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Punchestown 2015

These entries were made last Wednesday - would imagine a few of these would not be entered if it were today. Agree re Mullins: Looks like everyone's scared of Douvan. I guess Un De Sceaux is more likely for the Ryanair leaving Champagne Fever for the Champion Chase but it would be great if he was allowed to take his chance. Assuming Djakadam is pencilled in for the Gold Cup the question is how to juggle Vautour and Don Poli. There is no suitable 2m 4f race for the former so either they clash in the 3m novices or Don Poli runs in the Gold Cup. They could always drop Vautour back to 2 miles but I don't see much point in that looking ahead to next season. I would also love to see Shaneshill stepped up to 3 miles
 
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Bayoffreedom said:
These entries were made last Wednesday - would imagine a few of these would not be entered if it were today. Agree re Mullins: Looks like everyone's scared of Douvan. I guess Un De Sceaux is more likely for the Ryanair leaving Champagne Fever for the Champion Chase but it would be great if he was allowed to take his chance. Assuming Djakadam is pencilled in for the Gold Cup the question is how to juggle Vautour and Don Poli. There is no suitable 2m 4f race for the former so either they clash in the 3m novices or Don Poli runs in the Gold Cup. They could always drop Vautour back to 2 miles but I don't see much point in that looking ahead to next season. I would also love to see Shaneshill stepped up to 3 miles
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MrMcGoldrick might disagree with you about Vautour - he has been backing him for QMCC.

I wonder if UDS might go back to France - Wouldnt be surprised in CF is finished for the season. Ruby had a face like thunder after the Melling. He has become frustrating.
 
mayo said:
MrMcGoldrick might disagree with you about Vautour - he has been backing him for QMCC.

I wonder if UDS might go back to France - Wouldnt be surprised in CF is finished for the season. Ruby had a face like thunder after the Melling. He has become frustrating.
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You're not wrong there mayo, it will be interesting to see where they go with Vautour, I hope they go the 2m route, my thinking is why would Ricci have his two, Vautour and Djakadam, meeting in the Gold cup so that Mullins can field UDS without competition from his yard. Another scenario I've considered is that they will drop Djakadam back in trip for the Ryanair, but he looks like a definite top class stayer to me so I can't see that. Then I look at the Kudos attached to each race and I just don't see any comparison between the QM and the Ryanair, so at the moment I'm trying to think Along the lines that these were my horses and that being the case the QM for Vautour is a no brainer, and at the current 6/1 I think it's worth the risk, can you imagine what price he'll be this time next year if I'm right, with or without UDS, but I have a feeling they may be tempted, or convinced, to try a longer distance with that one,
then Vautour could be threes on, or shorter.
 
love to see Don Poli vs Vautour but never going to happen.
 
mayo said:
:D he really could run some serious races at home
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Absolutely, but the talent he has in his yard must force him to run horses in wrong/unsuitable races.
If Vautour goes back to 2m it will be criminal, that JLT field he beat had more strength in depth than any novice chase I can remember and he destroyed them, step up not down !
 
I'm just throwing this out there - I don't know the answer.

have horses running in the same colours ever finished 1-2 in the Gold Cup?

JP obviously did it in Champion Hurdle but McManus apart can't remember many owners having the 1-2 in big Afestival races.
 
With Racing Post Arkle winner Un De Sceaux and JLT superstar Vautour so impressive at Cheltenham last month, Mullins admits he is tempted to step one of them out of novice company to keep them apart.

The trainer has consistently stated he is against running novices in senior contests, but he revealed on Sunday: "I'm starting to think it might make sense. There might well be pretty beatable horses in the Champion Chase.

"We've entered them to keep our options open. You never say never - usually I don't do this, but it's in our own back yard and that makes things easier for us. Both have been absolutely fantastic at home since Cheltenham."

There is no 2m4f Grade 1 novice chase at Punchestown, so the Ryanair Novice Chase on Thursday week would appear the natural race for Mullins' star novices.

However, if either was to run in Tuesday's highlight, the chosen horse would still probably be long odds-on. The sponsors make Vautour 1-2 with a run. Un De Sceaux was not quoted on Sunday night but is 1-5 with a run with Paddy Power for the novice contest, with Vautour 1-3 with a run.
 
Interesting is it not that Mullins is looking at running one in the novice race and one in the Championship race to keep UDS and Vautour apart, rather than the other option of vautour going over 3m. What price Vautour for the QM if he hacks up in the senior race, I mentioned before that the option next year could well be UDS in the Ryanair, all variations are open at the mo, the question for me would be who will be fav if they meet, I know where my money would be going.
 
MrMcGoldrick said:
Interesting is it not that Mullins is looking at running one in the novice race and one in the Championship race to keep UDS and Vautour apart, rather than the other option of vautour going over 3m. What price Vautour for the QM if he hacks up in the senior race, I mentioned before that the option next year could well be UDS in the Ryanair, all variations are open at the mo, the question for me would be who will be fav if they meet, I know where my money would be going.
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I am coming around to your way of thinking on this MMG. Was UDS a bit disappointing in hindsight ?
 
Old Vic said:
I am coming around to your way of thinking on this MMG. Was UDS a bit disappointing in hindsight ?
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I think UDS was a decent winner of a poor Arkle, although the second was well clear of the third having said that, but UDS certainly needed to be pushed out to go clear. Vautour was breathtaking the whole way round in what many agree was a tougher race in the Ryanair. If they met it would definitely be very interesting and should be a race to savour, I just think if Vautour is in the same form there's nothing around that would get him off the bridle. Listening to an interview with Patrick Mullins the other day he made it clear that Djakadam will be trained with the Gold cup in mind next year and, as I've said before, I think it far more likely that Ricci will take on UDS in the QM rather than one of his own in the Gold cup, I believe he will look to something else to pick up the less prestigious Ryanair.
 
Getting excited about Punchestown :triumphant:now and in dread of the week after it :sleeping:

Giggy team...



-Road To Riches and Don Cossack set to go for Gold

-Lieutenant Colonel bids to bounce back from Cheltenham

-Big team for Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle includes Alpha Des Obeaux and No More Heroes


Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown House Stud will bid to round off the Irish season on a high at next week's Punchestown Festival with leading contenders in most of the big races.

The five-day Festival runs from Tuesday, April 28 through to Saturday, May 2.

Gigginstown's colours have prevailed in the BIBBY FINANCIAL SERVICES PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP twice before with War Of Attritition (2006) and Sir Des Champs (2013) and the owners look to have a bright chance of making it win number three this year.

Eddie O'Leary, racing manager to his brother, today confirmed that Cheltenham Gold Cup third Road To Riches is likely to be joined in the Grade 1 event next Wednesday, April 29, by Don Cossack, an easy winner of the Melling Chase at Aintree.

"All being well, the plan is the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup for Road To Riches. He had a hard race at Cheltenham but he's fine again now and is ready to go," said O'Leary.

"There's every chance that Don Cossack could go for the Gold Cup as well. He's come out of Aintree very well. It's the case with both him and Road To Riches that if they tell us they want to run then they will."


The outstanding novice Don Poli, unbeaten in three starts over fences this season, is set to have his first start since winning the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in the GROWISE CHAMPION NOVICE CHASE on Tuesday, April 28. Trainer Willie Mullins could also saddle Vautour, winner of Cheltenham's JLT Chase for owner Susannah Ricci.

"Don Poli is entered in the Bibby Financial Services Punchestown Gold Cup but he's more than likely to go for the novice race," said O'Leary. "Hopefully he's a good horse but the novice is where we'll go. If Vautour runs, he runs, but we'll just worry about our own horse."

Gigginstown has huge strength in depth among its novice hurdlers and is likely to be particularly well-represented in the three-mile IRISH DAILY MIRROR NOVICE HURDLE on Wednesday, April 29.

The Mouse Morris-trained Alpha Des Obeaux, who was travelling well when falling in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, is a probable starter as is No More Heroes, who was hampered when third in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, and Sub Lieutenant, who finished fourth in Aintree's Mersey Novices' Hurdle for trainer Sandra Hughes. Albert Bartlett runner-up Milsean, trained by Willie Mullins, is also engaged.

"Alpha Des Obeaux was going very well when he came down at Aintree," added O'Leary. "Hopefully he's OK, he came out of it well enough and if he is alright he'll go for the three-mile Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle.

"We're also likely to run No More Heroes and Sub Lieutenant. No More Heroes ran a very good race at Cheltenham, he just didn't get the rub of the green. It's up to Willie with Milsean but if the horse goes to Punchestown, he'd also line up in the three-miler."

Lieutenant Colonel, a dual Grade 1 winner this season, was well-beaten in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham but O'Leary is hoping he will return to form in the LADBROKES WORLD SERIES HURDLE at Punchestown on Thursday, April 30.

"Lieutenant Colonel will hopefully run in the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle," added O'Leary. "We put cheekpieces on Lieutenant Colonel at Cheltenham and he was too free with those. We made a mistake doing that and he obviously won't wear them at Punchestown.

"Dedigout is also entered but he would only go there if the going was heavier than soft, he wouldn't go otherwise."

Grade 1-winning juvenile Petite Parisienne and the year-older mare Analifet are both likely to put in an appearance on the Festival's final day, Saturday, May 2.

"We have Petite Parisienne in both the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Champion Hurdle and the AES Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle on Saturday," continued O'Leary. "I'd imagine that if Annie Power goes to the mares' race then we'd go for the four-year-old contest with her. If that's the case then I think we'd run Anafilet against Annie Power."

Irish National hero Thunder And Roses is unlikely to take up his entry in the Growise Champion Novice Chase but two of those also in action at Fairyhouse - Empire Of Dirt and Rogue Angel - are likely to head to Punchestown.

"There's only a slim chance Thunder And Roses would go, he's probably done enough for the year - if he tells us he wants to go he can go," added O'Leary. "But Empire Of Dirt and Rogue Angel, who both came down behind him in the Irish National, are likely to go for handicaps. They'd be more than likely to go for either the 3m 1f Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase or the 3m 6f Ladbrokes Ireland Handicap Chase."

Gigginstown House Stud has its usual team of promising bumper performers and among those slated to appear next week is the Noel Meade-trained Disko, a 15-length winner at Punchestown on his only start in February.

"I'll have to talk to Noel Meade but I'm hoping that Disko will get there for the Attheraces.com Champion INH Flat Race (on Wednesday, April 29). He's a nice horse. We're also likely to run two or three in the Goffs Land Rover," continued O'Leary, who is counting down the days until next week.

"We always look forward to Punchestown. It is a high-class meeting and it's very hard to win there," he added. "In fairness to Richie Galway he always produces decent ground so you can bring a horse there with confidence."
 
I'm with you Mayo - getting excited about next week and looking forward to Thursday to see the 6 day declarations for the first three days. Would love to see Don Poli v Vautour but am coming around to Mr M's thinking about Vautour and it looks like the 2 mile option for him. On a personal (maybe selfish) note I am not surprised to see Disko talked up - he looked very impressive on his debut. Being a 4 year-old we will have to give him 10 pounds which is an enormous allowance when you consider it's half that in the UK - the Champion bumper is a great opportunity for a quality 4 year-old.
 
Racegoers at Punchestown next week look set for a treat with Jezki and Hurricane Fly set to clash over three miles in the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle.

The pair have had countless battles over two miles in the last two seasons but both were put in their place by Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

With Willie Mullins' unbeaten star staying over two miles, his vanquished rivals are to step up in trip, with Jezki already having won at Liverpool over two and a half miles.

"As of this morning the plan is to go three miles in the World Hurdle on Thursday," said Jezki's trainer Jessica Harrington.

"Like all plans, it can all change.

"He won over two and a half at Aintree and he'd been well beaten by Faugheen at Cheltenham.

"He shouldn't have trouble with the trip, there's lots of stamina in the family, Jetson gets three miles well and there's no reason if he relaxes he shouldn't get it.

"It sounds like Hurricane Fly is going that way too so we'll probably be looking at his backside again - but hopefully not!"

Connections of Hurricane Fly are keen to step the record-breaking Grade One winner up in trip and Mullins admitted he has had the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil in mind for him for some time, but has decided against it so far.

"There's a good chance (of running in the World Series Hurdle)," said Mullins.

"We've been discussing it the last few days at home.

"It is something the owners think they might go for. It's a real runner at the moment.

"Remember he won over two and a half miles on heavy ground as a four-year-old in France.

"We would think over the years that three miles wouldn't be any problem. It just depends on his temperament on the day. He can be keen if it's a slow-run race.

"I've been dying to go for the French Champion Hurdle for the last few years, but when you have a horse like that you try and mind him maybe a little bit more than the others.

"I think the trip is no problem and I'm seriously coming round to running him in this."

Among Hurricanes Fly and Jezki's likely rivals is Lieutenant Colonel, winner of the Hatton's Grace and Christmas Hurdle this term.

However, the Sandra Hughes-trained six-year-old is on a retrieval mission after being well beaten in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

"Lieutenant Colonel will hopefully run in the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle," said Eddie O'Leary, racing manager for owners Gigginstown House Stud.

"We put cheekpieces on Lieutenant Colonel at Cheltenham and he was too free with those.

"We made a mistake doing that and he obviously won't wear them at Punchestown.

"Dedigout is also entered but he would only go there if the going was heavier than soft, he wouldn't go otherwise."
 
Hurricane Fly vs Jezki vs Rock on Ruby vs Annie Power would be a fascinating race. Its a pity AnnieP has a penalty kick of a race on Saturday week.

Main interest in Punchy is a What will Willie do.
 
We've entered Bay of Freedom in a couple of races but he will definitely be running in the Champion Bumper. He worked better than ever yesterday and Peter is delighted with him. I am a little worried about the four year-olds (particularly Disko) given the (excessive) 10 pound allowance in Ireland but he has improved significantly since Cheltenham so is not without a squeak. I will provide updates on the website http://www.cheltenhamdream.com/blog-diary/
 
Bayoffreedom said:
We've entered Bay of Freedom in a couple of races but he will definitely be running in the Champion Bumper. He worked better than ever yesterday and Peter is delighted with him. I am a little worried about the four year-olds (particularly Disko) given the (excessive) 10 pound allowance in Ireland but he has improved significantly since Cheltenham so is not without a squeak. I will provide updates on the website http://www.cheltenhamdream.com/blog-diary/
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Good luck BOF.
 
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