won the Champion Chase by almost 20 lengths and the opposition he faces in the William Hill Champion Chase at Punchestown should not be too taxing.
“He’s great, in super form,” reports Connell. “He came out of the race brilliant. I think he was the easiest winner of the whole week and he’s come out of the race in super shape.
“We couldn’t be happier with him now looking forward to Punchestown, and whatever turns up, we’ll be happy to take them on.”
Mary and Jimmy Mangan have high hopes for Spillane's Tower.
Photo: Healy Racing
Wednesday, 30 April
Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin has been sent on his summer holidays, but his owner JP McManus has another strong contender for the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup in the shape of Spillane’s Tower.
A Grade 1 winner at this meeting last season, Spillane’s Tower loves Punchestown and can be forgiven for his below-par run around the tight Kempton circuit last Christmas. He avoided both Cheltenham and Aintree but his trainer Jimmy Mangan reports the horse to be ready for action.
“He’s 100%,” says Mangan. “I was a small bit disappointed that we didn’t get to run in the Bowl. We were in the pre-parade ring and luckily Mark Walsh rode in the race previous and he hopped off and came over to Frank Berry and myself and said, ‘The ground is gone, Jimmy, withdraw the horse.’ He had travelled over well and everything was 100% and I was expecting a massive, big run out of him. But the horse is home, safe and sound, and getting ready to run in Punchestown.
“It was great to win at the festival last year and he won his beginners’ chase there as well, and a Grade 3 after that, so he loves Punchestown. It would be great to have a crack at the big one there this year and that’s certainly the aim.”
Thursday, 1 May
Bob Olinger and Teahupoo, both owned by Tipperary businessman Brian Acheson, are on target to renew their rivalry in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle. Acheson even has a third string to his bow in Aintree winner Hiddenvalley Lake who, like Bob Olinger, is trained by Henry de Bromhead.
But of these three, the Gordon Elliott-trained Teahupoo looks the most reliable. He won the race last year and has a better record around here than he has at Cheltenham. Don’t rule out Home By The Lee who comes here following two poor runs at Cheltenham and Aintree – he never seems to run well in Britain but is a different proposition on home soil.
Friday, 2 May
This is the big one. The last three Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winners are being aimed at the Boodles Champion Hurdle: current titleholder Golden Ace, her predecessor State Man and the 2023 winner, Constitution Hill. There is also the possibility of the mares Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead taking part.
Following the ‘wacky races’ Cheltenham race won by 50/1 shot Golden Ace – after the shock falls for both State Man and Constitution Hill – few would dare predict how the rematch will go. State Man is probably the safest option but my advice is to back Golden Ace each-way. Trained in Somerset by Jeremy Scott, she got no credit for her Cheltenham success but she is the one who comes into the race with no question marks.
“She came out of Cheltenham very, very well,” Scott reveals. “I’m really happy with her and am looking forward to coming over. We were probably a very lucky winner of the Champion Hurdle, so in terms of pressure, I’m not sure we’re feeling a huge amount because we achieved more than we were expecting to this season anyway. So this Punchestown trip is a bonus, if she runs well, and I hope she will.”
Saturday, 3 May
Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead are far more likely to run in Saturday’s SBK Irish EBF Mares’ Champion Hurdle. That in itself would be a marvellous spectacle, with Lossiemouth appearing to hold the upper hand based on recent form.
Also on Saturday, we have the Ballymore Champion 4YO Hurdle, which could feature a rematch between Cheltenham winner Poniros and runner-up Lulamba.
Withdrawn from Aintree due to fast ground, Lulamba was arguably ‘mugged’ at Cheltenham after a battle up-front, and is fancied to reverse Triumph Hurdle form with Poniros.
SHARING OPTIONS