Irish NH Champions Crowned At Punchestown

The 2021/2022 Irish National Hunt Champions were announced at Punchestown on Saturday. Of the six, five were repeat winners, with Jack Foley named the Champion Conditional Jockey for the first time. Ireland's NH champions are as follows:

  • Champion Owner: JP McManus (19th win)
  • Champion Trainer: Willie Mullins (16th win)
  • Champion Jockey: Paul Townend (fifth win)
  • Champion Conditional: Jack Foley
  • Champion Amateur: Patrick Mullins (14th win)
  • Champion Lady Amateur Rider: Jody Townend (second win)

Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive, Suzanne Eade, said, “This is the first time since May 2019 that we have been able to crown our National Hunt champions before a raceday crowd and my congratulations go to JP, Willie, Paul, Jody, Jack, Patrick and the many thousands across the country who have worked to make the season the success that it was.

“The wonderful achievements of so many within our industry show Irish racing in the best possible light and high-profile wins on the biggest of the world's racing stages are reflected in the terrific crowds that we have seen here this week and at Fairyhouse over Easter. It augurs well for the summer ahead and I wish all involved the very best of luck as the new jumps' season begins at Down Royal on Monday.”

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Half to Just Wonderful Set For Punchestown Debut

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. placegetter Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}).

13.30 Punchestown, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, f, 7fT
Coolmore and Westerberg's WEST COAST (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is a daughter of G2 Rockfel S. victrix Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and thus kin to two black-type performers headed by G2 Rockfel S. winner and GI Belmont Oaks Invitational and G1 Matron S. placegetter Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}). Opposition to the Aidan O'Brien trainee includes the twice-raced Radiyka (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who is a daughter of G2 Debutante S. winner and G1 Matron S. fourth Raydara (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}), from the Dermot Weld stable.

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Springwell Bay Tops Punchestown Sale

British-based buyer Equos took home the top two lots from the Goffs live online Punchestown Sale prior to racing on Thursday afternoon. After first swooping for the 4-year-old gelding Anyharminasking (Ire) (Getaway {Ger}) (lot 6), a maiden winner at Tipperary last weekend, for €145,000, Equos added Fairyhouse bumper runner-up Itso Fury (Ire) (Fame And Glory {GB}) (lot 11) for €115,000 and, finally, the sale-topping Springwell Bay (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}) (lot 15) for €155,000. The 4-year-old was runner-up in Tuesday's Goffs Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown.

The sale saw five of 15 offered sold, and the other to reach six figures was the bumper-placed Top Dog (Ire) (Leading Light {Ire}) (lot 5), who was the selection of Gerry Hogan at €130,000.

Goffs Group Chief Executive Henry Beeby said, “Nobody is suggesting that today's backdrop was ideal for a sale and we salute those participants who engaged with the concept.  Normally we would be selling to a packed winners enclosure at the iconic Punchestown Festival but that was obviously not possible this year. That said, our superb Goffs Online platform allowed us to comply with all government directives and return a satisfactory trade in some instances. As things stand, our next sale will be back to near normal in June and we look forward to welcoming vendors, purchasers and hopefully spectators to Kildare Paddocks for what is shaping up to be a superb Land Rover Sale as we are about to publish the best catalogue yet.”

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Arqana August Topper Debuts at ParisLongchamp

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Thursday’s Insights features the 2019 Arqana August Yearling Sale topper.

1.20 Punchestown, Mdn, €15,500, 2yo, 7fT
MONDAY (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) is the first foal out of the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac winner and G1 1000 Guineas runner-up Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is in turn a full-sister to another Aidan O’Brien-trained luminary in Misty For Me (Ire). The February-foaled bay is up against 10 in the race that relaunches flat racing at this track for the first time in nearly 18 years.

 1.55 Punchestown, Cond, €13,500, 3yo/up, 7fT
ELDAMA (IRE) (Siyouni {Fr}) earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ status on her winning debut at Leopardstown in June and reappears in this seven-runner conditions event. The Aga Khan’s relative of the G1 Ascot Gold Cup winners Enzeli (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Estimate (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) and the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Ebadiyla (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells) drops in trip, having won over a mile that day with Dermot Weld looking to restart her campaign.

2.25 Punchestown, Mdn, €11,000, 2yo, 8fT
LIFFEY RIVER (FR) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) was a short-head second to TDN Rising Star Wuqood (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) over this trip on debut at Gowran Park last month and looks to get off the mark for owner Sun Bloodstock and trainer Joseph O’Brien. A full-brother to the group winners Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) and a half to Dark Vision (Ire) (Dream Ahead), the €380,000 Arqana Deauville August purchase encounters nine rivals on an informative card.

 2.10 Salisbury, Novice, £6,900, 2yo, 8fT
MAHOMES (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) was one of 11 seven-figure lots to sell at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1, with David Redvers securing the son of The Fugue (GB) (Dansili {GB}) for Qatar Racing for 1million gns. Like the high-class dam, who was successful four times at the highest level including in the G1 Irish Champion S. and G1 Prince of Wales’s S., the January-foaled bay is in the hands of John Gosden as he faces nine here.

2.40 Salisbury, Mdn, £24,000, 2yo f, 6f 213yT
NOON STAR (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) is the sixth foal out of the prolific Group 1 winner Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and a full-sister to the dual Group 3 scorer Midterm (GB) and a half to the G2 Ribblesdale S. runner-up Mori (GB) by Galileo’s Frankel (GB). Both were trained by Sir Michael Stoute and the master of Freemason Lodge again has charge of this April-foaled bay as she debuts in this valuable “Quidhampton” Maiden Fillies’ S.

 4.45 ParisLongchamp, Debutantes, €22,000, 2yo, f, 8fT
PHILOMENE (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}) at €1.625 million was the 2019 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale topper, which was no surprise given that her dam Prudenzia (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) had produced the star distaffers Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Andre Fabre introduces the May-foaled bay, who races for a partnership between her purchasers Godolphin and her breeders Ecurie des Monceaux and Ecurie Skymarc Farm. She faces eight rivals.

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