The mount of Ryan Moore, who was runner-up to Bow Echo in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, ran out a three-length winner over the Charlie Appleby-trained Distant Storm (5/1), the mount of Billy Loughnane.

The English handler also provided the third placer as Pacific Avenue (40/1) was another length behind his stable companion and was ridden by Irish jockey Jamie Spencer.

Commenting on the winner, Gstaad, Aidan O’Brien said of the 2025 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner:

“He’s very straightforward, he just needs little bit of room to get going. Sometimes if it gets too tactical or if he gets caught up in pace that wasn’t strong early (it doesn’t suit). He’s probably stronger now and The Curragh was lovely.”

Gstaad leads them home in the @Tattersalls1766 Irish 2,000 Guineas! @curraghrace | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/lgRRPnWsm1

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2026

O’Brien and Moore teamed up for a further two winners on The Curragh card on Saturday.

The pair claimed the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes with Causeway (5/6 favourite). The son of Wootton Bassett, who holds entries in the Group 1 Betfred Derby at Epsom next month, and in the Group 1 Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby, was winning for the fourth time in his five-race career.

41-111

Causeway is a tough nut to crack!

The Wootton Bassett colt makes it three from three this term under a strong Ryan Moore in the Group 3 Heider Family Stables Gallinule Stakes @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/seJ7025kb5

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2026

Sergei Diaghilev (4/6 favourite) got the day off to the perfect start for O’Brien, Moore and the Coolmore partners as he took the opening Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden.

The well-supported Sergei Diaghilev (Wootton Bassett) strikes on debut and this colt is likely a name to note for Ryan Moore and Aidan O’Brien @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/vCS1V0yYf8

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2026

O’Brien said of the juvenile son of Wootton Bassett:

“He only stepped into main work in the last two weeks and he did a nice piece of work last Saturday. We ran him because we thought he could be a Coventry (Stakes) horse, Ryan (Moore, jockey) wasn’t sure if he was going to know enough in time.”

Moore achieved a four-timer on the first day of the Tattersalls Irish Guineas Festival as he also won the Group 2 Weatherbys Ireland Greenlands Stakes with Commanche Brave.

Fifth behind the mighty Ka Ying Rising last month, Comanche Brave dominates back on home soil in the Group 2 @weatherbysltd Greenlands Stakes for Ryan Moore and Donnacha O’Brien @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/CpramQf1xI

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 23, 2026

Trained by Donnacha O’Brien, youngest son of Aidan, Commanche Brave was fifth to Ka Ying Rising on his most recent start when racing at Sha Tin.

He holds entries in the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Royal Ascot next month.

The post Gstaad gives Aidan O’Brien a 13th success in Irish 2000 Guineas appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Breeders’ Cup winner Gstaad will be the headline act at flat racing’s HQ on Saturday afternoon as the runner-up to Bow Echo in the Betfred 2000 Guineas at Newmarket bids to win the first Irish classic of the 2026 season.

O’Brien bids for 13th win

The mount of Ryan Moore, the son of Starspangledbanner, will bid to give champion trainer Aidan O’Brien a 13th success in the colts’ classic, with the Ballydoyle handler also saddling Neolithic, a son of Sioux Nation, who will be the mount of Wayne Lordan.

Speaking earlier this week about Gstaad, Aidan O’Brien said after the colt’s final workout:

“He worked well earlier too and we’re happy with him. He seems to have come out of Newmarket well so we’re looking forward to Saturday.”

Three English Challengers

There is a three-pronged British-trained challenge. Godolphin’s trainer, Charlie Appleby, will be represented by Distant Storm – who was eight lengths third to Gstaad at Newmarket – and Pacific Avenue. The former will be ridden by Billy Loughnane, who will be bidding for a first Irish classic success, while Jamie Spencer will partner Pacific Avenue, as trainer Charlie Appleby bids to add to his 2022 victory in this race with Native Trail.

Alparslan, winner of the Tattersalls Sales race at The Curragh last September, comes from the Karl Burke yard, a trainer who has had much success in Ireland in recent years.

Fozzy Stack’s Thesecretadversary, more than nine lengths in arrears of Gstaad at Newmarket, Gowran Park maiden winner Go Just Do It from the Joseph O’Brien stable, along with Bamako Beach (Michael O’Callaghan), Power Blue (Robson Aguiar) and Take Charge Star (Johnny Murtagh) complete the Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas field.

The post Gstaad heads Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas Field appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Trained by Willie Mullins and carrying the Rich Ricci colours the daughter of Zarak took the four-year-old hurdle over 2m 3f and 85 yards at the Parisian track.

Runner-up in the Grade 1 Boodles Hurdle at Aintree on 9 April last, Lisgoold-born Townend kept the French-bred wide throughout the journey as he sought slightly better ground at the rain-soaked track.

What a performance!

SELMA DE VARY wins the Grade 1 Prix Alain du Breil!

A fourth win in the race for @WillieMullinsNH! pic.twitter.com/0mVscFpdrI

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 17, 2026

The former Irish champion jockey made an eye-catching move down the back as he asked the filly to move towards the head of the field.

The four-year-old jumped well at the final two hurdles in the straight, and battled to the line to hold off the final challenge of eventual runner-up and joint-favourite, Delmegan, who failed by a neck at the line.

"She's learning an awful lot!"@PTownend offers his verdict on Selma De Vary's Grade 1 triumph at Auteuil… pic.twitter.com/2saRFCOKU3

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 17, 2026

Leopard Du Berlais the other 2/1 joint-favourite was third six-and-a-half lengths behind the second-placer.

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Ridden by Johnny Charron, who won the French Champion Hurdle yesterday aboard Losange Bleu, among three winners on Saturday, has now completed the Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double in the one season.

Handled by the training combination of Lageneste and Macaire, the nine-year-old ran out an easy 13-length victor over the 3 mile 5 furlong and 181 yard course.

An incredible comeback story!

SEL JEM wins back his Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris crown in style at Auteuil… pic.twitter.com/H3caLSp6dA

— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) May 17, 2026

Run in driving rain and on ground described as Soft to Heavy, 33/1 chance Bon Garcon finished as runner-up, with Gold Tweet a further length and a quarter next in third place.

There wasn’t any Irish representation in the weekend’s feature race at the Parisian racecourse, but the Willie Mullins-trained Selma De Vary won the Grade 1 Prix Alain Du Breil Hurdle for four-year-old half an hour earlier.

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Coming into this afternoon’s 3 miles 1 furlong 77 yards race, the Joseph O’Brien-trained Home By The Lee was seen by many as a serious challenger to French star Losange Bleu who was bidding to regain the title he won in 2024.

The Seán O’Driscoll-owned Home By The Lee had won two Grade 1 races, at the Cheltenham Festival and at Aintree, on his two previous starts.

Fast early pace

This afternoon, however, was one of the 11-year-old’s ‘non-going’ days, as Losange Bleu and jockey Johnny Charron set a fast pace at the front of the 11-runner field.

With the seven-year-old son of Martaline extending his advantage as the race progressed, J.J. Slevin and Home By The Lee soon found themselves struggling at the back of the field.

On the far side, on the final circuit, Slevin took the wise decision to pull the son of Fame And Glory up, as he was by that stage quite a distance off the other runners.

Losange Bleu, trained by Dominic Bressou, came home in splendid isolation, with Theleme staying on for second under Gaetan Masure, who had won the Prix Sagan earlier in the day.

A half-brother of the winner – both being by Martaline – Jet Blue was third, with Illusion Machine next home in fourth.

Didn’t happen for Home By The Lee

Reacting to Home By The Lee being pulled-up, J.J. Slevin told Sports News Ireland immediately after the race:

“It just didn’t happen for him today. They went a really good gallop and obviously horses went past him and he hasn’t enjoyed it – that’s him. The preparation had been good. That’s just him – everyone knows what he’s like, and the winner’s very very good.”

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The win also completed a Grade 1 double for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins, the fourth winner of the day for the Closutton handler.

Queen of the two-milers

𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡 is a class apart in the @Boodles Champion Hurdle.@punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/KuTdylMNws

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 1, 2026

Lossiemouth tracked the leaders throughout the two-mile championship race before taking second place on entering the home straight. As the crowd cheered from the packed Punchestown stands, the Rich Ricci-owned mare made her move.

She soon quickened away from the field before staying on impressively for a five-length victory over the 2025 Cheltenham Champion Hurdler Golden Ace (11/1), with Lorcan Williams in the saddle.

”She has it all.”

Paul Townend gives us his verdict on another special performance from Lossiemouth pic.twitter.com/CWJTa9CHE5

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 1, 2026

Wilful, trained in England by Jonjo and A.J. O’Neill, who had lead or disputed the lead in the earlier stages of the race, kept on one-paced for third, eight lengths behind the runner-up.

The post Lossiemouth gives Mullins & Townend Punchestown Champion Hurdle win appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Competing in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle, the Audrey and Greg Turley-owned grey was the first part of a Grade 1 double on the day for trainer Willie Mullins and stable jockey Paul Townend.

CLINGS ON

Turners Novices’ Hurdle winner King Rasko Grey scrapes home from the fast-finishing Lord Byron in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle @punchestownrace. @WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/9HfEidpfwS

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 1, 2026

The French-bred six-year-old gelding held off the late challenge of British-trained Lord Byron as the Faye Bramley-handled son of Camelot continued to close the gap with the line approaching.

As they hit the winning post, King Rasko Grey had a head advantage over the Harry Cobden-ridden four-year-old.

Kiely’s Place (10/1), also representing the winning handler, took third under the trainer’s son, Patrick.

The post King Rasko Grey & Paul Townend win Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The 11-year-old son of Sholokhov delighted the thousands who descended on the County Kildare venue on Thursday as he claimed his 11 career success over jumps.

Bob Olinger lands the @Ladbrokes Champion Stayers' Hurdle pic.twitter.com/n3ATPJ6cSU

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2026

Ridden by jockeys’ title-chasing Darragh O’Keeffe, who rode a treble on the third day of the Festival to reduce the deficit between championship leader Jack Kennedy and himself to three, rode in the Robcour colours aboard Bob Olinger.

The Henry de Bromhead star received a tremendous reception from the crowd when he entered the winner’s enclosure a lap of the parade ring to applause from the crowd.

"He read the script."

Bob Olinger bows out with victory at Punchestown. Lovely stuff with owner @BrianAcheson pic.twitter.com/zmkOvsFgD4

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2026

Jimmy Du Seuil (9/1), trained by Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, took the runner-up position, three-quarters-of-one length behind the winner.

Teahupoo, in the same ownership as the winner, but trained in County Meath by Gordon Elliott and ridden by Jack Kennedy took third, three-and-a-half lengths further back, on ground that likely wasn’t ideal for him.

The post Bob Olinger Retires After Grade 1 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle Success appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

The complexion of the race changes totally at the final fence as race favourite Kopek Des Bordes (4/11f) and Paul Townend fell when it looked as though they would head for victory.

Drama! Kopek Des Bordes exits at the second-last (seems to be OK) & Salvator Mundi picks up the pieces in G1 under Harry Cobden pic.twitter.com/y421jo6dra

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2026

Cobden, who will be owner J.P. McManus’ retained jockey next season, got Salvator Mundi to rally bravely, and the Joe and Marie Donelly-owned French-bred ran out a 12-length winner over Irish Panther (15/2), who had lead the field for most of the two miles and 75 yards’ race.

“We probably got a little bit lucky.”@CobdenHarry on G1 glory for Salvator Mundi pic.twitter.com/O7fIwBvqSG

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2026

The Kieran Buckley-ridden runner-up had 30 lengths to spare over the third-placed Jacob’s Ladder (18/1) representing the Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy team.

The post Salvator Mundi wins G1 Novice Chase as Kopek Des Bordes crashes out at the last appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Winner of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, the Willie Mullins-trained gelding became the first horse since Sizing John to complete the big National Hunt double.

Ridden towards the rear of the field for most of the race, Paul Townend was happy to allow Fact To File (13/8) and Mark Walsh set the pace.

Cheltenham hero Gaelic Warrior is majestic in the @Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup! @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/689GGOjTSl

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 29, 2026

Grangeclare West (28/1) and 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin (8/1) disputed second and third for most of the 3 mile 213 yards race, with the Rich Ricci-owned Gaelic Warrior next, with Danny Mullins aboard Champ Kiely (33/1) in last position.

Once Townend decided to make his move, the result of the Ladbrokes Gold Cup never looked in doubt, as the Closutton inmate ran out a most impressive 26-length victor.

The J.P. McManus-owned Fact To File was runner-up, with Grangeclare West and Brian Hayes in third, 28 lengths behind the runner-up – completing a trifecta for Willie Mullins-handled horses in the five-runner contest.

"Class, wasn't he?"

You can say that again, Paul! pic.twitter.com/DC9kcyTwDB

— Punchestown (@punchestownrace) April 29, 2026

Gavin Cromwell’s Inothewayurthink, also in the McManus colours, was fourth, another 37 lengths back, with Champ Kiely failing to finish.

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