Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 18:00 €125,000 guaranteed, 4yo, 2m 4f, Class 1  |
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1 King Rasko Grey 8/13F
2
Lord Byron 7/1
3
Kiely''s Place 10/1
8 ran NR: Kalypso'chance Distances: hd, 2l, 5l
Time: 5m 16.70s (slow by 12.20s)
CLINGS ON 🫣
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 1, 2026
Turners Novices' Hurdle winner King Rasko Grey scrapes home from the fast-finishing Lord Byron in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle @punchestownrace. @WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/9HfEidpfwS
King Rasko Grey maintained the strong Cheltenham-to-Punchestown narrative for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, but not without a late scare, as he narrowly secured the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle.
Sent off the 8/13 favourite following his Turners success, the imposing gelding travelled with authority for much of the contest, appearing to have matters in hand as the race developed.
However, the complexion shifted dramatically on the run-in, as the Faye Bramley-trained Lord Byron – still a maiden over hurdles but a horse of clear ability – produced a sustained late surge under Harry Cobden.
The pair flashed past the post in a tight finish, with King Rasko Grey clinging on by a head, his class just sufficient to repel the persistent challenge.
Townend said: “I would have been disgusted if I had got mugged.
“If Harry had come to me earlier I think he would have just pushed me on down the track.
“He’s a big horse and he doesn’t get the credit for the size of him, I think.
“I don’t want to say fences too much because he’d end up hurdling then but I’d love to ride him over a fence.”
Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1)
€125,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 4f, Class 1
8 ran
Going: Yielding
PAST RESULTS
Age/Weight: 6 11-12
Owner: Bryan Drew & Prof Caroline Tisdall
Trainer: W P Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
SP: 7/4
Age/Weight: 6 11-12
Owner: R A Bartlett & David Manasseh
Trainer: W P Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
SP: 1/5F
Age/Weight: 5 11-12
Owner: Simon Munir & Isaac Souede
Trainer: W P Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
SP: 1/3F
Age/Weight: 5 11-10
Owner: Mrs J Donnelly
Trainer: W P Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
SP: 11/10F
Age/Weight: 5 11-12
Owner: Mrs J Donnelly
Trainer: W P Mullins
Jockey: Paul Townend
SP: 1/2F
Race abandoned due to Covid-19.
Age/Weight: 5-11-10
Owner: The Reserve Tankers Stud
Trainer: Colin Tizzard
Jockey: R M Power
SP: 13/2
Age/Weight: 5-11-10
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
Trainer: Gordon Elliott
Jockey: J W Kennedy
SP: 16/1
Age/Weight: 6-11-10
Owner: Shanakiel Racing Synd.
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Mr Patrick Mullins
SP: 10/1
Age/Weight: 4-6-10
Owner: John P McManus
Trainer: G P Cromwell
Jockey: Barry Geraghty
SP: 11/8 Fav
Age/Weight: 5-11-10
Owner: Andrea & Graham Wylie
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
SP: 4/5 Fav
Age/Weight: 5-11-10
Owner: Susannah Ricci
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
SP: 1/3 Fav
Age/Weight: 5-11-10
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Davy Russell
SP: 4/6 Fav
Age/Weight: 6-11-10
Owner: Gigginstown House Stud
Trainer: Tony Martin
Jockey: Davy Russell
SP: 100/30
Age/Weight: 7-11-10
Owner: Darr, Johnson, Weston & Whitaker
Trainer: Tim Vaughan GB
Jockey: Richard Johnson
SP: 16/1
Age/Weight: 5-11-10
Owner: Paul Duffy Diamond P’shp
Trainer: Nick Williams GB
Jockey: Daryl Jacob
SP: 9/4 Fav
Age/Weight: 5-11-10
Owner: Susannah Ricci
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
SP: 8/11 Fav
Age/Weight: 6-11-10
Owner: Dermot Cox
Trainer: Edward O’Grady
Jockey: Andrew McNamara
SP: 7/1
Age/Weight: 5-11-11
Owner: John Brennan
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
SP: 11/4 Jt Fav
Age/Weight: 5-11-11
Owner: Des Sharkey
Trainer: Noel Meade
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
SP: 9/10 Fav
Age/Weight: 6-11-07
Owner: Sheila Moore
Trainer: Tom Mullins
Jockey: Paul Carberry
SP: 6/4 Fav
Age/Weight: 6-11-12
Owner: John J Brennan
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
SP: 4/5 Fav
Age/Weight: 5-11-06
Owner: Amber Syndicate
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
SP: 9/1
Age/Weight: 6-11-12
Owner: Miriam O’Callaghan
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Ruby Walsh
SP: 100/30
Age/Weight: 6-11-12
Owner: Sue Magnier
Trainer: Dessie Hughes
Jockey: Kieran Kelly
SP: 8/13 Fav
Run at Fairyhouse
Age/Weight: 6-12-00
Owner: R J B Partners
Trainer: Philip Hobbs GB
Jockey: Richard Johnson
SP: 6/1
Age/Weight: 6-12-00
Owner: Sue Magnier
Trainer: Arthur Moore
Jockey: Tommy Treacy
SP: 8/1
Age/Weight: 6-12-00
Owner: Mrs Carmel O’Brien
Trainer: Michael Hourigan
Jockey: Conor O’Dwyer
SP: 16/1
Age/Weight: 5-11-13
Owner: J P McManus
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: Charlie Swan
SP: 4/11 Fav
Age/Weight: 7-12-00
Owner: E Morrissey
Trainer: Paddy Mullins
Jockey: Tommy Treacy
SP: 4/1
Age/Weight: 5-11-13
Owner: Michael Smurfit
Trainer: Dermot Weld
Jockey: Richard Dunwoody
SP: 11/10 Fav
