Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 16:15 €125,000 guaranteed 5yo plus 2m 100y, Class 1  |
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1 Mighty Potter 20/1
2 Gatsby Grey 100/1
3
Sir Gerhard 4/7F
5 ran Distances: 4l, 6½l, 13l
Time: 4m 2.30s (slow by 13.30s)
Might Potter updates the Mullins applecart in the Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle for @gelliott_racing and @jackkennedy15 @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/rAgOApsIo5 https://t.co/NW43Kk4acv via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) April 27, 2022
A field of five runners went to post for the first Grade One of this year’s Festival, with much of the pre-race focus on the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Sir Gerhard and and Dysart Dynamo.
Sir Gerhard was favourite to supplement success in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, with stablemate Dysart Dynamo – a faller in the Supreme – widely considered his biggest threat.
Dysart Dynamo adopted his customary front-running role from flag-fall, with Sir Gerhard and Mighty Potter always his nearest pursuers.
The latter was pulled up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, but raced with far more enthusiasm on this occasion, with Jack Kennedy doing a good job of keeping Sir Gerhard and Paul Townend in a pocket.
The gap came for Sir Gerhard before the home turn, but he was unable to keep tabs on 20-1 shot Mighty Potter, who fiddled his way over the final flight to seal a four-length verdict.
Elliott, completing a quick-fire double following the earlier success of Party Central in the opener, said: “It’s brilliant to win the first two races. I know it’s not going to be smooth sailing all week and when Willie gets going it will probably be like a steam train!
“I’m very lucky with all the support I have in the yard.”
He added: “Being honest, I thought Party Central was my best chance of the day. I was humming and hawing whether I’d run this horse. We walked the track a couple of times and said we’d take our chance.
“I thought Jack gave him a beautiful ride, he held his position the whole way. The horse is a chaser for the future and we’re very happy.
“He did the splits and was lame for a few days after Cheltenham, nothing seriously wrong with him but he just wasn’t right and came home very light.
“That was great and he’ll going chasing next year.”
Mullins said of his beaten pair: “Sir Gerhard was beaten here last year, so maybe he doesn’t like Punchestown, and Dysart Diamond had a heart fibrillation, so that’s what happened him.”
Champion Novice Hurdle
€125,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m 100y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good to Yielding, Yielding in places
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Mighty Potter 5 11-12 Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy 20/1
2 4 Gatsby Grey 6 11-12 Oliver McKiernan Barry Browne 100/1
3 6½ Sir Gerhard 7 11-12 W P Mullins Paul Townend 4/7F
4 13 Vina Ardanza 5 11-12 Gordon Elliott Davy Russell 66/1
5 dist Dysart Dynamo 6 11-12 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 13/8
Past Results:
| Year | Horse/SP | Age/Wt Owner | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2021 | Echoes In The Rain 8/13F | 5-11-07 Barnane Stud |
Willie Mullins | Mr P W Mullins |
| 2020 | Abandoned (Covid-19) |
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| 2019 | Klassical Dream 8/13F | 5-11-12 Mrs Joanne Coleman |
Willie Mullins | R Walsh |
| 2018 | Draconien 25/1 | 5-11-12 Clipper Logistics Group Ltd |
Willie Mullins | N D Fehily |
| 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 |
