The Henry de Bromhead-trained super mare is now 14 wins from 14 runs and equals Bula’s longstanding record, after her win in the €200,00 Grade 1 over 2 miles.

Nestled in third throughout by Rachael Blackmore, the eight-year-old jumped into the lead at the second last flight of hurdles. To the cheers of the crowd in the stands, the mare extended her lead before the final flight, defeating her main market rival Zanahiyr (6/1) by six and a half lengths, with 25/1 Echoes In Rain a further half a length back in third.

14 out of 14!

All class – the brilliant Honeysuckle lands a third @Chanelle_Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at @LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival@rachaelblackmor | @HenrydeBromhead pic.twitter.com/l1SdHrjmNt

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 6, 2022

Grade 1 treble for Townend and Mullins

The Grade 1 Ladbrokes Novice Steeplechase of €150,000 was the first of a Grade 1 treble for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins.

Galopin Des Champs (4/9f), highly impressive in a beginners chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, was a comfortable winner of the 2 mile 5 furlongs contest to claim the €88,500 first prize.

Wow – Galopin Des Champs justifies the hype in the Grade 1 @Ladbrokes Novice Chase! #DublinRacingFestival | @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/OuerwjKGYn

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 6, 2022

Half an hour later, the Closutton team was back in the winners’ enclosure as 4/7f Chacun Pour Soi came back to form to take the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Steeplechase, worth €150,000, over 2 miles 1 furlong. It was a third win in succession in the race for the French-bred ten-year-old.

Three from three in the Grade 1 Ladbrokes Dublin Chase!

That’s more like it from Chacun Pour Soi at @LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/QMGyxWA6z8

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 6, 2022

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) of €150,000 run over 2 miles was the final part of a Day 2 treble for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned son of Jeremy, Sir Gerhard (8/13f), had enough in hand coming to the last, which neither he nor the runner-up Three Stripe Life (5/1) jumped very well. He ran out a six-length winner with the same distance further back to Colonel Mustard (14/1) back in third.

Sir Gerhard strikes in the @tatts_ireland Novice Hurdle!

The Champion Bumper winner lands top-level honours over hurdles for @PTownend, Willie Mullins and @CPStudOfficial #DublinRacingFestival | @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/AP7iyA120Y

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 6, 2022

Gordon Elliott scored a 1-2 in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle. Davy Russell steered the 7/4 favourite Party Central to victory in the colours of Bective Stud, while the Robcour-owned Say Goodbye (33/1) stayed on for second under jockey Robbie Power, one and a quarter lengths behind the winner.

The Bulmers Secret Orchard Leopardstown Handicap Steeplechase of €125,000 over 2 miles 5 furlongs went to the bottom weight Birchdale (9/2) for Enda Bolger and rider Mark McDonagh.

The winner of the 2 mile Liffey Handicap Hurdle (€125,000) was won by Call Me Lyreen (20/1) while Lily Du Berlais (40/1) was the final winner of the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival as she claimed the highly competitive €100,000 Coolmore N.H. Sires Santiago Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 2) over 2 miles.

The post Honeysuckle claims 14th win with victory in Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

In the colours of Michael O’Leary’s Giginstown House Stud, the 18/1 shot, stayed on well to hold off the late challenge of 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo (11/2) by six and a half lengths, with the JP McManus-owned Janidil (7/1) a neck further behind in third.

Conflated – a new star in the staying chase division

December 4, @NavanRacecourse – wins the Foxrock Handicap Chase

February 5, @LeopardstownRC – lands the @paddypower Irish Gold Cup #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/gShrnNQh88

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2022

Minella Cocooner leads all the way in Grade 1

The €150,000 Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle over 2 miles 6 furlongs was won in determined fashion by the front running Minella Cocooner.

In the colours of David Bobbett, the Danny Mullins-ridden gelded son of Flemensfirth, was an eight winner of the race for trainer Willie Mullins. Minella Crooner and Jack Kennedy were runners up at 100/30, and were best of the Gordon Elliott-handled runners. Another Cullentra House resident, Hollow Games (9/4f) was third in the seven-runner field.

An 8⃣th win in this G1 event for @WillieMullinsNH @LeopardstownRC

2012: Boston Bob
2013: Pont Alexandre
2014: Sure Reef
2015: Outlander
2016: A Toi Phil
2017: Let’s Dance
2021: Gaillard Du Mesnil
2022: Minella Cocooner pic.twitter.com/HwkGlYS0x3

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2022

Quick double for Mullins

Willie Mullins quickly doubled up when Paul Townend steered Vauban (9/2), who came on the outside of the 9-runner field to take the Grade 1 €125,000 Racing TV €12 per Month For This Weekend Only Juvenile Hurdle over 2 miles.

A race in which both Icare Allen (9/2) and Vadaly (18/1) put their unbeaten records on the line, it was Davy Russell’s mount, the 6/5f Fil Dor that gave the eventual winner most to do, before the Closutton inmate Vauban ultimately took the race by three lengths. Another Mullins runner, Il Etait Temps, was two and three-quarter lengths further back in third spot.

That’s a lovely performance from Vauban

Second to Pied Piper on his Irish debut, Vauban records Grade One glory in the Racing TV Spring Juvenile Hurdle for @WillieMullinsNH & @PTownend at @LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/J832tOCt8r

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2022

Four-timer on the day for Mullins and double for Townend

The €150,000 Grade 1 Patrick Ward Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Steeplechase over 2 miles 1 furlong brought up a Grade 1 double for jockey Paul Townend and a Grade 1 treble for trainer Willie Mullins.

Blue Lord (5/2) siezed the advantage at the last as the favourite Riviere D’etel (2/1f) blundered under Jack Kennedy. With the rider reorganising the mare in the run from the last, the momentum moved to Blue Lord.

The eventual winner crossed in front of the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned Blue Lord forcing stewards to call an enquiry. Despite the official distance between the winner and runner-up being only half a length, the result stood, giving Willie Mullins an open treble on the card.

The Lord of @LeopardstownRC… just

Some tussle between Blue Lord & Riviere D’etel, but @WillieMullinsNH completes a G1 hat-trick as Blue Lord clings on to land the Irish Arkle under @PTownend in the colours of @simon_munir & Isaac Souede pic.twitter.com/NQ994xLY9h

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2022

The Paddy Power ‘I’d Love A Can But Pints Are Cheaper’ Handicap Hurdle of €250,000 over an extended 3 miles went to the Kevin Sexton mount Good Time Jonny (17/2) for Co. Meath-based trainer Tony Martin.

A Wave Of The Sea repeated last year’s win in the Paddy Power ‘I’m Never Going Back To The Office’Handicap Steeplechase worth €100,000 over 2 miles and a furlong. The 9/2 chance was a winner for five pound claimer Shane Fitzgerald and trainer Joseph O’Brien.

The final race on the Day 1 card, the Grade 2 Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race (C&G) over 2 miles of €100,000, went the way of Facile Vega (8/11) for Patrick and Willie Mullins.

Day 2 on Sunday is an eight-race card, with Honeysuckle, the crowd favourite, attempting to win another Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.

The post Conflated (18/1) wins Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at Leopardstown appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Galvin and Davy Russell got up in the shadows of the post to snatch the Savills Chase from last winner A Plus Tard and 2019 Punchestown Gold Cup victor Kemboy.

The Ronnie Bartlett-owned winner, who claimed the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season, was runner-up to Frodon at Down Royal on his last start.

Another thrilling finish in the Savills Chase!

Galvin finishes with a real flourish under a fine @_Davy_Russel_ ride to deny A Plus Tard in the big race at @LeopardstownRC @SavillsIreland | @gelliott_racing pic.twitter.com/nPODvP7ftp

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2021

Kemboy lead from flag fall and looked to have run most of the field into submission until the race favourite A Plus Tard made eye-catching progress on the outside of the field as they approached two from home.

With the Henry De Bromhead-trained Rachael Blackmore-ridden odd-on favourite looking the most likely winner, Russell soon moved Galvin outside of the eventual runner-up and third-placed horse as they approached the final fence.

With A Plus Tard finding it difficult to put daylight between himself and Melon, Russell and Galvin rallied close home to deny A Plus Tard by a short head with a further three-quarters of a length back to the brave Kemboy in third.

Klassical Dream wins Christmas Hurdle

Klassical Dream (7/4f), a former 2 mile novice star, won the Grade 1 Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown this afternoon.

A winner at his first attempt at the staying distance at the Punchestown Festival last April, Klassical Dream took back-to-back Grade 1 wins, and claimed the €59,000 first prize.

Klassical Dream – three miles ahead, but race won at the start?

Gary and Ruby discuss the start to the Dornan Engineering Christmas Hurdle @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/47OJIxoVvz

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2021

The Joanne Coleman-owned French-bred was in the lead, or sharing the lead, throughout the three mile contest. His nearest rival during the race, and also on the home straight, was last season’s Stayers’ Hurdle winner at Cheltenham Flooring Porter.

It was a seventh winner of the Leopardstown Christmas Festival 2021 for the successful handler, Willie Mullins, who was also responsible for the third-placed Burning Victory.

Mullins treble

Mullins completed a double when Paul Townend guided Galopin Des Champs to a highly impressive victory in the Ballymaloe Relish Beginners Chase.

The odds-on former Punchestown Grade 1-winner over hurdles was never in danger on his first start over fences as he passed the winning post 22 lengths clear of Ain’t That A Shame (10/1) with another 16 lengths back to Floueur (10/1) in third.

The champion trainer completed a treble when taking the concluding bumper with Redemption Day (8/11f) under his son Patrick.

First racecourse winner for Ellen Doyle

The opening Savills Maiden Hurdle over 2 miles 4 furlongs went to the Ellen Doyle-trained Howyabud, ridden by Jack Foley. The 25/1 chance, bred and owned by Kilkenny hurler Charlie Carter, beat the Willie Mullins import Horantzau D’airy (11/10f) by six lengths and the October Point-to-Point winner Secret She Keeps (16/1) from the Henry De Bromhead yard was a further five and a half lengths back in third.

Another Christmas winner for JP McManus

The good Christmas form of horses owned by JP McManus continued with the victory of Priory Park (92/jf) in the Irish Daily Star Christmas Handicap Hurdle under jockey Mark Walsh. The gelded son of Dylan Thomas was following up on his November success at Thurles for handler Edward O’Grady as he beat Nazine (25/1), Silvertown (14/1) and Carrig Rock (9/1).

Curragh-based trainer Martin Brassil won the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) with 25/1 shot Panda Boy, with JJ Slevin in the saddle. In a hotly-contest qualifier for the Cheltenham Festival, the five-year-old grey son of Valirann won his second career race as he held off Winter Fog (8/1), Futurum Regum (22/1) and the 6/1 favourite A Great View.

Panda Boy is very lightly-raced and prevails in the big-field Pertemps Qualifier for J J Slevin and Martin Brassil at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/qptBTINb71

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 28, 2021

Tomorrow is the final day of the 2021 Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

The post Galvin and Davy Russell win Grade 1 Savills Chase at Leopardstown appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

“He was our best chance of the week and everyone was here to see him,” said Elliott after Envoi Allen (4/7f) beat his stable companion Easywork (12/1) by four and a quarter lengths, with The Big Getaway (9/1) finishing third a further three and three-quarters of a length in arrears.

Elliott added: “I was nervous the whole way through the race. If I had picked the wrong race, I was going to blame him. This was the big one for the week. He is the people’s horse and everyone wanted him to win. He is eight from eight now. I thought Davy had given them too much lead coming down the hill but he knew the horse well – he does what he has to. The horse jumped and stayed.

“He stays, he jumps and was bought to be a three-mile chaser. I think that is what he is going to be, but we will have to discuss next season with his owners. We have a few nice novices, and this one will go to Punchestown.”

Envoi Allen was given a 6/1 quote for next year’s Grade 1 Marsh Novices’ Chase and is quoted at 10/1 for the Grade 1 RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase and the Grade 1 Racing Post Arkle Trophy.

1.30pm Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)

1 Envoi Allen (Cheveley Park Stud) Gordon Elliott 6-11-07 Davy Russell 4/7f

2 Easywork (Gigginstown House Stud) Gordon Elliott 6-11-07 Rachael Blackmore 12/1

3 The Big Getaway (Marie Donnelly) Willie Mullins 6-11-07 Paul Townend 9/1

12 ran

Distances: 4¼, 3¾

The post Envoi Allen remains unbeaten as Irish dominate Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.