Boylesports Champion Chase |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 17:30 €250,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 24th April 2018 | |
1 Un De Sceaux 9/2
2 Douvan 4/5 f
3 A Toi Phil 33/1
9 ran NR: Special Tiara Dist: 3¾l, 7l, 4½l
Time: 4m 16.00s (slow by 18.00s)
Un De Sceaux leads from start-to-finish to see off Douvan
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Trainer Willie Mullins made a dream start in his bid to retain the Irish trainers' championship on the opening day of the 2018 Punchestown Festival.
He won three of the day's first four races and had narrowed the gap in the title race to trail rival Gordon Elliott by €226,714.
Un De Sceaux, ridden by Mullins' son Patrick, provided the icing when making all to come home three and three-quarter lengths ahead of stablemate Douvan in the €275,000 Grade 1 Boylesports Champion Chase.
"It's been a very good start to the week, so far so good," said an understated Mullins. "I thought looking at Un De Sceaux that he was not really going in the first half of the race. He was on the wrong leg and not galloping out. Patrick said that he started to gallop at the first one down the back so decided to let him go on because at least he was moving well.
"Paul (Townend on Douvan) thought he might have had enough in the tank to catch Un De Sceaux, but when he asked him to move he slightly disappointed. But Douvan showed he is no back number. Paul said he just didn't lengthen his stride as he thought he might. It was a hell of a performance from the winner, especially as he had been to Cheltenham and Fairyhouse.
"I was disappointed with Douvan. I don't know why he did what he did. Maybe we minded him a bit too much after Cheltenham. We are always trying to mind him, but maybe I should have run him in Fairyhouse or given him a few extra gallops."
Amateur rider Patrick Mullins added: "I have been dreaming about riding that horse, and since I was told I would be riding him, I have been like Charlie when he got the golden ticket in Willy Wonka. I schooled Un De Sceaux yesterday and even schooling him was some buzz, but it took him a mile to warm into the race. He did not jump or travel as well as he can and I was a little bit worried but I think that was down to the good ground.
"Once he warmed up and started going, I just let him at it. He runs horses into the ground, doesn't he? Realistically, I did not think he was going to beat Douvan or maybe Min on this ground over this trip. He is a horse that always runs well though so you can never count him out."
Boylesports Champion Chase
€250,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Yielding to Soft
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Un De Sceaux (FR) 9/2 | Mr P W Mullins 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 10 | |
| 2nd | 2¾ | Douvan (FR) 4/5f | P Townend 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 8 |
| 3rd | 7 | A Toi Phil (FR) 33/1 | J W Kennedy 11-12 |
G Elliott | 8 |
| 4th | 4½ | Min (FR) 3/1 | D J Mullins 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 7 |
| 5th | nk | Doctor Phoenix (IRE) 12/1 | M P Walsh 11-12 |
G Elliott | 10 |
| 6th | 8 | Ballycasey (IRE) 66/1 | D E Mullins 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 11 |
| 7th | 3¾ | Ordinary World (IRE) 16/1 | D N Russell 11-12 |
H de Bromhead | 8 |
| 8th | 3 | The Game Changer (IRE) 66/1 | M A Enright 11-12 |
G Elliott | 9 |
| 9th | 15 | Tell Us More (IRE) 100/1 | K M Donoghue 11-12 |
G Elliott | 9 |
| NR | Special Tiara | N D Fehily 11-12 |
H de Bromhead | 11 |
Past Results:
| Year | Horse | Age/Wt/Owner | Trainer | Jockey |
| 2017 | Fox Norton 5/2 | 7-11-12 Ann & Alan Potts Limited |
C L Tizzard | R M Power |
| 2016 | God's Own 9/1 | 8-11-12 Crossed Fingers P’ship |
T R George | P J Brennan |
| 2015 | Felix Yonger 5/1 | 9-11-12 Andrea & Graham Wylie |
Willie Mullins | Danny Mullins |
| 2014 | Sizing Europe 7/1 | 12-11-12 Ann & Alan Potts P’ship |
Henry de Bromhead | Andrew Lynch |
| 2013 | Sprinter Sacre 1/9 Fav |
7-11-12 Mrs Caroline Mould |
Nicky Henderson GB | Barry Geraghty |
| 2012 | Sizing Europe 8/13 Fav |
10-11-12 Ann & Alan Potts P’ship |
Henry de Bromhead | Andrew Lynch |
| 2011 | Big Zeb 9/4 |
10-11-12 Pat Redmond |
Colm Murphy | Barry Geraghty |
| 2010 | Golden Silver 12/1 |
8-11-12 Violet O’Leary |
Willie Mullins | Paul Townend |
| 2009 | Master Minded 30/100 Fav | 6-11-12 Clive Smith |
Paul Nicholls GB | Ruby Walsh |
| 2008 | Twist Magic 6/4 Fav |
6-11-12 Barry Fulton, Tony Hayward, Michael Lynch |
Paul Nicholls GB | Ruby Walsh |
| 2007 | Mansony 13/2 | 8-11-12 Michael Mulholland |
Arthur Moore | Davy Russell |
| 2006 | Newmill 5/4 Fav | 8-11-12 Mary Hayes |
John Murphy | Andrew McNamara |
| 2005 | Rathgar Beau 8/1 | 9-11-12 One-O-Eight Racing Club |
Eamon Sheehy | Shay Barry |
| 2004 | Moscow Flyer 4/11 Fav | 10-11-12 Brian Kearney |
Jessica Harrington | Barry Geraghty |
| 2003 | Flagship Uberalles 8/1 | 9-12-00 J P McManus |
Philip Hobbs GB | Richard Johnson |
| 2002 | Strong Run 4/1 | 9-12-00 Michael McGrath |
Noel Meade | Paul Carberry |
| *2001 | Micko’s Dream 5/1 | 9-12-00 Sport Racing Club |
Willie Mullins | Ruby Walsh |
| 2000 | Get Real 3/1 | 9-11-06 Pioneer Heat-Treatment |
Nicky Henderson GB | Mick Fitzgerald |
| 1999 | Celibate 7/1 | 8-11-09 Stamford Bridge P’ship |
Charlie Mann GB | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1998 | Big Matt 16/1 | 10-10-11 Ted Benfield & Bill Brown |
Nicky Henderson GB | Mick Fitzgerald |
| 1997 | Klairon Davis 11/10 Fav | 8-12-00 Chris Jones |
Arthur Moore | Francis Woods |
| 1996 | Klairon Davis 5/2 | 7-12-00 Chris Jones |
Arthur Moore | Francis Woods |
| 1995 | Strong Platinum 3/1 Fav | 7-11-01 Theresa McCoubrey |
Paddy Burke | Conor O’Dwyer |
| 1994 | Saraemma 16/1 | 8-10-12 Dermot Cox |
Homer Scott | Kevin O’Brien |
| 1993 | Viking Flagship 5/4 Fav | 6-10-07 Roach Foods Ltd |
David Nicholson GB | Richard Dunwoody |
| 1992 | The Musical Priest 8/1 | 10-10-07 Mrs Seamus Purcell |
Michael Purcell | Jason Titley |
| 1991 | Good For A Laugh 8/1 | 7-9-11 Dr Michael Smurfit |
Arthur Moore | Charlie Swan |
| 1990 | Rust Never Sleeps 14/1 | 6-10-06 D M Murphy |
Austin Leahy | Gerry O’Neill |
| 1989 | Super Furrow 12/1 | 9-12-00 Mrs M Marshall |
Jerry O’Neill | Padge Gill |
| 1988 | Flying Ferret 8/1 | 7-9-07 Mrs V O’Leary |
Tony Redmond | Brendan Powell |
| 1987 | Eddie Wee 11/2 Jt Fav | 11-10-12 Mrs Y Rock |
Billy Rock | Conor O’Dwyer |
| 1986 | Another Brownie 6/1 | 7-9-07 S Lucey |
M McGrath | J P Byrne |
| 1985 | Buck House 11/10 Fav | 7-11-07 Mrs S Purcell |
Mouse Morris | Tommy Carmody |
| 1984 | Travelowen 6/4 Fav | 7-12-00 Mrs M Kelly |
Tom Costello | Mr Tom Costello |
| 1983 | Turloughmore Lad 7/1 | 8-9-07 M McDonagh |
Paddy Norris | Paul Leech |
| 1982 | Light The Wad 3/1 | 9-11-03 Exors of Patrick Downey |
Dessie Hughes | Tom Morgan |
| 1981 | Light The Wad 6/1 | 8-10-10 Patrick Downey |
Dessie Hughes | Frank Leavy |
| 1980 | Paddy Bouler 7/4 Fav | 7-11-04 P Rooney |
Pat Rooney | S Lynch |
