Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 18:35 €125,000 guaranteed 5yo plus 3m 120y  |
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1 Feronily 7/1
2 Appreciate It 7/2
3 James Du Berlais 12/1
6 ran Distances: 1¾l, 6½l, 6½l
Time: 6m 29.90s (slow by 33.90s)
Feronily powers to victory under Donagh Meyler for trainer Emmet Mullins in the Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/whIgROLt40 https://t.co/596QzOfwKQ via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) April 25, 2023
Emmet Mullins managed to beat his all-conquering uncle Willie as Feronily put up a strong show on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.
The champion trainer had saddled four of the first five winners on the card, with a couple of one-twos, a one-two-three and a one-two-three-four thrown in for good measure.
Having won the first two Grade Ones of the afternoon with Facile Vega and Energumene, the master of Closutton saddled four of the six runners in a bid to bag another top-level prize – but was ultimately beaten by his nephew and neighbour.
With Henry de Bromhead’s favourite Journey With Me falling in the back straight, it was just a question of which Mullins would win before the home turn, with Feronily leading the way under a bold ride from Donagh Meyler.
Appreciate It – looking to give Paul Townend a Grade One treble on the card – emerged as the biggest threat between the final two fences, but Feronily was not for catching and stuck to his task gamely on the run-in to score by a length and three-quarters.
James Du Berlais and Classic Getaway finished third and fourth, while Sir Gerhard was pulled up.
While Emmet Mullins is no stranger to big-race success, having most notably saddled Noble Yeats to win last year’s Grand National at Aintree, Feronily was giving him his first Grade One winner.
He said: “We bought him last November as a five-year-old and people said he was too old. We’ve run him in bumpers, hurdles and chases and he’s won a Grade One and now he’s a young horse again. It’s funny how the wheel turns sometimes.
“He’s progressing with each run and is an exciting horse to have. He’s such a good jumper and what I saw in the point-to-point field was the reason we bought him. Jumping is his forte and we weren’t going to waste time.
“I don’t know where we go from here, but he’s definitely a staying chaser.”
Meyler was also enjoying his first Grade One victory.
He said: “I just can’t believe it to be honest with you, it’s kind of been a monkey on the back for a long time now. I’m over the moon.
“He’s had an unusual prep, but you’d be a foolish man second-guessing Emmet Mullins!”
“He’s a fantastic horse, well bought, and it’s great to ride a Grade One winner for Emmet and Paul Byrne (owner) as well.”
Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
€125,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 120y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Yielding to Soft
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Feronily 6 11-10 Emmet Mullins Donagh Meyler 7/1
2 1¾ Appreciate It 9 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 7/2
3 6½ James Du Berlais 7 11-10 W P Mullins Daryl Jacob 12/1
4 6½ Classic Getaway 7 11-10 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 9/2
FELL Journey With Me 7 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 9/4F
PU Sir Gerhard 8 11-10 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 7/2
Past Results:
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2022 Capodanno 6 11-10 John P McManus W P Mullins Mark Walsh 11/4
2021 Colreevy 8 11-05 Mrs N Flynn W P Mullins Danny Mullins 7/1
2020 Abandoned - Covid 19
2019 Delta Work 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott D N Russell 13/8F
2018 The Storyteller 7-11-10 Mrs P Sloan Gordon Elliott D N Russell 16/1
2017 Disko 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud N Meade B J Cooper 13/82016 Zabana 7-11-10 Chris Jones Andrew Lynch Davy Russell 7/2
2015 Valseur Lido 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 15/2
2014 Carlingford Lough 8-11-10 J P McManus John Kiely A P McCoy 7/2
2013 Mount Benbulben 8-11-10 Barry Connell Gordon Elliott Danny Mullins 14/1
2012 Sir Des Champs 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins Davy Russell 2/7 Fav
2011 Quito De La Roque 7-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Colm Murphy Davy Russell 7/2
2010 Kempes 7-11-10 J P McManus Willie Mullins A P McCoy 9/1
2009 Rare Bob 7-11-10 D A Syndicate Dessie Hughes Paddy Flood 7/1
2008 Air Force One 6-11-10 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Charlie Mann GB Noel Fehily 2/1
2007 Offshore Account 7-11-10 Brian Polly Charlie Swan Denis O’Regan 16/1
2006 Missed That 7-11-10 Violet O’Leary Willie Mullins David Casey 4/1
2005 Forget The Past 7-11-10 Sean Mulryan Michael O’Brien Timmy Murphy 7/4 Fav
2004 Lord Sam 8-11-08 Plain Peeps Victor Dartnall GB Jim Culloty 5/4 Fav
2003 Heart Midoltian 6-11-00 Mrs Seamus Neville Seamus Neville Davy Russell 16/1
2002 Native Endurance 6-10-09 Patrick J O’Donovan Paddy Mullins David Casey 11/2
*2001 Sackville 8-11-12 Seamus O’Farrell Frances Crowley David Casey 4/11 Fav
2000 Zourito 7-12-00 Wilson Dennison Arthur Moore Barry Cash 100/30
1999 Ferbet Junior 6-12-00 David Attwood Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 3/1
1998 Fiddlers Tune 8-11-05 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham A P McCoy 7/2
1997 Linton Rocks 8-11-08 Hon. Mrs Townshend Tim Thomson Jones GB Richard Dunwoody 7/4 Fav
1996 Shanagarry 7-12-00 Patrick Heffernan Patrick Heffernan Conor O’Dwyer 3/1
1995 Camitrov 5-11-03 Jim Lewis Simon Christian GB Richard Dunwoody 7/2
1994 Belvederian 7-12-00 Tony O’Reilly Mouse Morris Graham Bradley 8/11 Fav
1993 Force Seven 6-11-05 Sheila Moore Paddy Mullins Trevor Horgan 11/4 Fav
1992 Milford Quay 9-11-10 W A Jones Martin Pipe GB Peter Scudamore 15/8 Fav
* Run at Fairyhouse
