Boylesports Champion Chase
Grade 1, Punchestown 17:30
€200,000 added,
5yo plus,
2m, Class 1  
Tuesday 26th April 2016

1 God's Own 9/1
2 Vautour 4/9F
3 Simonsig 6/1
NR: Flemenstar (IRE)
7 ran Distances: 2l, 1¼l, 7½l
TIME 4m 10.30s (slow by 12.30s)

God's Own wins the Punchestown Chase! Another stunning upset as Vautour beaten into 2nd place with no excuses

God's Own
© Racehorse Photos

God's Own

On an afternoon when Willie Mullins' two hotpots Vautour and Yorkhill both got beaten, the Tom George-trained God's Own travelled over from Britain to claim the feature Grade 1 on the opening day of the 2016 Punchestown Festival.

The eight-year-old, who won the Grade 1 Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown two seasons ago, was sent off at 9/1 when beating 4/9 favourite Vautour by two lengths with Simonsig (6/1) a further length and a quarter back in third.

"A lot of hard work has gone into this horse behind the scenes to get him here. He's not been easy," said George. "We always knew he was better going right-handed. We had to step up his work after Aintree and he was either going to go over the top or improve. Luckily he's improved.

"We're delighted and Punchestown has been a lucky place for us."

Winning rider Paddy Brennan added: "The first mile I had no control and I just let him go. To be fair, he came back then and I filled him up going up the hill. He was awesome today.

"All credit to (Punchestown Racing Manager) Richie Galway because the ground out there is probably the nicest I have ridden on all season. It is great to ride a big one on my home turf. This is where I'm from and I am very proud today.

"I happened to be injured when God's Own won here last time. It is the ups and downs and I am lucky to get back on him."

Vautour's owner Rich Ricci said: "It was probably one race too many. He looked flat to me and never had a good cut at his fences. Ruby (Walsh) said he never made any ground in the air and wasn't himself.

"We gave it a go and maybe if it had been left-handed it would have been a different story. He's probably more suited by 2m 4f or 2m 5f."

Free Racing Tips

Simonsig delighted his trainer Nicky Henderson, who said: "It was a great performance from Simonsig and to think it was only the fourth steeplechase of his life. He would not have seen a fence in anger since he won the Arkle three years ago. It was a good start.

"Barry thought he had half a squeak turning in but it was bound to tell at the end of the day and it did up the run in. It was great because he still has a lot to learn about jumping fences.

"He did a bit work about fortnight ago and I said to Ronnie (Bartlett, owner) that I don't know what will happen, but the engine still works. Jerry McGrath who rides him and Dave who looks after him have done a great job because he is not the easiest. He isn't the soundest either but it is only small things like splints. He is just very fragile."

Boylesports Champion Chase
€200,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Yielding, Yielding in places

Pos D Horse SP Jockey Weight Trainer Age
1st God's Own (IRE) 9/1 P J Brennan
11-12
T R George 8
2nd 2 Vautour (FR) 4/9f R Walsh
11-12
W P Mullins 7
3rd Simonsig 6/1 B J Geraghty
11-12
N J Henderson 10
4th Twinlight (FR) 50/1 P Townend
11-12
W P Mullins 9
5th Clarcam (FR) 33/1 B J Cooper
11-12
G Elliott 6
6th 9 Special Tiara 5/1 N D Fehily
11-12
H de Bromhead 9
PU Baily Green (IRE) 66/1 M A Enright
11-12
M F Morris 10
NR Flemenstar (IRE) 33/1 K M Donoghue
11-12
Anthony Curran 11

Horses 468x60 Jpg

Past Results:

Year Horse Age/Wt/Owner Trainer Jockey
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