Herald Champion Novice Hurdle |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 16:20 Race Value: €100,000 5yo plus 2m 100y, Class 1  |
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| Tuesday 30th April 2019 |
1 Klassical Dream 8/13F
2
Felix Desjy 11/2
3
Mister Blue Sky 16/1
6 ran Distances: 5½l, 11l, 3¾l
Time: 4m 0.90s (slow by 11.90s)
All class! Supreme winner Klassical Dream remains unbeaten for Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins with an easy success in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/3ATlspbnwG
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2019
Klassical Dream provided Willie Mullins with a record sixth victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and was all the rage as the 8-13 favourite to add to his tally in a race the champion trainer had also won on six occasions.
Gordon Elliott’s Aintree winner Felix Desjy adopted his customary pacesetting role from the outset and the strong gallop had most of his rivals in trouble a long way from home.
However, Klassical Dream was always on his tail under Ruby Walsh and after taking over the lead jumping the penultimate flight, he eased clear in the straight for a facile five-and-a-half-length success.
Felix Desjy boxed on to finish a clear second, with Mister Blue Sky best of the rest in third.
Mullins said: “Ruby said he was too settled and was not as pleased as he was in Cheltenham, but I thought in Cheltenham he just ran very free.
“You can’t keep racing like that and I was much happier with today’s performance, albeit the second horse has been to Cheltenham and Aintree and had two very hard races. He’s a fair machine, but we were the beneficiary of him having those hard races today.”
Boylesports cut Klassical Dream to 4-1 from 9-1 for next year’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and Mullins confirmed his charge is likely to remain over the smaller obstacles, rather than pursue a career over fences.
He added: “I’m happy to stay over hurdles and try to make a Champion Hurdle horse out of him. I think he could be good enough, so we’ll see.”
The Herald Champion Novice Hurdle
€100,000 added, 5yo plus, 2m 100y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Yielding
| Pos | D | Horse SP | Jockey Weight | Trainer | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Klassical Dream (FR) 8/13f | R Walsh 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 5 | |
| 2nd | 5½ | Felix Desjy (FR) 11/2 | J W Kennedy 11-12 |
G Elliott | 6 |
| 3rd | 11 | Mister Blue Sky (IRE) 16/1 | D E Mullins 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 5 |
| 4th | 3¾ | Quick Grabim (IRE) 7/1 | P Townend 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 7 |
| 5th | 5 | Champagne Platinum (IRE) 16/1 | M P Walsh 11-12 |
N J Henderson | 5 |
| 6th | 12 | Aramon (GER) 9/1 | D J Mullins 11-12 |
W P Mullins | 6 |
Past Results:
| Year | Horse/SP | Age/Wt Owner | Trainer | Jockey |
| 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 |
