Herald Champion Novice Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 16:20 Race Value: €100,000 5yo plus 2m, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 24th April 2018 |
1 Draconien 25/1
2 Vision Des Flos 11/1
3 Mengli Khan 11/2
10 ran Distances: 2¼l, 7l, 4l
Time: 4m 3.70s (slow by 14.70s)
First blood to Willie Mullins as Draconien wins
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Draconien got Willie Mullins off to a flying start at this year’s Punchestown Festival after springing a surprise under a confident Noel Fehily.
The reigning champion trainer has significant ground to make up on rival Gordon Elliott in this year’s title race, but reduced the deficit in the first Grade One contest of the week.
Mullins fielded four of the 10 runners and it was his 11-10 favourite Getabird who cut out much of the running in the hands Paul Townend.
However, he was a spent force from the home turn and was first claimed by Colin Tizzard’s British challenger Vision Des Flos, before 25-1 shot Draconien came through to claim victory by two and a quarter lengths.
Vision Des Flos was a clear second, with Elliott’s Mengli Khan best of the rest in third.
Mullins said: “It looked like there was too much pace up the front for Getabird and everyone took him on up. They’ve all paid the penalty and Draconien came through.
“Noel got off him in Fairyhouse and said he wanted to ride him differently and on better ground and that’s exactly what happened today.
“There was so much pace today, there was no pace in Fairyhouse, and that played into his hands and he jumped fantastic as well.”
He added: “He’s a good horse, we thought he was in the beginning and then he lost his way a bit. He’s back to himself again.
“He’ll probably go to grass now or we might actually bring him back to Paris for something like the Prix La Barka.
“We’ll see as he’s not a horse that’s going to take a lot of racing but he has very little racing this year. He could do that or go out for the summer.”
The Herald Champion Novice Hurdle
€100,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
10 ran
Going: Yielding to Soft
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Draconien (FR) 25/1 | N D Fehily 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 5 | |
| 2nd | 2¼ | Vision Des Flos (FR) 11/1 | R M Power 11-12 |
C L Tizzard | 5 |
| 3rd | 7 | Mengli Khan (IRE) 11/2 | J W Kennedy 11-12 |
G Elliott | 5 |
| 4th | 4 | Whiskey Sour (IRE) 10/1 | D J Mullins 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 5th | 2 | Cartwright 33/1 | M P Walsh 11-12 |
G Elliott | 5 |
| 6th | 4¾ | Sharjah (FR) 11/1 | Mr P W Mullins 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 7th | 1¾ | Getabird (IRE) 11/10f | P Townend 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 8th | 5½ | Hardline (IRE) 25/1 | S W Flanagan 11-12 |
G Elliott | 6 |
| 9th | 24 | Beyond The Law (IRE) 66/1 | B J Cooper 11-12 |
M F Morris | 6 |
| 10th | 8 | Paloma Blue (IRE) 11/2 | D N Russell 11-12 |
H de Bromhead | 6 |
Past Results:
| Year | Horse/SP | Age/Wt Owner | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2017 | Cilaos Emery 8/1 | 5-11-12 Luke McMahon |
Willie Mullins | David Mullins |
| 2016 | Don't Touch It 16/1 | 6-11-12 J P McManus |
Mrs J Harrington | B J Geraghty |
| 2015 | Douvan 1/6F | 5-11-12 Susannah Ricci |
Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2014 | Faugheen 1/2F | 6-11-12 Susannah Ricci |
Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2013 | Jezki 2/1 | 5-11-12 J P McManus |
Jessica Harrington | Barry Geraghty |
| 2012 | Alderwood 5/2 | 8-11-12 J P McManus |
Tom Mullins | A P McCoy |
| 2011 | Shot From The Hip 11/2 | 7-11-12 J P McManus |
Edward O’Grady | A P McCoy |
| 2010 | Blackstair mountain 5/1 |
5-11-12 Susannah Ricci |
Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2009 | Hurricane Fly 4/6 Fav | 5-11-12 George Creight |
on/Rose Boyd Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2008 | Jered 7/4 Fav | 6-11-12 J P McManus |
Noel Meade | A P McCoy |
| 2007 | Clopf 7/4 Fav | 6-11-12 Bernard Heffernan |
Edward O’Grady | Barry Geraghty |
| 2006 | Iktitaf 8/1 | 5-11-11 Mrs Pat Sloan |
Noel Meade | Ruby Walsh |
| 2005 | Wild Passion 7/4 Fav | 5-11-11 Des Sharkey |
Noel Meade | Paul Carberry |
| 2004 | Brave Inca 2/1 Fav | 6-11-12 Novices Syndicate |
Colm Murphy | Barry Cash |
| 2003 | Back In Front 4/11 Fav | 6-11-12 Dermot Cox |
Edward O’Grady | Norman Williamson |
| 2002 | Scottish Memories 11/4 | 6-11-12 Mary Halligan |
Noel Meade | Paul Carberry |
| *2001 | Ned Kelly 4/5 Fav | 5-11-11 Sue Magnier |
Edward O’Grady | Norman Williamson |
| 2000 | Moscow Flyer 10/1 | 6-12-00 Brian Kearney | Jessica Harrington | Barry Geraghty |
| 1999 | Cardinal Hill 1/2 Fav | 5-11-13 J P McManus |
Noel Meade | Charlie Swan |
| 1998 | His Song 6/4 | 5-11-13 David Lloyd |
Mouse Morris | A P McCoy |
| 1997 | Midnight Legend 7/4 Fav | 6-12-00 Hilda Clarke |
David Nicholson GB | Richard Johnson |
| 1996 | Dance Beat 7/2 | 5-11-08 Mrs E Queally |
Jessica Harrington | John Shortt |
| 1995 | Hotel Minella 5/4 Fav | 8-12-00 John J Nallen |
Aidan O’Brien | Charlie Swan |
| 1994 | Klairon Davis 7/4 Fav | 5-11-13 Chris Jones |
Arthur Moore | Tom Horgan |
| 1993 | Bayrouge 7/2 | 5-11-08 Joe Crowley |
Anne-Marie O’Brien | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1992 | Fortune And Fame 11/4 Fav | 5-11-13 Michael Smurfit |
Dermot Weld | Brendan Sheridan |
| 1991 | Young Pokey 5/2 | 6-12-00 Maurice Oberstein |
Oliver Sherwood GB | Jamie Osborne |
| 1990 | Vestris Abu 5/2 | 4-10-05 Mrs C Shubotham |
Jim Bolger | Charlie Swan |
| 1989 | The Proclamation 9/2 | 6-10-13 J M Whaley |
Paddy Prendergast | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1988 | El-Sid Senor 9/4 Fav | 5-11-07 T Miley |
Francis Flood | Frank Berry |
| 1987 | High Plains 8/1 | 5-11-05 Raymond Mould |
David Nicholson GB | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1986 | Barney Burnett Evs Fav | 6-11-09 P Donovan |
Ruby Walsh | Brendan Sheridan |
| 1985 | Hungary Hur 5/1 | 6-11-06 Mrs A Fegan |
Paddy Mullins | Tony Mullins |
| 1984 | Gav’s Delight 2/5 Fav | 6-11-07 N McGrady |
Michael Cunningham | Ken Morgan |
| 1983 | Dawn Run 5/2 Fav | 5-11-07 Mrs Charmian Hill |
Paddy Mullins | Tony Mullins |
| 1982 | Bustineto 5/2 | 4-10-05 Timothy Kinsella |
Mick O’Toole | Niall Madden |
| 1981 | Tie Anchor 2/1 Fav | 4-10-09 Daniel Hale |
Paddy Prendergast | Tommy McGivern |
| 1980 | Deep Gale 7/1 | 7-11-08 J P McManus |
Edward O’Grady | Mr Frank Codd |
