Growise Champion Novice Chase |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 18:40 Race Value: €100,000 5yo plus 3m 1f  |
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| Tuesday 26th April 2016 |
1 Zabana 7/2
2 Outlander 3/1F
3 Sub Lieutenant 20/1
9 ran Distances: 2l, 5l, ½l
TIME 6m 26.40s (slow by 20.40s)
Zabana puts Cheltenham disappointment behind him by bagging the Growise Champion Novice Chase
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The seven-year-old unseated rider Davy Russell when whipped round at the start of the JLT Novices' Chase, but was perhaps another to ultimately benefit from not having arrived at Punchestown on the back of a hard race.
Andrew Lynch's horse pecked on landing after the first but was generally fluent throughout, having been allowed to bowl along in front by Russell.
Approaching four out, the riderless Ballychorus threatened to again rob connections of their chance as he ran across the field, but Russell managed to avoid the danger and regather his mount for the turn for home.
Outlander (3/1 favourite), bidding to give Willie Mullins a third success in five years, appeared to be moving well on the leader's inside but he was slower away from the second last and could never get to Zabana.
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Sub Lieutenant finished a well-held third having also been prominent throughout as Grand National hero Rule The World weakened out of it to finish sixth.
Russell said: "There was plenty of hassle with the loose horse (Ballychorus), but when I let him roll along he jumped great.
"When we went to Cheltenham, (we were) thinking he was going to run a big race and this justifies it.
"He loved the bit of nicer ground and he stayed well on it."
Winning owner Chris Jones said: "I'm delighted for everyone and it's a dream come true.
"The Cheltenham thing was a low point, but to come back from that and for it all to fall into place was great. I'm thrilled.
"We knew the horse had a great chance, we just needed the ground and today he got it."
Growise Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
€100,000 added, 5yo plus, 3m 1f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Yielding, Yielding in places
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Zabana (IRE) 7/2 | D N Russell 11-10 |
A Lynch | 7 | |
| 2nd | 2 | Outlander (IRE) 3/1f | B J Cooper 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 8 |
| 3rd | 5 | Sub Lieutenant (IRE) 20/1 | J W Kennedy 11-10 |
Ms Sandra Hughes | 7 |
| 4th | ½ | Henryville 7/1 | N D Fehily 11-10 |
H Fry | 8 |
| 5th | 1¼ | Shantou Flyer (IRE) 25/1 | Mr B O'Neill 11-10 |
C Bowe | 6 |
| 6th | ½ | Rule The World 8/1 | D J Mullins 11-10 |
M F Morris | 9 |
| 7th | 64 | Southfield Royale 4/1 | P Townend 11-10 |
N P Mulholland | 6 |
| PU | Noble Endeavor (IRE) 7/1 | B J Geraghty 11-10 |
G Elliott | 7 | |
| UR | Ballychorus (IRE) 12/1 | D F O'Regan 11-10 |
Ms M Mullins | 7 |
Past Results:
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2015 Valseur Lido 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 15/2
2014 Carlingford Lough 8-11-10 J P McManus John Kiely A P McCoy 7/2
2013 Mount Benbulben 8-11-10 Barry Connell Gordon Elliott Danny Mullins 14/1
2012 Sir Des Champs 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins Davy Russell 2/7 Fav
2011 Quito De La Roque 7-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Colm Murphy Davy Russell 7/2
2010 Kempes 7-11-10 J P McManus Willie Mullins A P McCoy 9/1
2009 Rare Bob 7-11-10 D A Syndicate Dessie Hughes Paddy Flood 7/1
2008 Air Force One 6-11-10 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Charlie Mann GB Noel Fehily 2/1
2007 Offshore Account 7-11-10 Brian Polly Charlie Swan Denis O’Regan 16/1
2006 Missed That 7-11-10 Violet O’Leary Willie Mullins David Casey 4/1
2005 Forget The Past 7-11-10 Sean Mulryan Michael O’Brien Timmy Murphy 7/4 Fav
2004 Lord Sam 8-11-08 Plain Peeps Victor Dartnall GB Jim Culloty 5/4 Fav
2003 Heart Midoltian 6-11-00 Mrs Seamus Neville Seamus Neville Davy Russell 16/1
2002 Native Endurance 6-10-09 Patrick J O’Donovan Paddy Mullins David Casey 11/2
*2001 Sackville 8-11-12 Seamus O’Farrell Frances Crowley David Casey 4/11 Fav
2000 Zourito 7-12-00 Wilson Dennison Arthur Moore Barry Cash 100/30
1999 Ferbet Junior 6-12-00 David Attwood Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 3/1
1998 Fiddlers Tune 8-11-05 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham A P McCoy 7/2
1997 Linton Rocks 8-11-08 Hon. Mrs Townshend Tim Thomson Jones GB Richard Dunwoody 7/4 Fav
1996 Shanagarry 7-12-00 Patrick Heffernan Patrick Heffernan Conor O’Dwyer 3/1
1995 Camitrov 5-11-03 Jim Lewis Simon Christian GB Richard Dunwoody 7/2
1994 Belvederian 7-12-00 Tony O’Reilly Mouse Morris Graham Bradley 8/11 Fav
1993 Force Seven 6-11-05 Sheila Moore Paddy Mullins Trevor Horgan 11/4 Fav
1992 Milford Quay 9-11-10 W A Jones Martin Pipe GB Peter Scudamore 15/8 Fav
* Run at Fairyhouse
