Ryanair Novice Chase
 QuinnBet
Grade 1, Punchestown 18:40
€115,000 added,
5yo plus,
2m, Class 1  
Thursday 26th April 2018

Free Racing Tips

1 Footpad 2/5F
2 Optimus Prime 25/1
3 Asthuria 20/1
6 ran NR: Calino D'airy Distances: 12l, 5l, 6½l
Time: 4m 14.20s (slow by 16.20s)

Footpad is pure class in a demolition job - another victory for Willie Mullins

Footpad
© Racehorse Photos
Footpad
 
Trainer Willie Mullins felt Footpad put in his best-ever performance when winning the Grade 1 in fabulous style.
 
The brilliant six-year-old came home 12 lengths ahead of Optimus Prime (Dan Skelton/Noel Fehily) with a brilliant jumping display in the two-mile contest.
 
“That was even better than Cheltenham,” said Mullins. “I thought he jumped much bigger than ever before. He just seemed so well in himself and spring-heeled everything. He’d had to miss a bit of work around Aintree time and I wondered at halfway if he could keep up at that gallop. He could step up in trip next season, I’ll see what connections want to do.”
 
Jockey Daryl Jacob said: “Footpad was very good, wasn’t he? That is four Grade Ones now that he has achieved this season – he has been a fantastic horse for Simon (Munir), Isaac (Souede) and Anthony (Bromley). All credit to Willie again.
 
“For the first three-quarters of a mile, he was fresh, but once I got him over that, he settled into a lovely rhythm. I let him take on his fences when he wanted and four-out he put in a monster jump. He really grabbed the momentum after that and, given I was out in front, I could fill him up when I wanted to fill him up. He rattled into the home straight, was very good at the second last and then the race was won so I did not want to go for any heroics at the last.
 
“He is turning into the real article now. I felt today as if he has improved a lot from when I rode him at Navan. I spoke to Ruby after Cheltenham and he loved him, and Paul has loved him as well. When those two guys have high compliments about the horse, hopefully that goes to show that he is going to be the real deal.
 
“I rode him on this day last year in the Stayers’ Hurdle to finish third over three miles, and he had not been trained for that. There are plenty of options for him. You could have a crack at the Champion Chase or have a crack at the Ryanair. You could even go three miles and see what he is like in something like the King George, depending on how the racing goes. Simon, Isaac, Anthony and Willie will have a nice time thinking about it over the summer.”

BetGoodwin

Ryanair Novice Chase (Grade 1)
€115,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Yielding to Soft

Pos D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st Footpad (FR) 2/5f D A Jacob
11-10		 W P Mullins 6
2nd 12 Optimus Prime (FR) 25/1 N D Fehily
11-10		 D Skelton 6
3rd 5 Asthuria (FR) 20/1 D J Mullins
11-3		 W P Mullins 7
4th 6½ Petit Mouchoir (FR) 4/1 D N Russell
11-10		 H de Bromhead 7
5th 7 Castlegrace Paddy (IRE) 9/1 A E Lynch
11-10		 P A Fahy 7
6th 12 Saturnas (FR) 20/1 P Townend
11-10		 W P Mullins 7
NR Calino D'Airy (FR) S W Flanagan
11-10		 H de Bromhead 6

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PAST RESULTS
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2017 Great Field 6-11-10 J P McManus Willie Mullins J S McGarvey 9/10F
2016 Douvan 6-11-10 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 2/9F
2015 Un De Sceaux 7-11-10 Edward O’Connell Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 1/10 Fav
2014 God’s Own 6-11-10 Crossed Fingers P’ship Tom George GB Barry Geraghty 25/1
2013 Arvika Ligeionniere 8-11-10 Susannah Ricci Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 7/2 Fav
2012 Lucky William 8-11-10 Garden Kingdom Synd. Tom Cooper Barry Geraghty 4/1
2011 Captain Chris 7-11-12 Diana Whateley Philip Hobbs GB Richard Johnson 4/6 Fav
2010 Captain Cee Bee 9-11-12 J P McManus Eddie Harty A P McCoy 4/1
2009 Barker 8-11-12 E Duignan Willie Mullins David Casey 11/2
2008 Big Zeb 7-11-12 Patrick Redmond Colm Murphy Barry Geraghty 4/1
2007 Another Promise 8-11-12 Geoff Hubbard Racing Ferdy Murphy GB Graham Lee 5/1
2006 Accordion Etoile 7-11-12 Banjo Syndicate Paul Nolan John Cullen 9/4
2005 War Of Attrition 6-11-12 Gigginstown House Stud Mouse Morris Conor O’Dwyer 3/1
2004 Say Again 8-11-12 Sean Duggan Paul Nolan John Cullen 6/1
2003 Le Roi Miguel 5-11-05 Judy Stewart Paul Nicholls GB Ruby Walsh 8/11 Fav
2002 Moscow Flyer 8-11-12 Brian Kearney Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 2/5 Fav
*2001 Alcapone 7-11-12 Castleblake Racing Synd. Mouse Morris David Casey 10/1
2000 Tiutchev 7-11-09 Liars Poker Partnership Nicky Henderson GB Mick Fitzgerald 9/10 Fav
1999 Sydney Twothousand 9-11-05 Mrs Michael Watt Noel Meade Norman Williamson 11/2
1998 Direct Route 7-11-09 Michael Thompson Howard Johnson GB Paul Carberry 11/10 Fav
1997 Jeffell 7-12-00 Thomas Bailey Arthur Moore Francis Woods 11/8 Fav
1996 Ventana Canyon 7-12-00 Philip Myerscough Edward O’Grady Richard Dunwoody 5/4 Fav
1995 Strong Platinum 7-12-00 Theresa McCoubrey Paddy Burke Conor O’Dwyer 7/4
1994 Oh So Grumpy 6-11-08 Mrs E Queally Jessica Harrington Jamie Osborne 20/1
1993 Viking Flagship 6-12-00 Roach Foods Ltd David Nicholson GB Richard Dunwoody 4/1
1992 Classical Charm 9-11-08 Al O’Connell Al O’Connell Ken Morgan 8/1

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