Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:30 €250,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 27th April 2017 | |
1 Unowhatimeanharry 4/1
2
Nichols Canyon 7/4F
3
Footpad 9/1
12 ran Distances: hd, 18l, 1½l
Time: 6m 1.40s (slow by 25.40s)
'Special' success for Harry Fry as Unowhatimeanharry digs deep
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Unowhatimeanharry reversed Cheltenham form when prevailing in a photo-finish from Nichols Canyon.
The Ruby Walsh-ridden Nichols Canyon, trained by Willie Mullins for Andrea & Graham Wylie, had Unowhatimeanharry back in third at last month's Cheltenham Festival.
Winning trainer Harry Fry admitted he had been deflated after the Cheltenham defeat as he welcomed in the head winner.
"I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the Cheltenham race again because I was so disappointed," said Fry. "It just wasn't his day. But this win means so much and what a fantastic race it was! Nichols Canyon pushed us all the way. They were two top-class jockeys at their very best and two brilliant horses. There was 18 lengths back to the third and neither horse deserved to lose.
"Unowhatimeanharry is as tough as nails. He travelled well and Noel was brilliant on him. He knew just when to press the button and kept enough up his sleeve to fight off the challenge. Obviously, Cheltenham wasn't our day but it is great to bounce back in a race like this.
"This is what it is all about. These are the days you want to involved with and we are very lucky to have a horse like him. It is fantastic to have a big winner here for J P McManus and it is great for all the team back home. It's just special. Punchestown has been very lucky for us, we enjoy coming here and look forward to bringing more horses in the years to come."
Fehily added: "I thought we went very, very slow. Everything - plan a, plan b and plan c - went out the window because the last thing I wanted to be was in front two out. "I just felt that because we hacked early I had to go forward and luckily Unowhatimeanharry is such a tough little horse. I fired him at the last when he was very long for a little horse, but he has got the heart of a lion and doesn't give up on you."
Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1)
€250,000 added, 4yo plus, 3m, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Good to Yielding
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Unowhatimeanharry 4/1 | N D Fehily 11-10 |
H Fry | 9 | |
| 2nd | hd | Nichols Canyon 7/4f | R Walsh 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 7 |
| 3rd | 18 | Footpad (FR) 9/1 | D A Jacob 11-9 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 4th | 1½ | De Plotting Shed (IRE) 33/1 | D N Russell 11-10 |
G Elliott | 7 |
| 5th | nse | One Track Mind (IRE) 33/1 | G Sheehan 11-10 |
W Greatrex | 7 |
| 6th | nse | Jury Duty (IRE) 25/1 | R M Power 11-10 |
G Elliott | 6 |
| 7th | ½ | Lieutenant Colonel 100/1 | B J Cooper 11-10 |
G Elliott | 8 |
| 8th | 9 | Snow Falcon (IRE) 16/1 | S W Flanagan 11-10 |
N Meade | 7 |
| 9th | 3¼ | Clondaw Warrior (IRE) 25/1 | P Townend 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 10 |
| 10th | ½ | Lil Rockerfeller (USA) 8/1 | R Johnson 11-10 |
N B King | 6 |
| 11th | 4½ | Shaneshill (IRE) 14/1 | D E Mullins 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 8 |
| PU | Sutton Place (IRE) 4/1 | M P Walsh 11-10 |
G Elliott | 6 |
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2016 One Track Mind 6-11-10 Andy Weller W Greatrex Gavin Sheehan 10/1
2015 Jezki 7-11-10 J P McManus Jessica Harrington Mark Walsh 5/2
2014 Jetson 9-11-10 Gerard & Moira McGrath Jessica Harrington Davy Russell 20/1
2013 Quevega 9-11-03 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 6/4 Fav
2012 Quevega 8-11-03 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 11/10 Fav
2011 Quevega 7-11-05 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 8/11 Fav
2010 Quevega 6-11-05 Hammer & Trowel Synd. Willie Mullins Paul Townend 5/2 Fav
2009 Fiveforthree 7-11-10 Olde Crowbars Syndicate Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 5/4 Fav
2008 Blazing Bailey 6-11-10 Three Line Whip Alan King GB Robert Thornton 100/30 Fav
2007 Refinement 8-11-07 Michael Tabor Jonjo O’Neill GB A P McCoy 16/1
2006 Asian Maze 7-11-07 Sheila Moore Tom Mullins Ruby Walsh 8/13 Fav
2005 Carlys Quest 11-11-12 Mrs L Neville Ferdy Murphy GB Keith Mercer 25/1
2004 Rhinestone Cowboy 8-11-12 Sue Magnier Jonjo O’Neill GB Mr J P Magnier 5/2
2003 Holy Orders 6-11-12 Alan McLuckie Willie Mullins Shay Barry 6/1
2002 Limestone Lad 10-11-12 James Bowe James Bowe Paul Carberry 4/6 Fav
*2001 Bannow Bay 6-11-12 Linda Shanahan Christy Roche Charlie Swan 11/8 Fav
2000 Rubhahunish 9-11-11 Lone Star Racing P’ship Nigel Twiston-Davies GB Carl Llewellyn 5/1
1999 Anzum 8-12-00 Old Foresters Partnership David Nicholson GB Richard Johnson 7/1
1998 Derrymoyle 9-12-00 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham A P McCoy 10/1
1997 Paddy’s Return 5-11-12 Paddy O’Donnell Ferdy Murphy GB Norman Williamson 100/30
1996 Derrymoyle 7-12-00 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham Mark Dwyer 100/30
1995 Derrymoyle 6-11-11 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham Mark Dwyer 8/1
1994 Ultra Flutter 7-10-06 Donal Higgins Michael Hourigan Kevin O’Brien 7/2
1993 Always In Trouble 6-10-02 Margaret O’Rourke Michael O’Brien Jason Titley 8/1
1992 Shuil Ar Aghaidh 6-10-01 Mrs P Kiely Paddy Kiely Charlie Swan 2/1 Fav
* Run at Fairyhouse
