Ryanair Novice Chase |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 18:40 €115,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Thursday 2nd May 2019 |
1 Chacun Pour Soi 3/1
2 Defi Du Seuil 9/4F
3 Duc Des Genievres 5/2
7 ran Distances: 4¼l, 16l, 9l
Time: 4m 7.00s (slow by 9.00s)
Puppy Power rides a winner for Rich Ricci on Chacun Pour Soi!
The hype around Chacun Pour Soi has been well and truly justified, as he wins the Ryanair Novice Chase very impressively for @WillieMullinsNH and @Robbie_Power_ pic.twitter.com/hTN3LBY4ds
— Horse Racing Ireland (@GoRacing) May 2, 2019
Chacun Pour Soi created a huge impression on his first run for Willie Mullins and Rich Ricci at Naas, but the seven-year-old was in much deeper waters this time, in the hottest novice chase of the season.
It contained Philip Hobbs’ JLT winner Defi Du Seuil, Arkle hero Duc Des Genievres, Aintree scorer Ornua and Voix Du Reve, a Grade One winner last time out.
As is his wont, Ornua set off at a helter-skelter gallop – and that sorted out Us And Them, who was an early casualty.
By the second last, Duc Des Genievres took over from Ornua – who had shot his bolt – but he was tracked by stablemate Chacun Pour Soi and Robbie Power, replacing the recently retired Ruby Walsh.
Richard Johnson was content to sit in behind him on Defi Du Seuil to delay his challenge until as late as possible. Yet despite getting close at the last, Chacun Pour Soi – who had defied an absence of more than 1000 days to win last time out – went on again to win by four and a quarter lengths.
MansionBet were suitably impressed, and quickly made him a 6-1 chance for next year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Even the usually circumspect Mullins was surprised at the ease of his success, and said: “I think we’ve seen a real racehorse.
“He’s had lots of niggly little problems, which kept him off for three years. He came right around Naas time and he won his beginners chase very well.
“He’s all the time shown me he could be a real racehorse. To turn in today with a JLT winner on one side and an Arkle winner on the other side – and Robbie said he was cantering. That shows us that he’s a real horse for the future.
“I said to Robbie ‘ride him around the outside and don’t get involved in a race with any of the other horses because he’s had so few runs – but if he’s as good as we think he is God knows what will happen’.
“I just thought about getting here today and haven’t thought any further than that. He’s just matured now, and hopefully it will get better next year. I won’t make any plans now about where he’ll start next year.”
Chacun Pour Soi’s return will be eagerly awaited by all racing followers, though.
Mullins added: “You get a lot of disappointments with horses, but we always thought he could be a Grade One horse. It’s a bit unorthodox, coming out in March to win a beginners chase and then throwing him straight into a Grade One race.
“I hadn’t thought about what distance he might want (in the future). I didn’t look on him as a Champion Chase horse. He’ll gallop and he’ll stay all day, and soft ground would be no problem to him.
“We might keep him to two miles next year, but there will have to be lots of thinking done.”
Ryanair Novice Chase (Grade 1)
€115,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Yielding
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Chacun Pour Soi (FR) 3/1 | R M Power 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 7 | |
| 2nd | 4¼ | Defi Du Seuil (FR) 9/4f | R Johnson 11-10 |
P J Hobbs | 6 |
| 3rd | 16 | Duc Des Genievres (FR) 5/2 | P Townend 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
| 4th | 9 | Voix Du Reve (FR) 10/1 | D J Mullins 11-10 |
W P Mullins | 7 |
| 5th | nk | Duca De Thaix (FR) 50/1 | J W Kennedy 11-10 |
G Elliott | 6 |
| PU | Ornua (IRE) 7/1 | D N Russell 11-10 |
H De Bromhead | 8 | |
| UR | Us And Them (IRE) 16/1 | S A Shortall 11-10 |
J P O'Brien | 6 |
PAST RESULTS
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2018 Footpad 6-11-10 Simon Munir & Isaac Souede Willie Mullins DA Jacob 2/5F
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
