Galopin Des Champs faces select but talented opposition in bid to

finally add LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP to CV

Jasmin De Vaux and Bambino Fever to attempt festival doubles

Galopin Des Champs is reported to have come out of his Cheltenham exertions well and faces a select but talented group of three as he attempts to win the LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP for the first time on Wednesday.
It is the only blank on the CV of Audrey Turley’s heroic nine-year-old, who was second in the Cheltenham Gold Cup when bidding to join the all-time greats of jump racing with a third straight triumph.

He is a previous winner at the Punchestown Festival however, with two of his 11 Grade 1s having come in the famed Kildare amphitheatre.
With the horse that denied him his Cheltenham/Punchestown double bids, Fastorslow, ruled out for the season by injury before Christmas, and his Cotswolds nemesis, Inothewayurthinkin on holidays, it looks like Spillane’s Tower, who finished ahead of him in second in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown in November, could be his most serious rival.
The Jimmy Mangan-trained seven-year-old is a fresh horse having missed Cheltenham and Aintree, and will be ridden by Mark Walsh, who took the scalp of Galopin Des Champs at Cheltenham.
Monty’s Star, who was just touched off by Spillane’s Tower in the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase 12 months ago, was fourth in the March blue riband and resumes rivalries for Henry de Bromhead, with Rachael Blackmore in the plate.

The field is completed by the Joseph O’Brien-trained Banbridge, who was ridden by Galopin Des Champs’ rider Paul Townend to score in the King George VI Chase on St Stephen’s Day. Regular partner, JJ Slevin, who produced Ronnie Bartlett’s gelding for a last-gasp triumph in the William Hill Champion Chase last year, completes the high-class field.
“Galopin Des Champs knew he had a race after Cheltenham but has had plenty of time to recover and seems back to himself now,” said Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to his father Willie, the newly minted two-in-a-row British champion trainer, who will bring his tally of Irish championships to 19 on Saturday.
“Obviously, he’s trying to break his Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup hoodoo but there’s not Fastorslow there this year so hopefully he can finish out his season in style. But regardless, it’s been an incredible season for him and we are already looking forward to next year.”
For the second year in a row, Jasmin De Vaux comes to Punchestown attempting a double, having scored in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He is joined in the CHANNOR REAL ESTATE GROUP NOVICE HURDLE by Closutton stablemates Argento Boy, Luckinthecity and Jarrive De Mee, while the Gordon Elliott-trained Aintree Grade 1 winner, Honesty Policy is included in the field of eight.

“Jasmin De Vaux finally put it all together over hurdles in the Albert Bartlett and I thought Paul was magnificent on him but it will be a very different test here,” said Mullins Jnr. “There’s going to be a lot more jumping. It’s going to be a lot tighter and sharper than the New Course at Cheltenham.
“Obviously, he disappointed in Punchestown last year so there’s a few question marks but he seems in great form and we’re hoping he can follow up.
“We’ve got a few others in there but I think Jarrive De Mee could run very well. I think stepping up to three miles will really suit him, being a point-to-point winner by Authorized and I think going right-handed and the nice ground will suit him too. He’s a horse that is fresh and well and could well run into a place.”

The Grand National winner will ride Copocabana in the RACE & STAY AT PUNCHESTOWN CHAMPION INH FLAT RACE, as he did at Cheltenham when they could only finish tenth, with the Jody Townend-Bambino Fever tandem that prevailed at Prestbury Park in March being retained for the seven-strong contest.
The Noel Meade-trained Colcannon could lay down a strong challenge having stayed at home since scoring at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival in February, but Bambino Fever will be favoured to join an elite group.

“Bambino Fever came out of Cheltenham in great form,” said Mullins. “She put in two huge performances at DRF and Cheltenham so hopefully she can follow in the footsteps of Facile Vega, Champagne Fever and Cousin Vinny, who all followed up at Punchestown. She is most definitely the one to beat.
“Copacabana was a little disappointing at Cheltenham but it was probably not a race ran to suit and I would be expecting a much improved showing from him on Wednesday.”

The 2025 Punchestown Festival Five Day Celebration Gets Underway Tuesday 29 April

MEDIA RELEASE – 28th April 2025 – The grand finale of an unforgettable jump racing season takes centre stage as the 2025 Punchestown Festival kicks off Tuesday 29th April and runs until Saturday 3rd May at the iconic Punchestown Racecourse, Co. Kildare.

Organisers are anticipating over 100,000 visitors across five spectacular days, with festival fans traveling from across Ireland, the UK, Italy, United States and even Australia to be part of this world-class celebration of sport and culture at the home of Irish jump racing.

Racing Ahead with Thrilling Clashes and Visiting Raiders

Across 40 races, featuring 12 Grade 1 contests and €3.5 million in prize money, the Punchestown Festival once again delivers the very best in jump racing. All indications are that major showdowns are guaranteed with old rivals, young pretenders and redemption missions on the cards. The opening day features a massive clash between Cheltenham heroes Marine Nationale and J.P. McManus’s Fact To File. The Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup will see superstar Galopin Des Champs take on a challenge from the impressive Spillane’s Tower whilst Friday’s Boodles Champion Hurdle is being billed as the race of the season with Constitution Hill confirmed to meet State Man and Golden Ace amongst others.

Headlining the action is an incredible line-up of training and riding talent including the unstoppable Irish and recently crowned British champion trainer Willie Mullins along with his son, Grand National winning rider Patrick Mullins, champion jockey elect Paul Townend, top trainers Gordon Elliott and Henry de Bromhead, Cheltenham Gold Cup winning trainer Gavin Cromwell and the ever popular Rachael Blackmore among those in action.

What is particularly evident at entry stage is the significant increase in UK trained runners at the festival with numbers returning to the heights last seen in 2008. Festival friends and regulars Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, Jonjo O’Neill, Harry Derham and Anthony Honeyball are joined by new names and faces to sustain the visitor involvement for the future. The UK contribution is integral to the festival as it not only generates vastly increased interest and TV viewer numbers from across the Irish sea but also each horse running brings with them owners, trainers, jockeys, grooms and associated entourages that require accommodation, hospitality and entertainment in the locality. Over 20% of the festival attendance hail from outside of Ireland so the event is a major contributor to the Kildare tourism numbers and campaign.

The track team have prepared, mowed, aerated, fed and watered over 170 acres of racing ground or the equivalent of around 42 Croke Park pitches. The main team of five men have crafted 330 metres of hand filled steeplechase fence, 180 sections of handmade hurdles and erected just under 10 kilometres of white racing rail all to provide what is essentially a fresh race track each of the five days

New For Punchestown 25

In 2025, the Punchestown team rolls out four key innovations based on customer feedback and trial runs:
• Earlier start times of 2.30pm have been rolled out across the week with the exception of Friday that remains at 3.40pm.
• The revamped Festival layout and entertainment programme, removing reserved enclosure barriers and improving flow, was very well received in 2024 so this along with further enhancements and improvements are in place for 2025.
• Ticket Price Freeze: Prices were reduced last year with discounts for those that book in advance of festival week. Generous concessions remain for senior, student and family (Saturday) and free entry for children under 14 throughout the week.
• Friday Remote Drop & Collect Bus Service to address the changes in transport habits, Naas racecourse and Killashee Hotel are the two off-site drop and collect points on Festival Friday. From 12 noon. Free out and €5 cash back. Full transport services available on www.punchestown.com

Festival Social Scene

Like all great celebrations the Punchestown party will feature great live music throughout the enclosures with Spring Break playing floor fillers for the first three days and exciting new DJ performances planned for Friday and Saturday evenings.

17,000 hospitality guests from 806 companies (including 164 from the UK) will enjoy delicious seasonal menus crafted by a 68-strong team of chefs, supported by over 760 hospitality staff. Three and a half tonnes of fresh vegetables, 60 kilos of artisan cheeses, and 15,000 exquisite canapés and desserts will be served across the five days. A team of almost 300 bar staff will pour an estimated 132,000 pints, measure 20,000 shorts and fill 8,000 champagne glasses.

Style lovers will once again flock to the Bollinger Best Dressed Competition, open to all, taking place over the first four days and culminating in the grand final on Ladies Day, Friday 2nd May. Fresh for 2025 is the sustainable theme of Something Old/Something New focusing on conscious fashion choices. New to the Style Council judges are multi-award winning sustainable designer Aoife McNamara and acclaimed stylist Isabel Gleeson.

Further additions include the Bollinger Concierge marquee where Kildare-based beauty brand Ayu will have a host of professional make-up artists offering make-up top-up and professional advice. Vision Ireland will have specially curated rails of pre-loved designer garments to showcase just how stylish sustainable fashion can be.

People Make Punchestown – Community & Charity

Beyond the track, Punchestown plays a vital role in the local community where the Festival contributes over €60 million annually. What is considered the most important race of the festival because it makes the biggest difference is the Punchestown Kidney Research Fund Charity race and in it’s 34th year of running is on target to break the €2,000,000 fundraising mark.

At the centre of the festival is community and at the centre of community is family and the GAA. We are delighted to continue our great association with Naas, Eadestown and Ballymore Eustace GAA clubs who steward the track, fences, hurdles, and horse crossing areas throughout the site in return for club funding.

In a landmark collaboration, Punchestown Racecourse, Aramark, Ireland’s leading food services provider and St. Kevin’s Community College in Dunlavin have joined forces to launch Elevate 2025 – a pioneering Transition Year (TY) programme that combines community involvement, real-world skills training, and local pride. Following a five week training programme, 70 St. Kevins College transition year students will be employed by Aramark for paid work experience at the upcoming Punchestown Festival.

Each year a number of national charities are joined by local schools in the official bucket collection campaign. This year we are proud to welcome Down Syndrome Ireland, St. Corban’s National School, St. Brigid’s Hospice and The Samaratin’s and wish them the very best in their fund raising endeavours.

Punchestown CEO Conor O’Neill said:

“There is something really special about the buzz ahead of this year’s Punchestown Festival. It’s even more than the brilliant achievements by our horses, jockeys, owners and trainers throughout the season. It’s the local and national enthusiasm and pride that are reflected not only in bookings and sales but in requests for information, signage, enquiries about how they get involved. People Make Punchestown and there is a great appetite and goodwill for the event this year even more than previous. Combine this with a forecast that we can only wish for and we are in for a magic week. See you at Punchestown!”

The 2025 Punchestown Festival takes place from Tuesday 29th April to Saturday 3rd May at Punchestown Racecourse. Tickets and full information available at www.punchestown.com.

ENDS

 

 

 

Spillane’s Tower fresh for Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup test while Fact To File on target for clash with Cheltenham hero Marine Nationale in William Hill Champion Chase
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Robcour rematch between Bob Olinger and Teahupoo still on the cards in Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle
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Spillane’s Tower and Fact To File spearhead the JP McManus team on the opening three days of the Punchestown Festival, which gets under way next Tuesday, April 29th.
Entries for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are now confirmed, and the mouth-watering clash between Cheltenham Queen Mother hero, Marine Nationale and Ryanair Chase victor, Fact To File is still on the cards in the GRADE 1 WILLIAM HILL CHAMPION CHASE on the opening day.

Nine horses stand their ground, including last year’s Queen Mother winner, Captain Guinness, and Energumene, who scored in the Cheltenham two-mile championship contest in 2022 and 2023.
Energumene is also a three-time Grade 1 victor at the Punchestown Festival, and if lining up, will be pursuing his third William Hill Champion Chase¸ having doubled up in both his Cheltenham Festival-winning seasons before injury ruled him out of a Spring campaign last term.

Marine Nationale was a very comfortable winner of the Cheltenham Champion Chase this year for owner/trainer Barry Connell and the lightly-raced eight-year-old is the one they all have to beat this time round. However, Energumene’s Willie Mullins stablemate, Fact To File is an intriguing entrant for champion owner JP McManus. Racing manager, Frank Berry reports the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase winner at this venue to be tip-top shape but is fully aware of the calibre of opposition. “It’s the only entry he has there,” said Berry today. “I believe he’s in good form. It won’t be easy taking on the Champion Chase winner but we’re looking forward to seeing how he gets on. It will be very interesting.”  Dual Grade 1 winner, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Solness also stands his ground, as does another Closutton inmate, Gaelic Warrior.

Susannah Ricci’s five-time Grade 1 winner also holds an entry in Wednesday’s GRADE 1 LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP and would be a fascinating participant following his triumph on a first attempt at three miles over fences in the Aintree Bowl. He is a dual winner at Punchestown, including in the Grade 1 Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle, over the maximum trip at that level two years ago.

Yet another Closutton superstar, Galopin Des Champs has yet to add the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup to his illustrious CV and is among the octet still standing, having gone out on his shield when having his three-in-a-row Cheltenham Gold Cup bid foiled by the JP McManus-owned Inothewayurthinkin. The green and gold is likely to be represented in this high-class affair by Spillane’s Tower, who like Inothewayurthinkin, is bred by the owner’s wife Noreen. Spillane’s Tower sparked major celebrations when winning the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase 12 months ago. After a cracker behind Fact To File in the John Durkan at Punchestown last November, the Walk In The Park seven-year-old disappointed in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day and he hasn’t been seen in public since.

Trainer Jimmy Mangan revealed that they were ready to get saddled in Aintree when jockey Mark Walsh reported the ground to be too quick, meaning he was withdrawn, but it’s all systems go for a return to the gelding’s happy hunting ground.
“He’s in good order and that’s the plan to go there,” Berry confirms. “The rain will help and he’s a fresh horse going there. It’ll be a hot race but he’s in good form.”
There are 16 horses that could still face the starter in the GRADE 1 LADBROKES CHAMPION STAYERS’ HURDLE.

The Fergal O’Brien-trained Grade 1 winner Crambo would be a welcome visitor, Rocky’s Diamond ran a cracker at Cheltenham for Declan Queally and is sure to progress as a five-year-old, and Home By The Lee, who is conditioned by Joseph O’Brien, is always a threat in staying events. It is the prospective rematch between Cheltenham winner Bob Olinger (Henry de Bromhead) and his predecessor and this year’s runner-up Teahupoo (Gordon Elliott) that will make the headlines.

Robcour are very well stocked in this division and de Bromhead saddled Hiddenvalley Lake in the pink, white and black to score in the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree. He remains in contention also.
In Tuesday’s other Grade 1s, Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner, Kopek Des Bordes is the standout performer among the ten possibles at the five-day stage for the GRADE 1 KPMG CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE. Aintree victor, Salvator Mundi is also left in the two-mile contest.

The pair are among a team of seven entered by Willie Mullins. Irancy, who scored at Grade 2 level at Fairyhouse after finishing seventh in Cheltenham, is among that cohort. He is one of two McManus runners still in contention, the other being the Colm Murphy-trained Naas maiden hurdle winner, Lovely Hurling.
“They’re both in good form,” Berry declared. “You’d love to be going there with another run in Lovely Hurling. He is also in the two and a half but they’re both intended runners so we’ll see in the next few days.”

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winner Lecky Watson looks likely to face top-flight opposition in the DOOLEY INSURANCE CHAMPION NOVICE CHASE. Ballyburn, Impaire Et Passe and Dancing City are among other Mullins-trained rivals he joins on the gallops during the week in the mix, while Henry de Bromhead pair Slade Steel and Gorgeous Tom, the Gordon Elliott-trained Brown Advisory runner-up Stellar Story and Ken Budds’ Jack Richards Novice Chase runner-up Anyway, are possible contestants.

There are 19 possible runners in the GRADE 1 CHANNOR REAL ESTATE GROUP NOVICE HURDLE. The Munir/Souede-owned Jasmin De Vaux is the one to beat having galloped to success in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, while The Yellow Clay would be of note if the Turners’ runner-up were to step up to three miles.
His Cullentra House compatriot, Honesty Policy scored at Grade 1 level in Aintree, at the intermediate trip, and holds multiple entries.
“He has a couple of entries, at three miles and two and a half,” Berry states. “It’s a bit up in the air about him but we’ll see what the weather is doing.”

Bambino Fever is another attempting a Cheltenham/Punchestown double in the GRADE 1 RACE & STAY AT PUNCHESTOWN INH FLAT RACE. Three horses have been taken out to leave a list of 19. Gameofinches and Copacabana are other Mullins horses apart from the favourite that could take their chances, along with Paddy Twomey’s Grade 2 Aintree winner, Seo Linn.
Majborough did remarkably well to get within three-quarters of a length of Jango Baie in the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham, after dreadful jumping errors at the last two obstacles, but Berry reports that there are no ill effects ahead of an intended tilt at Thursday’s other Grade 1, the GRADE 1 BARBERSTOWN CASTLE NOVICE CHASE.

“He’s on song for the two-mile novice chase,” says the McManus racing manager. “It was a little unfortunate at Cheltenham what happened but he still ran a good race and he was fine afterwards, not a bother on him. Willie is happy with him and he’ll go there all being well.”
There are ten horses still in contention, with Gavin Cromwell’s Arkle runner-up Only By Night, who finished just ahead of Majborough, another interesting contender with the mares’ 7lbs allowance. Impaire Et Passe (Willie Mullins) would be a threat after his two-and-a-half-mile victory at Aintree, while Rubaud (Paul Nicholls) and Brookie (Anthony Honeyball) could fly the British flag.

 

Champions coming home as PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL GRADE 1 ENTRIES unveiled

Galopin Des Champs faces elite opposition, Gordon Elliott looks forward to a Tea party and Russell considers beefing up British raiding party

Galopin Des Champs is in line to face one of the deepest fields in the history of the LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP and that is just one of the reasons to get excited as entries for Punchestown Festival’s dozen Grade 1 contests are released today.
The cream of the crop look to bring the curtain down on another stellar season for Irish racing, with all the Cheltenham champions targeting a coveted double and a wonderful cast of ultra talented rivals attempting to spoil the party at the Kildare venue, which opens to the masses of horse lovers and revellers from Tuesday, April 30th to Saturday, May 4th.
The pulsating action that ends the jumping year represents another opportunity to marvel at the genius of the peerless Willie Mullins and his team at Closutton. The maestro is currently leading the race to to become the first Irish-based jumps trainer to be British champion since Vincent O’Brien made it two-in-a-row in 1954.
But Punchestown is his happy place and he has signalled his intent to send the usual strong team to the jamboree which will have added intrigue as Paul Townend attempts to stave off the sustained challenge of Jack Kennedy, who is bidding to become champion jockey for the first time.
Gordon Elliott’s support has been the foundation of Kennedy’s bid and he will be doing everything he can to help the Dingle pilot get over the line.
Henry de Bromhead and Gavin Cromwell are other big-time operators seeking to add to the positive memory bank of Punchestown but smaller scale firms such as those run by Martin Brassil, Jimmy Mangan and Tom Gibney have already bloodied the nose of their higher profile colleagues this year and will be looking to do just the same in Grade 1 fare to draw bring an unforgettable campaign to a memorable conclusion.
Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls are familiar cross-channel names with entries, while Anthony Honeyball is an annual visitor to Punchestown who has saddled winners in the last three years and will be going all out to make it four.
The Full Circle Series, a new initiative targeting mid-level hurdlers, has attracted significant support from British trainers, with the likes of Ben Pauling, Tom Lacey and Charlie Longsdon sending runners.
The possibility of some of Lucinda Russell’s string making the journey is a mouth-watering one, with Corach Rambler and Ahoy Senor among her potential representatives in the LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP.

LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP
(Wednesday, May 1st – 22 entries)

Galopin Des Champs heads the Cheltenham 1-2-3 for the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup, while there are numerous other dangerous rivals, including the eight-year-old’s Punchestown nemesis Fastorslow.
The Mullins-trained, Audrey Turley-owned Galopin Des Champs elevated his reputation by joining the rare group of horses to go back-to-back in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month. The Timos gelding was electric once more at Prestbury Park but had his colours lowered in this race last year by Fastorslow when attempting to emulate Sizing John’s 2017 feat of registering the Irish, Cheltenham and Punchestown Gold Cup treble.
It is on again and Fastorslow resumes rivalries, representing long-time Punchestown supporters Seán and Bernardine Mulryan of the Ballymore Group, as well as expert conditioner Martin Brassil.
Their pride and joy also got the better of Galopin Des Champs at this track in the John Durkan Memorial last October but unseated JJ Slevin while still travelling well at Cheltenham, albeit they were still a long way from home.
There are no worries about the Mullins star’s liking for the Kildare venue, as he is a dual winner at the track, including at the 2021 festival.
Lucinda Russell has entered Corach Rambler, who finished third at Cheltenham but fell at the first when looking to win a second Grand National in succession at Aintree on Saturday. Also in the mix for the Scottish handler is Ahoy Senor, who ran a cracker when getting within a half-length of Gerri Colombe in the Bowl on Merseyside.
Grand National winner I Am Maximus is among six entries for Mullins, while Hewick would be a very popular winner for ‘Shark’ Hanlon and TJ McDonald, with the globetrotting King George VI Chase winner a lively contender should he line up.
Gordon Elliott has five entries. They are Gerri Colombe, who followed up his gutsy runner-up finish with that Aintree triumph, Grand National runner-up Delta Work, fourth-place Aintree finisher Galvin, dual Grade 1 winning chaser Conflated and Galway Plate winner Ash Tree Meadow.
That trio have probably run their last races of the season, Elliott reports and with Conflated preferring to go left-handed, that leaves one potential representative.
“Ash Tree Meadow is very versatile in terms of trip,” said Elliott. “We have him in the William Hill Champion Chase as well so we’ll keep an open mind on that and see what way the ground is looking. But I would imagine he will take up one of the engagements.”
Nicky Henderson, who has enjoyed so much success over the years at Punchestown, has reported that this race is definitely a potential target for Shishkin, with Bravemansgame, who finished third in a thrilling finish last year, entered by Paul Nicholls.

BOODLES CHAMPION HURDLE
(Friday, May 3rd – 7 entries)

State Man loves it at Punchestown, where he has won four times, adding two Morgiana Hurdles to a brace of festival successes, including in last year’s Boodles Champion Hurdle. Marie Donnelly’s nine-time Grade 1 winner arrives in Punchestown this year as champion of his division and his nearest rival at Cheltenham, Irish Point is likely to attempt to reverse that result.
“Irish Point also has the option for running in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle. He ran very well in the Champion Hurdle so this has to be in the mix for him again,” Elliott declared.
“With Teahupoo, Sire Du Berlais and Beacon Edge for the Stayers’, we might just be looking at this more to split them up. And given he ran so well in Cheltenham, you’d be keen to try Irish Point at two miles again.”
State Man is one of four Willie Mullins entries, with dramatic Aintree Hurdle victor Impaire Et Passe, a Punchestown Festival winner last year, among them. Lossiemouth would certainly be an interesting runner but the Mares’ Hurdle hero is probably more likely to display her wares in Saturday’s Coolmore Irish EBF Champion Hurdle confined to her gender.
Bob Olinger is another possible rival. He has been reinvigorated this year and after chasing home State Man at the Dublin Racing Festival, was an unlucky loser at Aintree, touched off just a nose by Impaire Et Passe.

LADBROKES CHAMPION STAYERS’ HURDLE
(Thursday, May 2nd – 19 entries)

Teahupoo has long been touted as a staying star and Robcour’s relentless galloper has been handled expertly by Gordon Elliott to justify favouritism in beating the best of his division last month.
That was only his second run of the season, having debuted in garnering the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse in December. He was beaten only three lengths in third by Klassical Dream last year but is a fresher horse this term, as well as a more mature one.
“Teahupoo is in great order and this would look the logical step for him. We didn’t go to Liverpool with the intention of going here and it’s all systems go now for Punchestown. Everything has gone smoothly since Cheltenham and we’re pleased with him.
“Beacon Edge will probably go too. Sire Du Berlais missed Liverpool but the plan is sign off for the season with him here.”
Buddy One followed up his Cheltenham fourth by finishing second at Aintree and would be a very popular winner for the Gilligan family, while the reliable Home By The Lee could get the green light by Joseph O’Brien.
Former Grand National winner Noble Yeats, who won the Cleeve Hurdle earlier this year, has been given an entry while Champ (Nicky Henderson) and Dashel Drasher (Jeremy Scott) are the possible cross-channel contestants.

WILLIAM HILL CHAMPION CHASE
(Tuesday, April 30th – 12 entries)

This is traditionally one of the most thrilling spectacles of the week and Henry de Bromhead is aiming to let Captain Guinness make his bid for double glory, after the consistent gelding finally laid his Grade 1 bogey at Prestbury Park.
Nicky Henderson has said that Jonbon could very well take him on, given that the eight-year-old missed Cheltenham and illustrated his well being by winning the Melling Chase over two and a half miles.
El Fabiolo would be on a retrieval mission for Mullins and the Munir/Souede ownership team after fluffing his lines when odds-on at Cheltenham.
“I think we’ll go here with Fil Dor,” Elliott stated. “He ran creditably at Cheltenham and Fairyhouse, both times maybe shaping a little better than the bare result and maybe looking like a horse that might appreciate coming back to this trip.”

BALLYMORE CHAMPION FOUR-YEAR-OLD HURDLE
(Saturday, May 4th – 16 entries)

Sir Gino is the star of the juvenile category after his Cheltenham and Aintree successes. He has been given the option of travelling to Kildare by Nicky Henderson where he would face some high calibre opposition were he to make the trip.
Bottler’secret is a very inexperienced but clearly talented individual that sauntered to Grade 2 victory for Gavin Cromwell at Fairyhouse, having blitzed the opposition when only making his hurdling debut at Naas in February.
Immutable would be a very interesting runner for Joe Murphy, while Willie Mullins is heavily represented as usual, his squad headed by the amazingly consistent Kargese. Nurburgring missed Aintree and would be a leading contender for Joseph O’Brien, while Kalif Du Berlais, who chased home Bottler’secret in Fairyhouse, could be sent back to Ireland by Paul Nicholls.
Kala Conti hasn’t run since finishing a close fifth to Kargese at the Dublin Racing Festival, but beat Kenny Alexander’s filly prior to that.

TUESDAY, APRIL 30 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

There are 22 entries for the KPMG CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE with Henry de Bromhead’s Slade Steel, owned by the all-conquering Robcour, the double chaser in the two-mile novice hurdling division.
Willie Mullins has pencilled in the contest as a possibility for 16 charges, including Ballyburn, who won over the intermediate trip at Cheltenham and may be more likely to line up in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle on Friday.
Mystical Power was reeled in by Slade Steel up the straight at Cheltenham but the son of Annie Power went one better in Grade 1 competition at Aintree on Saturday.
Gordon Elliott has a number of options, including Firefox, who beat Ballyburn in their maiden hurdle and has been placed at both Cheltenham and Aintree, latterly behind Mystical Power.
“I wouldn’t rule out Firefox running,” said Elliott. “He wasn’t that busy from his maiden hurdle through to Cheltenham. He had just the one run. He progressed from his Cheltenham run to run really well in Aintree. We’ll see how he is after that and we’ll let the horse tell us.
“I’d imagine King Of Kingsfield will go here. He’s a horse that does like nice ground and was probably undone by the soft ground in Cheltenham. We skipped Aintree then on account of the ground so this is very much a target.”
The DOOLEYS INSURANCE GROUP CHAMPION NOVICE CHASE has attracted 19 entries. Emmet Mullins won it last year with Feronily and facile National Hunt Chase victor, Corbetts Cross would be an intriguing runner were he to take his place, having finished a close-up third in the Aintree Bowl against the senior Grade 1 chasers.
Nick Rockett, Tactical Move and Embassy Gardens are among the entries for Willie Mullins, while Inothewayurthinkin, who followed up success in the Kim Muir with a comfortable Grade 1 triumph at Aintree on Saturday, would be a real contender for Gavin Cromwell and owner JP McManus.
Irish Grand National hero Intense Raffles could be asked to step up to top-flight fare by Tom Gibney, while Spillane’s Tower reminded everyone of the supreme skills of Conna trainer Jimmy Mangan, when scoring in Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse.
Henry de Bromhead-trained Brown Advisory runner-up, Monty’s Star would bring the Cheltenham form, which Elliott will hope can be turned over.
“American Mike will run. He just didn’t fire at Cheltenham but he is a talented horse. He beat Fact Or File earlier in the season. He showed a really good attitude to win the Ten Up in February. The plan after Cheltenham was to come here and that’s what we’ll do.
“Salvador Ziggy didn’t fire either at Cheltenham. We’ll see with him. He’s a possible runner but he does want good ground.
“Three Card Brag has had an interrupted season but is a very nice horse. So I wouldn’t be averse to letting him take his chance.”

WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

Willie Mullins could saddle two Grade 1 winning novices, Dancing City and Readin Tommy Wrong, who are among his 16 entrants in the CHANNOR REAL ESTATE GROUP NOVICE HURDLE.
There are 28 entries in total but it is Gordon Elliott who is likely to saddle the favourite in Stellar Story, as the Gigginstown House Stud owned galloper destroyed a strong field to win the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham by seven and a half lengths.
“Stellar Story came out of Cheltenham in good shape. The plan then was to come here and he is very much on the ticket. He always looked like he’d make into a good staying novice. While he didn’t run up to his best at Dublin Racing Festival, at Cheltenham, he showed what he was capable of.
“We were very happy with Staffordshire Knot’s run in Aintree behind Brighterdaysahead. He looked like a horse who’d relish stepping up to three miles so I’d say he’ll run as well.
“Three miles is certainly Search For Glory’s thing so it’s quite likely he could turn up here. Better Days Ahead has the option of running in this or the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle. It was the intention to go to Punchestown after Cheltenham with him and that’s still the plan. He’s pretty versatile trip-wise. He won the Martin Pipe over two and a half but has very good form at two miles as well.”
Cullentra House will make a bold bid for honours in the RACE & STAY AT PUNCHESTOWN INH FLAT RACE, which has 22 entries. Closutton’s Jasmin De Vaux will be attempting the double but Elliot saddled the runner-up, third and sixth in the Champion Bumper and Romeo Coolio, Jalon D’oudairies and The Yellow Clay are among the darts he could throw at this Grade 1.
“They’re all young horses of course but they acquitted themselves really well at Cheltenham and this seems the next logical step for them,” said Elliott. “Their future is all in front of them and we’ll see how they are in the next couple of weeks but we would expect to have a strong representation.”
Fergal O’Brien has entered his exciting Aintree runner-up Tripoli Flyer, while Barry Connell’s facile Naas victor, William Munny would be a fascinating contender having swerved the British festivals.

THURSDAY, MAY 2 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

The BARBERSTOWN CASTLE NOVICE CHASE has a lucky 13 possible runners with the Susannah Ricci owned Gaelic Warrior heading the baker’s dozen after his impressive Arkle Chase triumph. Given his preference for running right-handed, he should be very difficult to beat though Willie Mullins might also saddle Blood Destiny, who seems best at the minimum trip.
Philip Rothwell has put his improving chaser Captains Nephew into the mix, and Con O’Keeffe has given his admirable mare, Silent Approach the option.

FRIDAY, MAY 3 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

A whopping tally of 35 horses are under consideration for the ALANNA HOMES CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE. Ballyburn is the standout. Ronnie Bartlett’s exciting six-year-old won the Gallagher at Cheltenham by 13 lengths after having subsequent Supreme winner, Slade Steel seven lengths back at the Dublin Racing Festival in Leopardstown.
Jeriko Du Reponet and Jingko Blue could be given the office by Nicky Henderson, while Caldwell Potter, formerly trained by Gordon Elliott, has an entry from Paul Nicholls. Elliott will certainly be represented.
The aforementioned Firefox and Better Days Ahead have this as an option.

SATURDAY, MAY 4 – ADDITIONAL GRADE 1 RACES

There are 22 entries for the COOLMORE IRISH EBF MARES’ CHAMPION HURDLE. Cheltenham heroine, Lossiemouth is the standout, with Telmesomethinggirl, Lantry Lady and Hispanic Moon all potential opposition having run brilliantly at Prestbury Park for Henry de Bromhead.

Marine Nationale “in super form” ahead of possible joust with Fact To File in mouth-watering William Hill Champion Chase

WILLIAM HILL CHAMPION CHASE
(Tuesday, April 29th – 13 entries)

The winners of the last four Queen Mother Champion Chases have been given the option of running in the William Hill Champion Chase, which looks like getting the Punchestown Festival off to a stupendous start.

Energumene (2022, 2023), Captain Guinness (2024) and the new kingpin, Marine Nationale are all included in a mouth-watering list. And if that wasn’t enough to get the juices flowing, Willie Mullins has included easy Ryanair Chase victor, Fact To File for what would be an intriguing look at the minimum trip after scoring so readily over 2m5f last March.

Fact To File won the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown over the intermediate trip in November but Marine Nationale is undoubtedly the one they all have to beat after his stunning exhibition of jumping and closing speed at Cheltenham.

“He’s great, in super form,” declares owner/trainer Barry Connell. “He came out of the race brilliant. He didn’t have much of a blow after the race. I think he was the easiest winner of the whole week and he’s come out of the race in super shape.

“He hasn’t had an over-taxing season really. We’ve been building up to the spring festivals so we’re looking forward to him going to Punchestown. Hopefully we get the usual nice spring ground, which will suit him well.

“The big thing with him was that he came into the season basically still a novice, lacking a lot of experience, and he was being pitched in against battle-hardened chasers and it’s a difficult thing to do, particularly in the two-mile division, where jumping accuracy is so important.

“He kicked off low-key in Naas. That was a big stepping stone. His two runs at Leopardstown were really good. He jumped well and as he usually does when he goes to Cheltenham, he comes alive, loves the place. It was all building towards getting the experience and fitness and everything came together at Cheltenham.

“His jumping was exemplary and it took him into the race without any great effort. And then the usual thing he does, when he jumps the last at Cheltenham, he just takes off.

“We couldn’t be happier with him now looking forward to Punchestown, and whatever turns up, we’ll be happy to take them on.”

 

Spillane’s Tower “100%” for likely clash with Galopin Des Champs in Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup

 

LADBROKES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP
(Wednesday, May 30th – 11 entries)

Galopin Des Champs will be attempting to win the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup for the first time and after going out on his shield when denied an historic third Cheltenham Gold Cup triumph on the trot, faces the prospect of renewing battle with the horses immediately in his wake, the Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame and Monty’s Star, from the Henry de Bromhead yard.

It was Inothewayurthinkin that foiled Galopin Des Champs’ bid for glory and trainer Gavin Cromwell has revealed that the JP McManus’ seven-year-old is bound for his holidays. The decision was taken after a conversation with the owner and his racing manager, Frank Berry.

“I had a good chat with JP and Frank and we decided he’s only a young horse and we thought it best that we’d just let him off for the year,” Cromwell details. “He’s done his job for us for the year and hopefully there’s plenty more to come from him and we just thought as a young horse, we’d look after him.”

McManus could be represented by Spillane’s Tower, however. Last year’s Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase winner sat out both Cheltenham and Aintree, though the latter ground-based call was made at the very last minute.

Trainer Jimmy Mangan is upbeat about stepping into the lion’s den around a course that clearly suits his stable star.

“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.”

 

Constitution Hill “in terrific shape” and Scott “really happy” with Golden Ace ahead of potential Boodles Champion Hurdle for the ages

 

BOODLES CHAMPION HURDLE
(Friday, May 3rd – 14 entries)

The last three Cheltenham Champion Hurdle winners are being aimed at the Friday feature: current titleholder Golden Ace, her predecessor State Man and the 2023 victor, Constitution Hill.

State Man, trained by Willie Mullins, would be attempting a three-in-a-row last achieved by another former Closutton inmate, the legendary Hurricane Fly in 2012. The Fly went on to make it four in 2013. State Man fell at the last when seeming certain to retain his crown at Cheltenham in March.

Also entered are State Man’s stablemate, the Aintree Hurdle and Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle victor Lossiemouth, and the Gordon Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead, the 30-length winner of the Neville Hotels Hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas, when State Man failed to fire. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned mare would be on a recovery mission having run well below par when fourth at Cheltenham last month.

Constitution Hill’s trainer, Nicky Henderson, reports Michael Buckley’s gelding to be showing no ill effects from his fall in the Aintree Hurdle, which came hot on the heels of also coming a cropper in Cheltenham. A first visit to Punchestown is very much on the cards.

“It is our intention to come to Punchestown,” says Henderson, who is no stranger to the winner’s enclosure at the festival. “It was my original plan after Cheltenham and then, he was so well, I couldn’t say no to Aintree. Thankfully, I think he’s come out of that very well and we’ve got four weeks to Punchestown. It was only three weeks from Cheltenham to Aintree.

“And don’t forget, in neither race (at Cheltenham nor Aintree) has he actually had a race. He is very fresh at the moment. He’s as fresh as paint here. He’s in terrific shape.

“It’s a long way to go and I can’t tell you anything else at the moment but we think he’s in good nick and all being well, we will be in Punchestown. We are looking forward to going.

“It’s meant to be a great clash of two great horses – State Man and Constitution Hill – and they deserve to have a head-to-head. And we may have more if Lossiemouth, Golden Ace and Brighterdaysahead are there.

“I think everyone has been talking about State Man and Constitution Hill and want to find out what happens if they turn into the straight together. Wow! That’s what it’s all about. It would be fantastic. Everybody deserves it and we would love to have that in Punchestown.”

What can be certain is that should Constitution Hill prevail, he would receive a champion’s ovation, just as Sprinter Sacre received when defeating home favourite Sizing Europe in the William Hill Champion Chase in 2013.

It was a day that rubber-stamped the Seven Barrows maestro’s love affair with Punchestown and Ireland.

“The day we brought Sprinter over will be in my memory forever because of the reception that the Punchestown and Irish crowd gave him. And I mean that. He was a French-bred horse, trained in England and the reception was incredible, before and after the race. And it meant a lot to me.”

Golden Ace was the chief beneficiary at Cheltenham after the falls of Constitution Hill and State Man. Trainer Jeremy Scott admits that fortune shone on the talented mare owned by Ian Gosden and is looking forward to her getting perhaps more credit by performing well in a stacked field in the Boodles Champion Hurdle.

“She came out of Cheltenham very, very well,” Scott reveals. “I’m really happy with her and am looking forward to coming over. We have never managed to have a winner at Punchestown – we’ve had several seconds – and we love the whole experience. It’s really good fun.

“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.

“Also, it took away from the win a bit the fact that Constitution Hill and State Man both fell. If we’d finished an honourable second to State Man, you’d have nearly felt better in many ways. I loved winning the race, of course, but I’m not sure we proved anything. So it would be nice to come out and prove that maybe, it wasn’t entirely luck.

“To be involved in a race of this nature, if everyone turns up, is a pleasure. That’s why we all train horses, isn’t it? Because we want to be able to compete at that level. I think that division is particularly strong at the moment as well, so it’s nice to be part of it.”

 

LADBROKES CHAMPION STAYERS’ HURDLE
(Thursday, May 1st – 20 entries)

Robcour duo, Bob Olinger and Teahupoo, are on target to renew their rivalry in the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers’ Hurdle.

It was the former that prevailed as Teahupoo attempted to go back-to-back at Cheltenham last month, delivered with brilliant composure by Rachael Blackmore to score for trainer, Henry de Bromhead.

Once more, it is the gelding trained by Gordon Elliott trying to go for two-in-a-row and punters will be in for a treat if the pair are given the chance to duel at Punchestown.

Hiddenvalley Lake is another Robcour-owned horse conditioned at Knockeen Stables by de Bromhead and after scoring emphatically at Aintree on Saturday, is also among the 20 entries.

Home By The Lee never got racing in Liverpool, after being brought down lucklessly at Cheltenham, but the Joseph O’Brien-trained galloper is a dual Grade 1 winner, who has taken Bob Olinger’s scalp twice this season alone and he would be a major contender.

English-based Tipperary native, Fergal O’Brien could make the visit with Crambo, who fell in the Cheltenham Stayers’ Hurdle but like Home By The Lee, is a two-time Grade 1 winner. Nicky Henderson has entered Lucky Place.

Willie Mullins has six in the mix, with Coral Cup winner Jimmy Du Seuil among the more interesting ones. Declan Queally’s talented five-year-old Rocky’s Diamond, who was fourth in Cheltenham, could also play a part.

 

SBK IRISH EBF MARES’ CHAMPION HURDLE.

 

Lossiemouth and Brighterdaysahead are among the 10 entrants in the SBK IRISH EBF MARES’ CHAMPION HURDLE. The vaunted duo are also possible runners in the Boodles Champion Hurdle at the start of the week but would add real A-list glamour to Saturday’s card were they to cross swords on the concluding day of the Punchestown Festival.

Lossiemouth’s stablemate Kargese illustrated her talent in the County Hurdle, while Henry de Bromhead’s pair, Lantry Lady and July Flower are very talented performers capable of making a bold bid.

 

 

BALLYMORE CHAMPION FOUR-YEAR-OLD HURDLE
(Saturday, May 3rd – 19 entries)

Willie Mullins dominates the entries here, with a dozen possible participants, including Poniros, who won the Triumph Hurdle on his first public outing over obstacles at 100/1 under Jonjo O’Neill Jnr. Aintree victor, Murcia is also among the group.

Nicky Henderson has entered Lulamba, who was narrowly denied at Cheltenham, and Gavin Cromwell intends to run Hello Neighbour, a Grade 1 winner at the Dublin Racing Festival who ran with credit in Cheltenham before fading late on to be sixth, less than six lengths behind Poniros.

“He just didn’t work well enough for us in his last bit of work before Aintree, so that’s why he didn’t travel over there,” Cromwell explains. “He’s fine and has plenty of time to freshen up and presuming he comes good again, he’ll run.

“I suppose he had a hard race at Cheltenham and it was off the back of the Grade 2 win on his debut at Christmas and then the Dublin Racing Festival. We just said we’d give him a chance. It was a very quick turnaround this year from Cheltenham to Aintree and when you’re borderline on sending him, I’m glad we didn’t as that might have left a mark on him and we have Punchestown to look forward to now.”

 

The DOOLEYS INSURANCE GROUP CHAMPION NOVICE CHASE has attracted 17 entries. Lecky Watson heads the Mullins team of nine, after his brilliant victory in the Brown Advisory Chase at Cheltenham, with stablemate Ballyburn likely to be given a chance to prove his disappointment was an aberration. Champ Kiely, Dancing City and Ile Atlantique are other possible Mullins contestants.

The Ken Budds-trained Anyway chased home Caldwell Potter in the Grade 2 Jack Richards Novices’ Handicap Chase at Cheltenham and that form was franked when the winner registered a very impressive Grade 1 triumph at Aintree. Anyway could be ready to go to another level, while the Gordon Elliott duo Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story, and Henry de Bromhead’s duo, Slade Steel and Gorgeous Tom are others of note.

British trainer, Polly Gundry has entered Don’t Rightly Know while the Bowe family might be tempted to run impressive beginners’ chase winner Linden Arden, trained by Philip Fenton.

Gavin Cromwell could saddle Bioluminescence, a Grade 2 mares’ novice chase winner who ran a blinder behind Dancing City in Naas before chasing home Spindleberry at Fairyhouse in February.

“Bioluminescence is very ground-dependent,” warns Cromwell, however. “She’s entered in the Irish Grand National as well. She’s in great form and we’d love to be running her but while the ground isn’t as important at the three-mile trip, she loves soft ground.

“They always do a good job at Punchestown and I know they are watering. As far as I can tell too, after every dry spell comes a wet spell, so we’re a long way away yet and you wouldn’t know what might happen with the weather and we’ll just have to wait and see.”