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De Bromhead seeking to defuse Dynamo in Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Hurdle

Champion trainer Willie Mullins once again holds a strong hand in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown this weekend with the unbeaten pair of Dysart Dynamo and Hawai Game headlining the seven entries.
A recognised trial for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, Mullins last won the race in 2018 with Getabird and previously landed the spoils with Min, Douvan and Vautour.
Leading the opposition in Sunday’s renewal are the Gordon Elliott-trained Gringo D’aubrelle and Henry de Bromhead’s Tramore maiden winner Guily Billy.
On what is set to be a big afternoon for de Bromhead, Guily Billy steps up to Grade 2 company after a facile victory last month.
The Waterford-based trainer is looking forward to the step up in class for the Cheveley Park Stud-owned six-year-old who showed his true form after being overturned on his racecourse debut at Clonmel prior to that.
“We were disappointed but it was his first run,” de Bromhead admitted on Tuesday. “He possibly got bogged down in the ground but I’m not sure really. There was no obvious reason and he came out and did the job well in Tramore next time, which was good to see.
“Going to Punchestown for the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle was the next logical step for him after that. He’s won his maiden hurdle and now we step forward and see. We’ll learn more about him.
“He’s in good form and we’re hoping he’ll go and give a good account himself. It’s as you’d expect in this country. It will be extremely competitive but we’ll go and take our chance and see.”
Dreal Deal upset the odds in the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle last year and John Ryan may chase a big success in this year’s renewal with Ferdia and The Little Yank among the entries while James Nash has included the 120-rated Hammersmith.
The Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase is also down for decision on Sunday with de Bromhead set to unleash Cheltenham Festival hero Bob Olinger into a field that also potentially features Capodanno and Lifetime Ambition.
De Bromhead confirmed: “We’re certainly aiming to bring Bob Olinger to Punchestown as well. He seems in good form and he worked well this morning.
“There were a few options for him but this one was the one that stood out to us so we said we’d have a go with this.
“He was good (in his beginners chase). I think you’d be entitled to comment on his jumping. It wasn’t spectacular. It was fine. He jumped some really well but there was a couple he didn’t jump so well. But it was good. He won. It looked a very good beginners’ chase on paper. We’ll take one race at a time.
“He’s doing plenty of schooling. He’s jumping fine at home so we have no reason to worry about that having had that experience behind him. We’re looking forward to Sunday.”
Racing on Sunday is due to start at 12.45pm and further details on tickets and dining can be found at Punchestown.com.

More and More – glass ceilings never stood a chance with Rachael Blackmore

€1500 worth of FREE admission tickets to nearly 80 race meetings

Some play the game, some change it. March 2021 was the first Cheltenham in 20 years that there wasn’t the usual gang of champs in the weigh room. Geraghty had joined Walsh, McCoy and Carberry on the other side of the curtain, while Russell was recovering from serious injury sustained the previous autumn. Johnson was still pulling on his silks but the end was nigh.The stage upon which we create our stories for the future had room aplenty on it for new players. Rachael Blackmore began to fill the void.
Not since Sarah Connors in Terminator or Ellen Ripley in Alien has a woman controlled the chaos around her so completely.
Blackmore won six races over the four days, a score only ever bettered by Ruby Walsh, to take home the leading jockey award. Interesting to note that without the Elliott episode, two of the six would have been Jack Kennedy’s rides. When the ball is bouncing your way, anything is possible. Four falls peppered the days too, but only those who have gone over the edge know where it truly lies.
She won the Champion Hurdle with the unbeaten queen Honeysuckle, showing complete conviction everywhere but nowhere more so than down to the last flight. Bob Olinger was steered home with clinical precision in the Ballymore, keeping the race tight around the home bend. Allaho galloped his rivals into submission in the Ryanair with a relentless performance whereas Sir Gerhard was allowed set steady fractions from the front in the Champion Bumper before sprinting up the hill. Quilixios received a textbook steer to triumph in the Triumph and Telmesomethinggirl got a Carberryesque hold up ride to come from the clouds in the Mares’ Novice.
A complete collection of race-winning rides. Front, middle, rear. Inner, middle, wide. Bumper, hurdle, chase. It left the watching masses wonderstruck.
A week for the ages. A week that will be reminisced about late into this century.
Irish Racing Yearbook 2022 is the definitive, established Irish racing annual, a collaboration of the best writers and photographers with the leading protagonists of racing, detailing some incredible stories throughout the entire spectrum of the industry, from breeding to sales to point-to-point to the racetrack.
Rachael Blackmore is our lead interview as a result of her historic year, the first woman to ride the winner of the Grand National at Aintree, courtesy of an ice-cold display of navigation on Minella Times.
That came just a few weeks after booting home six winners at Cheltenham, a tally only ever bettered by Ruby Walsh, and which included another piece of history in becoming to first female jockey to win a championship race at the Festival, the Champion Hurdle on People’s (Equine) Champion, Honeysuckle.
Housemate Patrick Mullins (also champion QR jockey, assistant trainer to his father Willie and gifted wordsmith) poses the questions and elicits some wonderful insights.
Henry de Bromhead, Colin Keane, Denise Foster, Joseph O’Brien, Paul Townend, Richie Condon, Jim Bolger, John Nallen, Ben Coen, Noel Meade, Gavin Cromwell, Jessica Harrington, Siobhan Rutledge, David Loughnane, Rory Cleary, Gary Carroll, Shane Foley, Stuart Crawford and Barry Mahon are some of the others that are interviewed and featured by an array of stellar writing talents.
Irish Racing Yearbook 2022 also includes in-depth analysis of the bloodstock industry, crunching the sales and stallion numbers and looking at some of the key events that could shape the sector in the future.
And that is not to forget the €1500 worth of FREE admission to nearly 80 meetings in Ireland, in essence offering the purchase price back more than 50 times to buyers, as well as the half-price offer for an annual subscription to Racing TV.

A further taste
“People will never realise the mental stuff that I went through – the torment. Knowing that I’ve been accused so badly in the wrong” – Richie Condon

“When we have a good horse that we think can compete at a good level internationally, we’re always keen to try and do that” – Joseph O’Brien

“The first day we put reins on him on the gallop, he got away. He was going 40 minutes and we couldn’t catch him” – John Nallen on Minella Indo

Irish Racing Yearbook 2021 (€28.75/£25.75) is on sale now in all good newsagents and bookshops and can be ordered online (www.irishracingyearbook.com) or by phone (+353 85 7280169).

 

Envoi Allen to take on Mullins brigade as winter heats up at Punchestown for the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase

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Trainer Henry de Bromhead has confirmed that Envoi Allen will return to Grade 1 company at Punchestown on Sunday for what is gearing up to be a vintage renewal of the John Durkan Memorial Chase. The much admired seven-year-old will face a Willie Mullins battalion headed by dual Gold Cup winner Al Boom Photo and facile Ryanair Chase winner Allaho in what promises to be a memorable renewal of the two and a half mile contest.

This also raises the possibility of owners Cheveley Park Stud, who have made a fine imprint on Irish jump racing since increasing their involvement in recent years, watching two of their flag bearers in Envoi Allen and Allaho lock horns this weekend at Punchestown.

Another intriguing name among the list of entries is that of Envoi Allen’s stablemate Minella Times, in what could be his first racecourse appearance since winning the Grand National at Aintree last April under Rachael Blackmore.

Following success at Down Royal on his seasonal debut last month, Envoi Allen will remain at this intermediate trip but return to the top level as connections plot his path for the remainder of the season.

“Envoi Allen is a horse that appears to have a lot of options in terms of trip and when it comes to making a decision, it’s a case of building up the information as you go,” de Bromhead told Punchestown.com on Tuesday.

“He seems in great form, really good. He’s fit and well. He’d been working really well before he won at Down Royal and we were delighted with him on the day. Everything has been good since then too.

“We know he has plenty of pace,” de Bromhead added. “He’s obviously got very good form over two and a half so we’ll go to Punchestown and see how he gets on and we can work on from there.

“The racing in Ireland is so competitive and the John Durkan Chase looks like it could be very strong this year but it’s great to have something to compete in these kinds of races.”

Even without three-time John Durkan Chase winner Min among his ranks this season, champion trainer Willie Mullins has no shortage of armoury for Sunday’s County Kildare highlight with nine of the remaining 17 entries residing in Closutton.

Patrick Mullins became the third different rider in as many seasons to win the John Durkan Chase on Min last year and he suggested his father will indeed be heavy-handed on Sunday with the two time Gold Cup hero Al Boom Photo very much in the mix to take on Envoi Allen.

The Mullins camp have made no secret that Al Boom Photo may appear more regularly prior to Cheltenham this season and Sunday could prove to be his starting point for this campaign.

“It would be a trip short of his best but options are limited for him and it’ll be a step towards getting him hard-fit for March. With him being a little bit older he will probably need more races and more work to get his pipes open,” assistant trainer Patrick said this morning.

Of the potential clash of Cheveley Park interest, Mullins added that Allaho could be the horse to step into Min’s shoes: “This race would look made for him. He does have an average record first-time out. Last year in the fog, he didn’t seem to operate at all but it’s the perfect starting place for him. His form does suggest he gets better as the season goes on.

“I think Willie hasn’t ruled out coming back to two miles again. He wasn’t disgraced against Chacun Pour Soi at Punchestown and he’s also entered in the King George. For two-and-a-half-mile horses, there aren’t as many top races for them as the other races so he might have to chop and change a bit but he’s well able to do that.

“I was lucky to be on Min’s back last year in the fog. It was some spin. He was electric. It’s unusual for him not to be starting off in the John Durkan but hopefully Allaho can step into his shoes like he did in the Ryanair at Cheltenham.”

Other Mullins candidates going forward at today’s five-day forfeit stage are Asterion Forlonge, Chacun Pour Soi, Franco De Port, Janidil, Kemboy, Melon and Tornado Flyer.

Gordon Elliott is one of just three trainers to deny Mullins victory in this race since 2012 and he has left in the Gigginstown House-owned trio of Battleoverdoyen, Hardline and Samcro while the potential line up is completed by Minella Times and Envoi Allen’s stable companion Notebook, the Elmarie Holden-trained Ex Patriot and Fakir D’oudairies from the Joseph O’Brien stable.

Elsewhere on the Punchestown card Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Appreciate It could make his eagerly anticipated debut over fences in the BetVictor Beginners Chase which also features 2020 Champion Bumper winner Ferny Hollow.

Click here – UK Visitors Guide 2021 ONLINE

Majestic Unibet Morgiana in store at Punchestown as previous winners take on young brigade

Willie Mullins will attempt to regain the Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday as the champion trainer saddles two of the five-strong field for the €100,000 opening Grade 1 hurdle of the season.
Mullins has declared 2018 winner Sharjah along with the five-year-old Grade 1 winning mare Echoes In Rain to take on a Gordon Elliott-trained duo of last year’s winner Abacadabras and the four-year-old Zanahiyr, with Joseph O’Brien’s Darasso making up the competitive field.
Patrick Mullins told Punchestown.com this week that his father was targeting the Unibet Morigana Hurdle with Echoes Of Rain to “give her every opportunity to be a Champion Hurdle mare,” and she is the early market favourite of the sponsors.
Commenting after declarations, Ed Nicholson of Unibet said: “We are delighted to see that many of the very best two mile hurdlers are declared to run in this season’s renewal of the Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana hurdle on Sunday.
“Every year since we first started sponsoring the race back in 2013, when Hurricane Fly won, a horse of real quality has been successful; in addition plenty of those placed in behind have also gone onto win some the best events during the next 12 months.
“It’s simply a race that any racing enthusiast sits up and takes notice of, and we look forward to seeing another great race this weekend.”
Elliott’s strong hand in the race makes for a mouth-watering clash and last year’s winning trainer said this morning: “We are looking forward to running both horses.
“I couldn’t have been happier with Zanahiyr at Down Royal and this is another step up again and a big step for a four-year-old but he’s been good since and it will tell us more about where he fits in.
“Abacadabras was second in the Down Royal race last year before coming here to win the Morgiana so it was a logical starting point for him this season. He was very good at Aintree and it was too early to say what would have happened at Cheltenham but he’s in good nick.”
Darasso, who won the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle just last weekend, will make a quick reappearance in search of some Grade 1 honours.
His trainer Joseph O’Brien said this morning: “Darasso is in good form since his win in Navan.
“He won very well that day. It’s not a big field here and there’s good prize money. Ideally, he probably wants a little bit further at this stage of his life but the horses in general are going well and he’s in good shape, coming back off a near career best run. So we’ll let him get his chance. If you’re not in you can’t win and hopefully he’ll get some prize money.”
Elsewhere on Sunday, Cheltenham Festival winner Vanillier will bid to open his account over fences at the second time of asking as the Grade 1 winner takes on five rivals in the Grade 2 Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase where he will meet recent winners Sixshooter and Ballyshannon Rose.
The Frontline Security Mares Hurdle on Sunday has attracted a very strong line up with the Kenny Alexander-owned pair of Telmesomethinggirl taking on Gauloise. The former landed the Grade 2 Mares Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season for Henry de Bromhead while Gauloise was a Grade 1 runner-up for Willie Mullins before winning at the Punchestown Festival.
Punchestown’s Winter Festival begins on Saturday with one of the most exciting novices in the country, Bob Olinger, lining up in the opening BetVictor Loyalty Club Beginners Chase while Cape Gentleman takes on Embittered and Buddy Rich in the Grade 2 BetVictor Casino Novice Chase.

Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle Betting –

 

1/1 Echoes In Rain, 10/3 Shajah, 7/2 Abacadabras, 7/1 Zanahiyr, 25/1 Darasso (Prices courtesy of Unibet)

Last three winners of Unibet Morgiana Hurdle feature in latest renewal of Punchestown Winter Festival showpiece 

Crowds will return to Grade 1 action at Punchestown for the first time since 2019 this weekend as the ever popular two-day Winter Festival hosts the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle on Sunday.

Last year’s winner Abacadabras will try to repeat the feat, this time in front of the Punchestown public, where he will face a potential field of six select rivals following the latest forfeit stage today.

Gordon Elliott ended a nine-year Willie Mullins stranglehold on the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle last season and holds a pair of aces this time around with the highly touted four-year-old Zanahiyr joining Abacadabras in the list of acceptors.

Mullins unsurprisingly holds a strong hand in a race which he has previously won with Thousand Stars, Hurricane Fly on three occasions, Nichols Canyon, Faugheen, Sharjah and Saldier with the most recent winning pair among his team for this weekend.

Improving mare Echoes In Rain and Stormy Ireland make up the Closutton team, while the potential field is completed by Joseph O’Brien’s versatile Darasso who was seen to good effect at Navan last weekend.

Speaking this afternoon, Patrick Mullins commented: “Sharjah is just one step off the very, very best. He’s a proper Grade 1 horse. He won the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle before but he won it coming off winning the Galway Hurdle.

“He has a great record at Leopardstown at Christmas but he will run this weekend at Punchestown all being well and I’d expect a good performance but he will probably improve for it.”

Mullins this year won the Galway Hurdle on Saldier and of the Rich Ricci-owned seven-year-old he added: “Saldier has had a super summer with Galway and Tipperary. He would have a fitness edge on the winter horses and he’s won this race before. We did try and step him up in trip last year and we might try that again so we’ll wait and see.

“We have also left Echoes In Rain and Stormy Ireland in the race this weekend,” Mullins confirmed.

“Echoes In Rain settles much better in her races now which is great. She’s probably a bit harder on herself at home just by being a younger horse so she could be a little fitter than some of the other ones starting off so we’ll let her go all being well and find out where she fits in. It’s always hard stepping into open company from novices, but her performance at Fairyhouse was probably better than her Punchestown run so we’re going to give her every opportunity to be a Champion Hurdle mare.

“Stormy Ireland is one that her jumping makes her a better jumping mare than a Flat mare. Danny Mullins gets a great tune out of her. She can also go further as well so that is an option for her just like Saldier. She’s in great form. The ground doesn’t look like it will be a determining factor as none of them want it heavy and we don’t expect that. We’ll see their work later in the week and see how Willie wants to split them but the Punchestown Winter Festival is an important date in our calendar.

Mullins suggested this weekend as being the one earmarked for when the Closutton troops begin to be unleashed with intent.

“This tends to be the start of the National Hunt season for us. We’re probably a week or 10 days off being full steam ahead as we had quite a dry autumn so we didn’t rush them but we will still be well represented because Punchestown is such a good track for getting good horses going.”

The Grade 1 Unibet Morgiana Hurdle is complimented across the weekend with the Grade 2 BetVictor Casino Novice Chase on Saturday in which Cape Gentleman and Embittered look to be two standout performers.

Cheltenham Festival hero Bob Olinger could make his eagerly anticipated debut over fences in Saturday’s opening BetVictor Loyalty Club Beginners Chase, a race won two years ago by Faugheen and last year by Asterion Forlonge.

The Grade 2 Liam & Valerie Brennan Florida Pearl Novice Chase is the chief supporting race on Sunday with Albert Bartlett winner Vanillier given an entry there by Gavin Cromwell where he could face impressive Thurles winner Ballyshannon Rose for Paul Fahey.

On both Saturday and Sunday racing begins at 12pm with tickets €15 and €10 for Students and Seniors. Race & Dine packages are available from €89pp with a special children’s menu on offer.

Punchestown feature in three new TG4 fixtures this November

Laytown, Naas and Punchestown

TG4 today announced that it will add an additional three meetings to their existing racing coverage this November.

Starting with the unique Laytown Races meeting on the County Meath beach on Monday November 1, TG4 will cover Naas’ first jump meeting of the season on Saturday November 6 and day one of Punchestown’s Winter Festival on Saturday November 13.

These three new racing programmes add to TG4’s already extensive racing portfolio. This year, TG4 increased their racing coverage with 10 new racing programmes from Punchestown on St Valentine’s Day to Sligo on May 2 as part of their Spring racing series. The national Irish language public service broadcaster also covered two days of the Galway Festival, in addition to broadcasting from the Listowel Festival for 17 years.

The programmes will be hosted by Seán Bán Breathnach, Mánus Ó Conghaile who will be joined by racing pundits Sarah Lynam, Evelyn Ní Ghriallais and Daragh Ó Conchúir.

Rónán Ó Coisdealbha, TG4 Head of Sport, said: “TG4 are delighted to continue and expand their partnership with Horse Racing Ireland with a further three days of quality live racing in 2021. Building on the success of the Spring racing series, Galway races and the Listowel Harvest Festival, we are delighted to include for the first time on national television live coverage of racing from the unique Laytown strand along with jump racing from Naas and Punchestown.”

Get on your bike for Cancer Trials Ireland

Coast to Curragh charity cycle in memory of Pat Smullen Saturday September 25

On Saturday September 25 join a host of racing personalities on a unique charity cycle, taking in seven racecourses and two stud farms. Starting at Laytown Races and finishing at the Curragh Racecourse, the Coast to Curragh charity cycle is 155km in total. All monies raised will be donated to Cancer Trials Ireland in memory of Pat Smullen.

Cyclists can join at any of the racecourses or stud farms and choose to cycle a variety of distances from 12km/25km/30km/55km/80km/110km or the entire 155km.

Members of Pat Smullen’s family along with Ruby Walsh, Johnny Murtagh, Paul Carberry, Joseph O’Brien, Fran Berry, Charlie Swan, Barry Geraghty, Paul Townend, Patrick Mullins and racing pundits Kevin Blake and Gary O’Brien are some of the racing stars who are supporting the cycle.

The cycle features a meet and greet with Harzand at Gilltown Stud. Harzand gave Pat Smullen his first triumph in the Epsom Derby in 2016. The pair went on to secure the Irish Derby a few weeks later.

The Coast to Curragh charity cycle is the brainchild of Gavin Lynch, who lost his mother Olive to pancreatic cancer. A huge racing fan, Gavin was also inspired by nine-time Flat champion jockey Pat Smullen who raised much needed funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer trials over Longines Irish Champions Weekend in 2019 while fighting his own battle with the same illness.

The Coast to Curragh charity cycle stages are as follows:

7.30am Laytown Races / Laytown Beach (155km approx. from here to the finish)
8.30am Bellewstown Racecourse
10am Navan Racecourse (110km to the finish)
11.30am Fairyhouse Racecourse (80km to the finish)
12.45pm Moyglare Stud (55km to the finish)
2pm Naas Racecourse (30km to the finish)
2.15pm Punchestown Racecourse (25km to the finish)
2.45pm Gilltown Stud (Meet Harzand – 12km to the finish)
3.30pm Curragh Racecourse

To take part in the cycle, just register on the events page on the Cycling Ireland website. You can donate on the Coast to Curragh GoFundMe page, or you can email coasttocurragh@gmail.com for a sponsorship card. Sponsorship cards are also available in all Paddy Power shops

GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/coast-to-curragh?qid=8ef9238948a0b223d54544769e053c7e

Frances Smullen, Pat’s wife, said: “Pat was so focused and determined to raise as much awareness as possible about pancreatic cancer and raise money for Cancer Trials Ireland’s vital cancer research work, so I know he would be very proud and humbled that Gavin shares the same vision. I’d like to sincerely thank Gavin for organising this very special cycle and I’d encourage everyone to take part, even if it is to cycle one or two stages. It’s going to be brilliant fun and everyone taking part will visit some of Ireland’s most picturesque and iconic racecourses and stud farms – some of Pat’s favourites and all very close to his heart.”

Gavin Lynch, Coast to Curragh charity cycle organiser, commented: “This is going a very special cycle and I’d love to see as many people taking part and supporting Cancer Trials Ireland. We have had brilliant support so far, including generous support from Paddy Power and Servier Laboratories (Ireland) Ltd. They cycle is open to all levels of fitness and ability, so I’ve encourage everyone to give it a go.”

Eibhlín Mulroe, CEO of Cancer Trials Ireland, said: “I want to thank Gavin Lynch for supporting Cancer Trials Ireland, in memory of Pat Smullen and his own mother. Gavin’s enthusiasm and endeavour comes at a special time, one year after we all lost Pat, and two years since Pat raised €2.6m for pancreatic cancer research. That money is helping to bring four new options to Irish pancreatic cancer patients – two drug trials, one radiotherapy study, and another study aiming to aid recovery from surgery. None of these options would have been possible without Pat Smullen and the horse racing community, and he continues to inspire people to this day. Thank you, Gavin for honouring Pat and thinking of Cancer Trials Ireland.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

About Cancer Trials Ireland
Cancer Trials Ireland is a registered charity and the leading cancer research trials organisation in Ireland. It aims to provide every patient with cancer access to high-quality and potentially life altering cancer trials and to make Ireland a highly attractive location to open cancer trials.

In the past two decades almost 31,000 (30,770) people have taken part in nearly 800 (786) cancer clinical trials. In 2020, a survey of public attitudes revealed one in two people in Ireland would take part in a clinical trial. Almost all cancer clinical trials available in Ireland are listed on the Cancer Trials Ireland website: www.cancertrials.ie/open-trials

Cancer Trials Ireland is partly funded by the Health Research Board, the Irish Cancer Society and St Luke’s Institute of Cancer Research. It also receives income from pharmaceutical companies and international research groups, as well through philanthropic donations and donations from members of the public.

COVID-19 CODE OF CONDUCT

*This document was issued in September 2021 and is subject to updates and changes. should you have any queries with any points below please contact info@punchestown.com*

For your safety and the safety of others, please make sure to observe the following whilst at our racecourse:

Scope of this Conduct:

The following Supplementary Conditions – COVID-19 Code of Conduct (this “Code of Conduct”) has been agreed by Horse Racing Ireland and the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board and supplements the Terms and Conditions of Entry to the Racecourse.  This Code of Conduct should be read in conjunction with the entry contract that governs Punchestown ticket sales.

This Code of Conduct will be continuously updated in accordance with current Government guidance.  Until further notice, all attendees should review this Code of Conduct each time they attend the Racecourse.

Code of Conduct:

All Attendees who enter the racecourse (including all surrounding land, car parks and other facilities which are under the ownership and/or control of the operator) shall be deemed to have accepted, and agree to comply with, this Code of Conduct.  Attendees are admitted to the Racecourse strictly subject to this Code of Conduct. There are no exceptions.

All Attendees:

 

Thank you for your support and co-operation.

 

It is a pleasure to welcome you back to Punchestown.

 

 

 

 

HRI Press Release 26th April 2021

HRI announces extension to seasonal break for leading National Hunt riders

Following representations from the Irish Jockeys’ Association, HRI has amended race conditions to extend the existing break for leading National Hunt riders to run from Bank Holiday Monday, June 7 to Wednesday, June 30 inclusive.

The eight National Hunt meetings between those dates will be restricted to conditional riders and riders who have not ridden more than 15 winners in the previous 12 months to June 3, 2021. There is no National Hunt racing from June 19 until June 30 (inclusive) providing a 12-day break for all jockeys.

Jason Morris, Horse Racing Ireland’s Director of Racing, said: “These changes will apply to the eight National Hunt meetings beginning at Listowel on Monday, June 7 through to the fixture at Down Royal on Friday, June 18. As there is no National Hunt racing from that date until the meeting at Tipperary on Thursday, July 1, this doubles the break for our leading jump jockeys from 12 to 24 days, while at the same time increasing opportunities for other riders for the early part of that period.

“The National Hunt fixtures immediately after this week’s Punchestown Festival at Down Royal on Monday, May 3 and at Ballinrobe the following day are already restricted to conditional riders and those that rode less than 15 last season. Following on from these changes, the traditional three-meeting break afforded to the leading jump jockeys in early September will be discontinued.

“These altered race conditions were proposed by the Irish Jockeys Association, and both the Association of Irish Racehorse Owners and Irish Racehorse Trainers Association are supportive of these changes.”

Jennifer Pugh, the IHRB’s Senior Medical Officer commented: “I am delighted to see this extended break for the leading National Hunt jockeys in June which will allow them to recharge both physically and mentally. There is no ‘off season’ for jump racing and this extended period will allow for much needed recuperation. Thanks goes to all stakeholders who recognised the need for this change and for their support.”