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.
Punchestown Saturday preview: Donn McClean tips
By Donn McClean
Punchestown Friday best bets:
5.05 Drop The Anchor
The Willie Mullins thread that usually runs through Punchestown week is running as deeply as ever this year so far, and it could go even deeper today, on the final day of the week, the final day of the Irish National Hunt season.
In Concertista, Stormy Ireland and Burning Victory, the champion trainer fields the first three favourites for the Coolmore Kew Gardens Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle, with My Sister Sarah in there as back-up, while in the other Grade 1 race on the day, the Ballymore Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle, Haut En Couleurs is vying for favouritism with Triumph Hurdle hero Quilixios. The record of 18 that was posted at the 2018 Festival is in danger.
150-1 winner of Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse as Freewheelin Dylan storms to glory
Huge outsider proves unstoppable at Fairyhouse under inspired Ricky Doyle. By Press Association Monday 5 Apr 2021, 5:30 PM 6 hours ago 30,042 Views 22 Comments
FREEWHEELIN DYLAN CAUSED a seismic shock with a 150-1 victory in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. Ricky Doyle celebrates winning with Freewheelin Dylan Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Dermot McLoughlin’s charge was widely unconsidered for the €400,000 showpiece on what was his first appearance since finishing last of eight runners at Punchestown in October.
However, ridden brilliantly by Ricky Doyle, the nine-year-old was in front after jumping the first fence and was never headed.
Stormy Ireland gets back to winning ways on return to Willie Mullins
Mon 5 Apr 2021
Watch a full replay of how Stormy Ireland bravely fended off French Dynamite plus reaction from Danny Mullins in our report.
Stormy Ireland made a successful second debut for Willie Mullins in the Grade Two Underwriting Exchange Hurdle.
The Motivator mare won six times during her first stint with the Closutton handler, before being moved to Paul Nicholls yard along with the rest of owner Jared Sullivan s Irish-based string.
She failed to win in four starts in Britain, but having since been sold to new owners for £75,000, she was a 7-2 chance on her first start since returning to the Mullins yard.