De Bromhead’s brilliant mare to face seven rivals on Friday. By The42 Team Wednesday 28 Apr 2021, 11:31 AM 7 hours ago 1,336 Views 0 Comments
HENRY DE BROMHEAD fires a three-strong team in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown – with the peerless Honeysuckle at the forefront.
The brilliant mare has taken her form to a new level this season, winning a second Irish Champion Hurdle before a dominant display in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
She is 11 from 11 under Rules and is odds-on to remain unbeaten against seven rivals on Friday.
De Bromhead also fields the five-year-old Aspire Tower, a fine fourth at Cheltenham, and Jason The Militant who unseated Rachael Blackmore at Aintree.
Mullins signing in the rain at Punchestown
Reporter:
robert.cribbin@kilkennypeople.ie
Echoes In Rain and Patrick Mullins jumping the last on the way to winning the eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle on Day 1 of the Punchestown Festival );
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The Champion Hurdle could be in the stars for Echoes In Rain and her connections in 2022 as she scored in the first Grade 1 of the Punchestown Festival, the eCOMM Merchant Solutions Champion Novice Hurdle.
In the process, Patrick Mullins landed the first blow in the battle for the Qualified Riders’ championship, and prevented Paul Townend doing likewise in the quest for professional honours.
Galopin Des Champs keeps up momentum for reigning champion. By Press Association Wednesday 28 Apr 2021, 6:47 PM Apr 28th 2021, 6:47 PM 2,674 Views 0 Comments
Paul Townend on Galopin Des Champs comes home to win.
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
Updated Apr 28th 2021, 6:47 PM
PAUL TOWNEND STRETCHED his lead to six over Rachael Blackmore in the race to be crowned Ireland’s champion National Hunt jockey with victory on Galopin Des Champs at Punchestown today.
Townend had just the two rides to Blackmore’s four, but it was enough to see the three-time champion take a step closer to retaining his title with the scores standing at 97-91
Monday
The calm before the storm and with the British jumps season having come to a thrilling climax on Saturday, six Flat meetings across Britain and Ireland start a fascinating week.
The pick of the day s racing comes from Navan where the Listed Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital Woodlands Stakes (2.25) is the feature of an eight-race card.
Ayr hosts the first of its two-day meeting to herald the beginning of its Flat season, Lingfield and Southwell host all-weather afternoon fixtures and Windsor and Thirsk keep the action going well into the evening.
Tuesday
The jumps season might be over in Britain, but there is plenty still to play for in Ireland as the five-day Punchestown festival gets under way with three Grade 1s.
Updated / Monday, 26 Apr 2021
18:26
Jack Kennedy partnered Minella Indo to glory at Cheltenham
Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Minella Indo has been ruled out of the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup on Wednesday with a bruised foot.
Henry de Bromhead was forced to pull the plug on his intended seasonal swansong when he discovered the problem on Monday.
Minella Indo led home a historic one-two for the trainer in the Gold Cup last month, when beating stablemate A Plus Tard. It s a very minor thing, but it’s the right thing to do and we thought we’d let everybody know sooner rather than later, said De Bromhead.