); Mullins had his 15th championship in the bag before Punchestown but it didn’t stop him dominating
Donn McClean takes a look back at the 2021 Punchestown Festival and Willie Mullins’ 19-winner haul. By Donn McClean Tuesday 4 May 2021, 7:00 AM 3 hours ago 1,575 Views 1 Comment
GOING INTO THE Punchestown Festival in 2018, one week to go in the 2017/18 Irish National Hunt season, and Willie Mullins trailed Gordon Elliott by over €500,000 in the trainers’ championship.
You knew that Willie Mullins would be strong at Punchestown but, even so, it was a fair gap, and the bookmakers made Gordon Elliott favourite to claim his first title.
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As Henry de Bromhead’s travelling head lass Zoe Smalley says about the stable’s superstars, “they’re horses people dream of standing next to for a selfie”. Champion hurdler Honeysuckle, champion chaser Put The Kettle On, Grand National winner Minella Times and Gold Cup winner Minella Indo are just some of the Co. Waterford residents setting the racing world alight right now. But what are they like to look after? Zoe gives us the lowdown…
Punchestown Saturday preview & tips: Timeform best bets
By Adam Houghton
19:50 · FRI April 30, 2021
Adam Houghton outlines the Timeform view on the action on the fifth and final day of the Punchestown Festival.
Punchestown Festival tips: Saturday May 1
Concertista in 3.20 Punchestown
Willie Mullins has been utterly dominant at Punchestown this week and looks to hold another strong hand in the Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (15:20), the first of two Grade 1 events on the final day of the meeting.
Mullins is responsible for four of the nine runners as he seeks an eighth success in the race since 2010, including the 2019 runner-up Stormy Ireland, who has returned to her former stable after a spell with Paul Nicholls which included a few tries over fences. She proved at least as good as ever on her first start back in Ireland when winning a Grade 2 contest at Fairyhouse last time, making all the running to beat the smart French Dynamite by a length and a qua
Punchestown Festival day three | Klassical Dream & Energumene star in Willie Mullins 299/1 five-timer
By Sporting Life
20:13 · THU April 29, 2021
A review of all the action from day three of the Punchestown Festival as Energumene and Klassical Dream starred in a Willie Mullins-trained five-timer.
Energumene among five for Mullins
Energumene claimed his second Grade One triumph with a smooth performance from the front in the Ryanair Novice Chase.
Paul Townend enjoyed something of an armchair ride on the 2/5 favourite, who was last seen winning the Irish Arkle at the Dublin Racing Festival, before missing the Sporting Life Arkle at Cheltenham due to a late setback.