Boylesports Champion Chase |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:30 €250,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 25th April 2017 | |
1 Fox Norton 5/2
2
Un De Sceaux 10/11F
3
God's Own 7/1
8 ran Distances: 1¾l, ½l, 6½l
Time: 4m 5.60s (slow by 7.60s)
Another brilliant run from Fox Norton and a great ride from Robbie Power
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Following a Grade One treble at Aintree earlier this month, the team of trainer Colin Tizzard, owners Ann and Alan Potts and jockey Robbie Power took the big-race honours on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.
It was Fox Norton who backed up his Grade One victory in the Melling Chase at Liverpool as he came out on top, taking the scalp of Un De Sceaux in the process.
Tizzard was concerned he might be going to the well once too often as Fox Norton had also run at Cheltenham where he was a strong-finishing second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Those fears proved unfounded as the 5-2 chance pulled clear on the run-in to beat Willie Mulllins' Ryanair Chase winner by a length and three-quarters.
Last year's winner God's Own was not disgraced in third place, just half a length away, and might have finished closer but for a mistake at the last.
Tizzard said: "It had been on our minds ever since Cheltenham and Aintree 'are we going one step too far?'.
"He's just progressed into a beautiful young horse. Obviously this is his minimum trip, but he was good enough to win this and very nearly win a Champion Chase.
"This just looked lovely (for him). He did have three months off in the middle of the season when he cut into himself at Cheltenham, so it's not like he's been on the go all the time.
"He's the one horse we thought we could bring here and he's shown it all.
"You've got to stay in every race and he's got that about him. Luckily enough when he came on the market, Alan and Ann Potts wanted the horse. It doesn't always turn out like that, but he has.
"Robbie was cool. He didn't get involved in any battles until he had to. The horse made a few mistakes and Robbie said he was going flat out the whole time.
"This is why we get up in the morning and why we go looking at horses, to come and win at places like Punchestown. It's fantastic."
Asked if Fox Norton could step up in trip next season Tizzard said: "I think there's every temptation. That was his minimum and if there had been a two-and-a-half-miler here today he would have been in that.
"He'd get three miles, but of course Sizing John is there. I think he'd get two and a half or three. He could be (a King George horse)."
Power, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Sizing John in the same colours, said: "It's been an unbelievable season and getting a Grade One at Punchestown as well for Mr and Mrs Potts - it's fantastic.
"He was flat to the boards the whole way. I didn't want to give Un De Sceaux too much rope. Just because of that I was flat out the whole way and he made one or two little mistakes, but once we turned in I knew I would pick him up.
"Two miles is sharp enough for him. He's a very relaxed horse. He'll have no bother going further."
Mullins said of Un De Sceaux: "He probably wants it softer for that trip, and wants an extra half-mile on better ground. We've had a fantastic season with him and will put him away now.
"The faster pace over two miles on better ground didn't suit him. The horse was in good order. He's probably a two-mile horse on winter ground but when it comes to the spring he wants the extra half-mile."
Boylesports Champion Chase
€250,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Good to Yielding
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Fox Norton (FR) 5/2 | R M Power 11-12 |
C L Tizzard | 7 | |
| 2nd | 1¾ | Un De Sceaux (FR) 10/11f | R Walsh 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 9 |
| 3rd | ½ | God's Own (IRE) 7/1 | A P Heskin 11-12 |
T R George | 9 |
| 4th | 6½ | Rock The World (IRE) 12/1 | D J Mullins 11-12 |
Mrs J Harrington | 9 |
| 5th | 3¼ | Ballycasey (IRE) 16/1 | P Townend 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 10 |
| 6th | 17 | Sir Valentino (FR) 14/1 | P J Brennan 11-12 |
T R George | 8 |
| PU | The Game Changer (IRE) 40/1 | B J Cooper 11-12 |
G Elliott | 8 | |
| F | Realt Mor (IRE) 100/1 | J W Kennedy 11-12 |
G Elliott | 12 |
Past Results:
| Year | Horse | Age/Wt/Owner | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2016 | God's Own 9/1 | 8-11-12 Crossed Fingers P’ship |
T R George | P J Brennan |
| 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 |
