Boylesports Champion Chase |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:30 €200,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 26th April 2016 | |
1 God's Own 9/1
2 Vautour 4/9F
3 Simonsig 6/1
NR: Flemenstar (IRE)
7 ran Distances: 2l, 1¼l, 7½l
TIME 4m 10.30s (slow by 12.30s)
God's Own wins the Punchestown Chase! Another stunning upset as Vautour beaten into 2nd place with no excuses
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On an afternoon when Willie Mullins' two hotpots Vautour and Yorkhill both got beaten, the Tom George-trained God's Own travelled over from Britain to claim the feature Grade 1 on the opening day of the 2016 Punchestown Festival.
The eight-year-old, who won the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown two seasons ago, was sent off at 9/1 when beating 4/9 favourite Vautour by two lengths with Simonsig (6/1) a further length and a quarter back in third.
"A lot of hard work has gone into this horse behind the scenes to get him here. He's not been easy," said George. "We always knew he was better going right-handed. We had to step up his work after Aintree and he was either going to go over the top or improve. Luckily he's improved.
"We're delighted and Punchestown has been a lucky place for us."
Winning rider Paddy Brennan added: "The first mile I had no control and I just let him go. To be fair, he came back then and I filled him up going up the hill. He was awesome today.
"All credit to (Punchestown Racing Manager) Richie Galway because the ground out there is probably the nicest I have ridden on all season. It is great to ride a big one on my home turf. This is where I'm from and I am very proud today.
"I happened to be injured when God's Own won here last time. It is the ups and downs and I am lucky to get back on him."
Vautour's owner Rich Ricci said: "It was probably one race too many. He looked flat to me and never had a good cut at his fences. Ruby (Walsh) said he never made any ground in the air and wasn't himself.
"We gave it a go and maybe if it had been left-handed it would have been a different story. He's probably more suited by 2m 4f or 2m 5f."
Simonsig delighted his trainer Nicky Henderson, who said: "It was a great performance from Simonsig and to think it was only the fourth steeplechase of his life. He would not have seen a fence in anger since he won the Arkle three years ago. It was a good start.
"Barry thought he had half a squeak turning in but it was bound to tell at the end of the day and it did up the run in. It was great because he still has a lot to learn about jumping fences.
"He did a bit work about fortnight ago and I said to Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) that I don't know what will happen, but the engine still works. Jerry McGrath who rides him and Dave who looks after him have done a great job because he is not the easiest. He isn't the soundest either but it is only small things like splints. He is just very fragile."
Boylesports Champion Chase
€200,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Yielding, Yielding in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | God's Own (IRE) 9/1 | P J Brennan 11-12 |
T R George | 8 | |
| 2nd | 2 | Vautour (FR) 4/9f | R Walsh 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 7 |
| 3rd | 1¼ | Simonsig 6/1 | B J Geraghty 11-12 |
N J Henderson | 10 |
| 4th | 7½ | Twinlight (FR) 50/1 | P Townend 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 9 |
| 5th | 1½ | Clarcam (FR) 33/1 | B J Cooper 11-12 |
G Elliott | 6 |
| 6th | 9 | Special Tiara 5/1 | N D Fehily 11-12 |
H de Bromhead | 9 |
| PU | Baily Green (IRE) 66/1 | M A Enright 11-12 |
M F Morris | 10 | |
| NR | Flemenstar (IRE) 33/1 | K M Donoghue 11-12 |
Anthony Curran | 11 |
Past Results:
| Year | Horse | Age/Wt/Owner | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2015 | Felix Yonger 5/1 | 9-11-12 Andrea & Graham Wylie |
Willie Mullins | Danny Mullins |
| 2014 | Sizing Europe 7/1 | 12-11-12 Ann & Alan Potts P’ship |
Henry de Bromhead | Andrew Lynch |
| 2013 | Sprinter Sacre 1/9 Fav |
7-11-12 Mrs Caroline Mould |
Nicky Henderson GB | Barry Geraghty |
| 2012 | Sizing Europe 8/13 Fav |
10-11-12 Ann & Alan Potts P’ship |
Henry de Bromhead | Andrew Lynch |
| 2011 | Big Zeb 9/4 |
10-11-12 Pat Redmond |
Colm Murphy | Barry Geraghty |
| 2010 | Golden Silver 12/1 |
8-11-12 Violet O’Leary |
Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2009 | Master Minded 30/100 Fav | 6-11-12 Clive Smith |
Paul Nicholls GB | Ruby Walsh |
| 2008 | Twist Magic 6/4 Fav |
6-11-12 Barry Fulton, Tony Hayward, Michael Lynch |
Paul Nicholls GB | Ruby Walsh |
| 2007 | Mansony 13/2 | 8-11-12 Michael Mulholland |
Arthur Moore | Davy Russell |
| 2006 | Newmill 5/4 Fav | 8-11-12 Mary Hayes |
John Murphy | Andrew McNamara |
| 2005 | Rathgar Beau 8/1 | 9-11-12 One-O-Eight Racing Club |
Eamon Sheehy | Shay Barry |
| 2004 | Moscow Flyer 4/11 Fav | 10-11-12 Brian Kearney |
Jessica Harrington | Barry Geraghty |
| 2003 | Flagship Uberalles 8/1 | 9-12-00 J P McManus |
Philip Hobbs GB | Richard Johnson |
| 2002 | Strong Run 4/1 | 9-12-00 Michael McGrath |
Noel Meade | Paul Carberry |
| *2001 | Micko’s Dream 5/1 | 9-12-00 Sport Racing Club |
Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2000 | Get Real 3/1 | 9-11-06 Pioneer Heat-Treatment |
Nicky Henderson GB | Mick Fitzgerald |
| 1999 | Celibate 7/1 | 8-11-09 Stamford Bridge P’ship |
Charlie Mann GB | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1998 | Big Matt 16/1 | 10-10-11 Ted Benfield & Bill Brown |
Nicky Henderson GB | Mick Fitzgerald |
| 1997 | Klairon Davis 11/10 Fav | 8-12-00 Chris Jones |
Arthur Moore | Francis Woods |
| 1996 | Klairon Davis 5/2 | 7-12-00 Chris Jones |
Arthur Moore | Francis Woods |
| 1995 | Strong Platinum 3/1 Fav | 7-11-01 Theresa McCoubrey |
Paddy Burke | Conor O’Dwyer |
| 1994 | Saraemma 16/1 | 8-10-12 Dermot Cox |
Homer Scott | Kevin O’Brien |
| 1993 | Viking Flagship 5/4 Fav | 6-10-07 Roach Foods Ltd |
David Nicholson GB | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1992 | The Musical Priest 8/1 | 10-10-07 Mrs Seamus Purcell |
Michael Purcell | Jason Titley |
| 1991 | Good For A Laugh 8/1 | 7-9-11 Dr Michael Smurfit |
Arthur Moore | Charlie Swan |
| 1990 | Rust Never Sleeps 14/1 | 6-10-06 D M Murphy |
Austin Leahy | Gerry O’Neill |
| 1989 | Super Furrow 12/1 | 9-12-00 Mrs M Marshall |
Jerry O’Neill | Padge Gill |
| 1988 | Flying Ferret 8/1 | 7-9-07 Mrs V O’Leary |
Tony Redmond | Brendan Powell |
| 1987 | Eddie Wee 11/2 Jt Fav | 11-10-12 Mrs Y Rock |
Billy Rock | Conor O’Dwyer |
| 1986 | Another Brownie 6/1 | 7-9-07 S Lucey |
M McGrath | J P Byrne |
| 1985 | Buck House 11/10 Fav | 7-11-07 Mrs S Purcell |
Mouse Morris | Tommy Carmody |
| 1984 | Travelowen 6/4 Fav | 7-12-00 Mrs M Kelly |
Tom Costello | Mr Tom Costello |
| 1983 | Turloughmore Lad 7/1 | 8-9-07 M McDonagh |
Paddy Norris | Paul Leech |
| 1982 | Light The Wad 3/1 | 9-11-03 Exors of Patrick Downey |
Dessie Hughes | Tom Morgan |
| 1981 | Light The Wad 6/1 | 8-10-10 Patrick Downey |
Dessie Hughes | Frank Leavy |
| 1980 | Paddy Bouler 7/4 Fav | 7-11-04 P Rooney |
Pat Rooney | S Lynch |
