BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:30 €200,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Friday 28th April 2017 | |
1 Wicklow Brave 12/1
2
My Tent Or Yours 8/1
3
Arctic Fire 9/2
10 ran NR: Diakali, Petit Mouchoir Distances: 1½l, nk, ¾l
Time: 3m 49.90s (slow by 4.90s)
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Willie Mullins secured his seventh victory in the last eight runnings of this race as Classic hero Wicklow Brave struck gold in the hands of his son, Patrick.
The champion trainer sent five runners to post for the Grade One feature, although that number was reduced by one after Diakali was withdrawn at the start.
While his stablemates Vroum Vroum Mag (6-4 favourite) and Arctic Fire (9-2) were the first two in the betting, Wicklow Brave was a 12-1 shot, but never looked back after taking over the lead from Identity Thief in the back straight.
Last year's Irish St Leger winner turned for home with a healthy advantage and although My Tent Or Yours and Arctic Fire closed the gap after the final flight, Wicklow Brave was not for catching and Patrick Mullins punched the air as they passed the post a length and a half to the good.
Mullins junior said: " I didn't think we were going a mad gallop and I said I'd take a chance and just let him enjoy himself.
"He's always threatened to do this. I rode him here one day and he was third behind Faugheen and Nichols Canyon.
"It's a massive thrill and I'm very grateful to everyone involved. It's nice to ride a Classic winner over hurdles!"
The winning trainer said: "I'm just delighted for Patrick, and to win that means so much to me.
"The horse took off and Patrick had enough sense to let him off. For an amateur rider to do that is something special, and for his size I don't know how he does the weight.
"Our plan was to put the horse back on the Flat and he is in a race at York. We decided that he was needed more here."
Nicky Henderson's admirable veteran My Tent Or Yours was second yet again, with Arctic Fire's third-placed finish providing Mullins with a further boost in his battle with Gordon Elliott for the trainer's title.
The father-son combination went on to complete a big-race double as Bacardys (10-1) got up late in the day to land the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle, meaning Mullins will head into the final day of the season with a significant lead over Elliott.
Henderson was understandably proud of My Tent Or Yours, who had already finished second in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham for a third time and finished second in the Aintree Hurdle this spring.
"You'd have to say he deserves one, but he's run another fantastic race," said the Seven Barrows handler.
"He's going straight on down to Martinstown now and has his holiday there, which he loves.
"He's amazing as three festivals is very hard to do, especially with an old boy like that. We've had to mind him the last few days, but since he's been over here he's started squealing again.
"He's been a legend throughout his life, but to run three races like he has is great."
The Elliott-trained Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Labaik was back in action just three days after failing to start in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
With Davy Russell taking over in the saddle from Jack Kennedy and a visor applied, he did consent to jump off, but never threatened to land a telling blow, passing the post a never-nearer fourth.
The Mullins first string, Vroum Vroum Mag, was well beaten.
BETDAQ Punchestown Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
€250,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Good to Yielding
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Wicklow Brave 12/1 | Mr P W Mullins 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 8 | |
| 2nd | 1½ | My Tent Or Yours (IRE) 8/1 | Aidan Coleman 11-12 |
N J Henderson | 10 |
| 3rd | nk | Arctic Fire (GER) 9/2 | P Townend 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 8 |
| 4th | ¾ | Labaik (FR) 11/2 | D N Russell 11-12 |
G Elliott | 6 |
| 5th | ¾ | Brain Power (IRE) 13/2 | D J Mullins 11-12 |
N J Henderson | 6 |
| 6th | 12 | Ivan Grozny (FR) 33/1 | Ms K Walsh 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 7 |
| 7th | 1 | Vroum Vroum Mag (FR) 6/4f | R Walsh 11-5 |
W P Mullins | 8 |
| 8th | 3 | Tombstone (IRE) 25/1 | J W Kennedy 11-12 |
G Elliott | 7 |
| 9th | ½ | Rashaan (IRE) 50/1 | S W Flanagan 11-12 |
C Kidd | 5 |
| 10th | 3 | Identity Thief (IRE) 33/1 | B J Cooper 11-12 |
H de Bromhead | 7 |
| WN | Diakali (FR) | D E Mullins 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 8 | |
| NR | Petit Mouchoir (FR) | B J Cooper 11-12 |
H de Bromhead | 6 |
PAST RESULTS
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 4/6 Fav
2015 Faugheen 7-11-12 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/6 Fav
2014 Jezki 6-11-12 J P McManus Jessica Harrington A P McCoy 4/5 Fav
2013 Hurricane Fly 9-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/4 Fav
2012 Hurricane Fly 8-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 4/11 Fav
2011 Hurricane Fly 7-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/2 Fav
2010 Hurricane Fly 6-11-12 George Creighton & Rose Boyd Willie Mullins Paul Townend 3/1
2009 Solwhit 5-11-12 Top Of The Hill Syndicate Charles Byrnes Davy Russell 2/1 Jt Fav
2008 Punjabi 5-11-12 Raymond Tooth Nicky Henderson GB Barry Geraghty 2/1
2007 Silent Oscar 8-11-12 Patrick Convery Harry Rogers Robbie Power 20/1
2006 Macs Joy 7-11-12 Mac’s J Racing Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 11/4
2005 Brave Inca 7-11-12 Novices Syndicate Colm Murphy A P McCoy 2/1
2004 Hardy Eustace 7-11-12 Lar Byrne Dessie Hughes Conor O’Dwyer 3/1
2003 Quazar 5-11-13 David Carr Jonjo O’Neill GB Tony Dobbin 7/2
2002 Davenport Milenium 6-11-12 Mrs Noel O’Callaghan Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 11/2
*2001 Moscow Flyer 7-12-00 Brian Kearney Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 6/1
2000 Grimes 7-11-09 J P McManus Christy Roche Charlie Swan 6/1
1999 Istabraq 7-12-00 J P McManus Aidan O’Brien Charlie Swan 1/4 Fav
1998-96 No race
1995 Fortune And Fame 8-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld Richard Dunwoody 4/7 Fav
1994 Fortune And Fame 7-11-08 Michael Smurfit Dermot Weld Brendan Sheridan 4/9 Fav
1993 Camden Buzz 5-11-05 Carmel Byrne Paddy Mullins Charlie Swan Evs Fav
* Run at Leopardstown
