); 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.
Honeysuckle and Blackmore claim Punchestown Champion Hurdle with dominant performance
Henry de Bromhead’s mare extended her remarkable unbeaten run this evening. By Press Association Friday 30 Apr 2021, 5:56 PM Apr 30th 2021, 5:56 PM 3,545 Views 3 Comments
Rachel Blackmore celebrates winning the Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle.
Image: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Image: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
HONEYSUCKLE CAPPED AN amazing campaign when taking her unbeaten record to 12 in the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown.
Henry de Bromhead’s remarkable mare followed up her victory at Cheltenham with another convincing display in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.
Asked to go and win the race after jumping the second-last flight, Honeysuckle soon put daylight between herself and her rivals.
UPDATED 10:22AM, APR 30 2021
Hot favourite Bob Olinger has been ruled out of today s Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown after coughing this morning.
The six-year-old was the general 4-7 favourite to fololow up his dominant win in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham and uphold the form with second favourite Gaillard Du Mesnil.
Gaillard Du Mesnil had been well supported this morning prior to Bob Olinger s defection and is now the general 4-11 favourite for the Grade 1, ahead of Ashdale Bob at 5-1.
Henry de Bromhead told the Racing Post: Bob Olinger gave a little cough this morning and we just weren’t 100 per cent happy with him so we said we better err on the side of caution. It’s just one of those things. He’s had a fantastic season and he’s one we’re very much looking forward to next season.
UPDATED 12:44PM, APR 28 2021
Mark Walsh will ride Epatante for the first time when she bids to exact revenge on Honeysuckle in the Paddy Power Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday.
Successful under Barry Geraghty in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, the Nicky Henderson-trained Epatante needed a new partner after the rider s retirement so connections turned to Aidan Coleman.
However, the new duo were no match for Honeysuckle as she sauntered to victory in the Champion Hurdle last month, beating the third-placed Epatante by nine and a half lengths.
Walsh, a senior figure in the Irish jumps weighing room, is among the inner circle of Epatante s owner JP McManus and has had more rides in Ireland for him than anyone else.