Dunum (100/30f), a close third in the Colm Quinn BMW Handicap here on Tuesday evening, gained deserved compensation with victory in the Irish Stallion Farms Irish EBF ‘Ahonoora’ Handicap over 7 furlongs.

Trained in County Armagh by Natalia Lupini, the bay gelded son of Ivawood was running a distance that was one furlong shorter than his previous race.

Dunum gains a deserved big-race success for Natalia Lupini & @wjlee24786 with victory in the €110,000 @irishebf_ “Ahonoora” Handicap at @Galway_Races pic.twitter.com/oFcQLvvfDT

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 6, 2023

The Maurice Burns and Michael McCarton-owned five-year-old was well positioned throughout the €110,000 contest, taking the lead in the home straight. Despite the best effort of Snapraerterea, the eventual runner-up, Dunum was a comfortable two-length winner under jockey Billy Lee.

“It’s been a good week.”@wjlee24786 on victory for Dunum in the “Ahonoora” Handicap at @Galway_Races

A good week for the rider with three winners at Ballybrit pic.twitter.com/LYQLuCc1lg

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 6, 2023

Teed Up (4/6f), who won the Monday night feature and was runner-up on Friday, claimed a second success of this year’s Galway Races when winning the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle for the second year in a row.

Ridden today by four-pound claimer Conor Clarke, the Emmet Mullins-trained son of Gleneagles was a three and a half length winner over Gold Speed, with Bythesametaoken a head further back in third.

Mullins later completed a double when Malbay Madness (6/5f) came wide and late on the outside of the field under Colin Keane to take the Ireland West Airport Knock Handicap.

The good form of jockey Ray Barron continued as he won his third race of the week, this time aboard My Design (14/1) for Waterford trainer Declan Queally in the Kenny Galway Handicap Hurdle.

Fighting Fit was a shock 33/1 winner of the Lord Hempill Memorial Handicap Chase for Kildare handler Philip Dempsey. The Gavin Brouder-ridden eight-year-old had failed to complete on his two previous starts back in April.

Saint Sam was an all-the-way winner of the Eileen Kelly Memorial Chase under the week’s leading jockey Paul Townend and champion trainer Willie Mullins.

Running in the silks of Edward Ware, the six-year-old was winner of a Grade 3 chase at Killarney in May.

Classy performance

Saint Sam justifies 4/7 favouritism to land this €25,000 prize for @WillieMullinsNH & @PTownend at @Galway_Races pic.twitter.com/TpasOxTeoF

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 6, 2023

Stromberg (1/5f) was a fifth success of the week for Donegal rider Dylan Browne McMonagle, when winning the Kinlay Hostel Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden for Joseph O’Brien and owners Teme Valley.

Nice turn of foot

Bond villain in the 1977 film The Spy Who Loved Me, the equine Stromberg (Iffraaj) opens his account at the second time of asking for @DylanBrowneMcM (fifth winner of the week) & @JosephOBrien2 at @Galway_Races pic.twitter.com/g58tn8bqMC

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 6, 2023

The concluding race of the 2023 Galway Racing Festival saw 4/9 favourite You Oughta Know give Willie Mullins a 10th winner of the week. The Luke McMahon-owned winner was ridden by the trainer’s son, Patrick.

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In the colours of Joanne Coleman, the Paul Townend mount looked comfortable throughout the nearly 3 mile event. As the came into the home straight, the Cork rider oozed confidence on the previous 7-time winner. Once the Closutton favourite was asked to make his move, he cruised easily past the longtime front runner Gentlemansgame and Rachael Blackmore.

Ashdale Bob (11/2) was eventually Klassical Dream’s nearest rival but a length-and-a-quarter separated them at the line. The brave Gentlemansgame (10/1)stayed on for third spot, a further two-and-a-half lengths behind the runner up.

For the third day in a row, the main highlight went to the Paul Townend-Willie Mullins combination, having harvested the Grade 1 races so far during this year’s Festival.

Klassical Dream is the @punchestownrace King again in the Champion Stayers Hurdle for @WillieMullinsNH & @PTownend

2022
2021#PTown22 pic.twitter.com/gt9AJxPu7q

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2022

15 year old Ballyboker Bridge wins La Touche Cup

Fifteen-year-old Ballyboker Bridge won the Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Steeplechase for Kildare trainer Peter Maher. The bay gelded son of Gold Well, who had previously won three of his 27 races, and had attained 13 places, was retired by his handler after the race.

A special performance

Townend and Mullins successfully teamed up again later in the day to win the other Grade 1 contest. Blue Lord (2/1f) outgunned Coeur Sublime (20/1) and Rachael Blackmore to claim the Barberstown Castle Novice Steeplechase over 2 miles. There was only a head separating the two at the death.

The Lord lays down the law at @punchestownrace

A game performance from Blue Lord who lands the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase to record his second G1 victory of the season @WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend | @simon_munir | #PTown22 pic.twitter.com/l0urKitJJ9

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2022

At the age of 15, Ballyboker Bridge rolls back the years to record a second win in the La Touche Cup for Peter Maher @punchestownrace | #PTown22 pic.twitter.com/J0fQS836u0

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2022

The opening Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle went to 10/1 chance Broomfield Hall under Luke Dempsey as he held off the race 100/30 favourite Gin Coco by a length, with Pike County (28/1) a length-and-a-quarter further back in third.

Robbie Power and Henry De Bromhead teamed up to take the www.pigsback.com Handicap Chase with Magic Daze (3/1). The winner who kept in well in the run in beat Mt Leinster (7/2) and Sil Ver Klass (11/1). Following his win, jockey Robbie Power confirmed that he will retire after tomorrow’s Punchestown Champion Hurdle, Friday’s feature race.

Local trainer Denis Cullen provided top owner JP McManus with a winner in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle when the Niall Flynn-bred A Great View took the honours at 10/1. In the hands of Mark Walsh, A Great View had two-and-three-quarter lengths in hand on Bugs Moran (11/1) with 14/1 chance Maze Runner next home in third in the 25-runner handicap.

Lilith (4/1) and Rex Dingle provided the visitors with their first win of the Festival 2022 when the Henry Honeyball runner claimed the Close Brothers Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase at 7.10.

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Energumene (4/7f) backed up his Champion Chase win at Cheltenham last month by impressively taking the William Hill Champion Steeplechase at Punchestown this afternoon. In the hands of Paul Townend, the Willie Mullins inmate was an eight-and-a-half length winner over his stablemate, Chacun Pour Soi (5/2) under Patrick Mullins, with 11/1 chance Envoi Allen another six-lengths further back in third place.

“I think we’ve seen the new Champion here today” winning handler Willie Mullins stated as the Closutton team achieved a 1-2, in the opening day Grade 1 highlight.

Chacun Pour Soi vs Energumene – The William Hill Champion Chase goes to Energumene

11 races
Nine wins
@punchestownrace Champion Chase
Champion Chase
Five G1 successes
Superstar@WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend | #PTown22 pic.twitter.com/wzidbNoxb7

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 26, 2022

Mullins Grade 1 double

Capodanno (11/4) gave Mullins a Grade 1 double when winning in the colours of JP McManus. The Mark Walsh-ridden winner beat Lifetime Ambition and Robbie Power, in a race where the fortunate Cheltenham winner and favourite today, Bob Olinger, was pulled up.

Capodanno, a son of Manduro, was six-and-a-half lengths better than the runner-up while there was another nine lengths back to Fury Road (15/2) and Jack Kennedy in third place.

Capodanno lands the G1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase to give @WillieMullinsNH a quickfire top-level double under Mark Walsh at @punchestownrace in the green & gold of JP McManus

A bitterly disappointing run from Bob Olinger who was pulled-up#PTown22 pic.twitter.com/nmiCrXkzE0

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 26, 2022

Patrick Mullins brought up a Closutton 1-2 in the Mick The Tent Flat Race when Lisnagar Fortune (11/4jf) gave owner-breeder Denis Fitzgerald a winner. Lisnagar Fortune overtook Vadsa Queen and Jodie Townend in the dying stages of the races for Team Mullins.

Gordon Elliott four-timer, double for Jack Kennedy

Mighty Potter (20/1) was a surprise winner of the Grade 1 Bective Stud Champion Novice Hurdle, the gelding’s second Grade 1 victory of the season.

The race had been billed as a clash between the Willie Mullins-handled pair Desert Dynamo, a faller at Cheltenham, and Sir Gerhard, winner of the Grade 1 Ballymore Novice Hurdle last month.

Desert Dynamo was the first runner beaten, however, having cut out the running for most of the race. When Sir Gerhard made his effort to challenge he didn’t have enough to battle past the Gordon Elliott-trained Jack Kennedy-ridden Mighty Potter who went away for a four-length success. Big outsider Gatsby Grey (100/1) took the runner-up spot ahead of 4/7f Sir Gerhard a further six-and-a-half lengths back in third under Paul Townend.

Mighty Potter wins the G1 Bective Stud Champion Hurdle at 20/1 for @gelliott_racing & @jackkennedy15

Stable companions Sir Gerhard (third) & Dysart Dynamo (fifth) both well-beaten @punchestownrace #PTown22 pic.twitter.com/N4D1eQwhyG

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 26, 2022

Party Central (9/42f) got back to winning ways following her seventh place finish at Cheltenham, when taking the opening contest, the Howden Insurance Brokers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed). The daughter of four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner Yeats, had a length-and-a-quarter in hand on Instit from the Willie Mullins yard.

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy were back in the winners’ enclosure after the third race, The Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle. The Gigginstown House Stud’s Felix Desjy (11/1) was a three-quarters-of-a-length winner over Farout (17/2), with Tax For Max (12/1) next in third.

The Elliott-trained Absolute Notions (25/1) claimed the Goffs Land Rover Bumper over two miles by six-and-a-half lengths from the front running Lady Augusta (16/1), who had five-and-a-half lengths in hand on third-placed Nucky Johnson (14/1).

The Elliott four-timer bought the trainer to 1,999 career winners, with the Co Meath-based conditioner expected to pass the major milestone of 2,000 winners during this week’s Punchestown Festival.

Vital Island goes one better in the Ladies Perpetual Cup

The Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Chase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup went the way of Vital Island (7/2), who went one place better than last year. The bay gelding held off the strong late challenge of Patrick Mullins on Good Bye Sam, who gave the runner-up 12 pounds.

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Mighty Potter (5/2) was a first Grade 1 success for rider Jack Kennedy since his return from injury. The Gordon Ellliot-handled bay gelding won the €100,000 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle over 2 miles for owners Caldwell Construction Ltd. In what was a one-two for Elliott, Three Stripe Life and Davy Russell were second at 4/1.

The Grade 1 @paddypower Future Champions Novice Hurdle goes the way of Mighty Potter, who leads home a 1-2 for trainer @gelliott_racing in the hands of @jackkennedy15

Fantastic to hear both Arctic Warrior and Mark Walsh are up and ok pic.twitter.com/L9vaIPIAPm

— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) December 27, 2021

“It was great for Jack – his first winner back,” said Gordon Elliott. “The other horse (Three Stripe Life) is also a nice horse. I was happy the whole way until the second last but he got wiped out at the second last – both horses did. Both showed guts to comeback – two nice horses for the future.”

Envoi Allen wins Grade 1 Chase

The first Grade 1 of the day, The Paddy’s Rewards Steeplechase, saw just three go to post with the early morning defection of Chacun Pour Soi. This left Battleoverdoyen, Envoi Allen and Sizing Pottsie to battle it out for the €125,000 contest over 2 miles 1 furlong.

With Sizing Pottsie prominent early doors, the Seán O’Keeffe-ridden runner was the first beaten, and would finish the race without the assistance of the rider in the saddle. The Gigginstown House Stud-owned Battleoverdoyen (9/2) and Cheveley Park Stud’s Envoi Allen (2/5f) then took one another on as they battled until the final fence.

Envoi Allen returns to winning ways with victory in the Grade 1 @paddypower Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase, forging clear under @rachaelblackmor to score in good style for @HenrydeBromhead and @CPStudOfficial pic.twitter.com/f8NzrHPf6x

— Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) December 27, 2021

Envoi Allen, who was down from 2m 4 furlongs at Punchestown, and last season’s Aintree Grand National-winning rider Rachael Blackmore pulled clear from the last fence, eventually claiming the €73,750 first prize by seven and a half lengths from the Jack Kennedy-ridden runner-up Battleoverdoyen.

“We had a bit of scare there turning in but he put his head down,” said winning jockey Rachael Blackmore. “I think Henry was definitely right to step him back. Obviously with Chacun Pour Soi being out it changed the dynamic of the race.”

School Boy Hours claims €200,000 Paddy Power Chase

Top owner JP McManus was mob-handed in the richest race of the day, the Paddy Power Chase over 3 miles.

It was one of the low weights, School Boy Hours (12/1), carrying 10-08 that took the spoils for handler Noel Meade and jockey Seán Flanagan.

In the 28-runner field, top weight Coco Beach made most of the early running under seven-pound claimer Rob James. The early exertions took their toll as the Gigginstown House Stud runner faded before the business end of the race.

School Boy Hours wins the €200,000 Paddy Power Chase for @swflanagan7 & @tuvastables in a thrilling finish at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/H4U220c2gg

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2021

Ben Dundee (33/1), owned by Chris Jones, gave School Boy Hours most to do in the dying stages, but the McManus runner held him at bay by half a length, with Enjoy D’allen (28/1) two and a half lengths further back in third, ahead of Braeside (14/1), Death Duty and Birchdale.

Icare Allen wins on Irish debut

The French-bred Icare Allen took the opening 3-Y-O- Maiden Hurdle for Willie Mullins, jockey Mark Walsh and owner JP McManus. Walsh, who switched from another McManus-owned runner, Brazil, was a three-length victor on his Irish debut, having previously won over a mile and a half in France last August. The Peter Fahy-trained Privilege was a big-priced runner-up at 80/1 while Vera Verto (11/2) from the Gavin Cromwell yard took third.

“Lovely horse. He did it very well and had been working well at home,” Willie Mullins explained. “In fact the only bad bit of work he did was the one where I took him away to see how good he was and he worked desperate.”

Haut En Couleurs takes Beginners Chase

Willie Mullins quickly brought up a double when 1/3 favourite Haut En Couleurs won the Paddy Power Games Beginners Chase under Paul Townend. In the colours of the Donnellys, the French-bred four year old son of Saint Des Saints led home a 1-2-3 for the Closutton handler as Gentleman De Mee (5/1) took the runner-up position with front runner Mt Leinster bringing up the trifecta – both of the placed horses conceding 6 pounds to the winner.

“I think he looks Arkle material, and maybe Gentleman De Mee too,” admitted the winning handler post-race, “I think both horses will improve from the run.”

Brides Hill was game in making all in the Paddy Power ‘I’ve Had More Vaccines Than Nights Out’ Handicap Hurdle under Luke Depmsey. In the colours of the Brides Hill Syndicate, the Gavin Cromwell-trained four year old daughter of Dylan Thomas came home in splendid isolation at a price of 16/1.

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Wins for Champ (Grade 1 RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase), Dame De Compagnie (Grade 3 Coral Cup) and Easysland (Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase) were the other successful legs of the McManus four-timer.

Mark Walsh drove the juvenile home a length clear of Night Edition (16/1, David Pipe/Tom Scudamore), with another Gordon Elliott runner, Saint D’oroux (14/1), a further three lengths back in third.

The County Meath handler said:

“Mark gave the winner a great ride, giving him a lovely bit of room the whole way around and he jumped well. We always thought this was the right race to go for.”

4.50pm Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

1 Aramax (J P McManus) Gordon Elliott 4-11-08 Mark Walsh 15/2

2 Night Edition (Stuart & Simon Mercer & John Gent) David Pipe 4-11-03 Tom Scudamore 16/1

3 Saint D’oroux (Simon Munir & Isaac Souede) Gordon Elliott 4-11-03 Daryl Jacob 14/1

4 Recent Revelations (Half Married Syndicate) Gordon Elliott 4-11-02 Davy Russell 14/1

22 ran                   5/1jfavs Blacko, Palladium (both PU)

Distances: 1, 3, nse

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Easysland (3/1), who was bought privately by J P McManus after winning a cross-country chase at The International at Cheltenham in December, and has since won a race at Pau in France, saw off Tiger Roll (8/11f) in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase.

The double Randox Health Grand National winner tried his best but became tired in the ground and finished second beaten 17 lengths. Third-placed Out Sam (33/1) was another 15 lengths adrift.

The winner completed a 119/1 treble for McManus following earlier victories by his Champ and Domaine De Compagnie.

Winning trainer David Cottin said of six-year-old Easysland:

“I was expecting a good run from him. The heavy ground was in his favour. He’s a horse who is extremely well balanced and, while he is only a six-year-old, with a cross-country horse you have to train them when they are young over those jumps. We have been very patient with him as were his former owners. That has paid off.”

4.10pm Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase

1 Easysland (J P McManus) David Cottin 6-11-04 Jonathan Plouganou 3/1

2 Tiger Roll (Gigginstown House Stud) Gordon Elliott 10-11-04 Keith Donoghue 8/11f

3 Out Sam (Mr D Charlesworth) Gordon Elliott 11-11-04 Mr Jamie Codd 33/1

14 ran

Distances: 17, 18

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The eight-year-old had it all to do approaching the final fence, but thundered past both Allaho (5/2 favourite) and Minella Indo (3/1), defeating the latter by a length, with the Willie Mullins-trained favourite a further length behind in third.

Champ, ridden by Barry Geraghty for owner J P McManus, was named after former multiple champion jockey A P McCoy. The King’s Theatre eight-year-old was sent off at odds of 4/1.

Winning trainer Henderson said of Champ:

“He’s a horse with a wonderful temperament and attitude, and to be fair his fall [at Cheltenham on January 1] didn’t do that much damage. It was a horrible fall though. We really wanted to have another race but there was nowhere to go. He did have a racecourse school, and to be fair Nico [de Boinville] has done a lot of work with him, particularly in the indoor school, even yesterday morning he jumped half a dozen poles. Everyone has worked hard, it goes without saying, but Nico takes a lot of credit with this one.”

2.10pm RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase (Grade 1)

1 Champ (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 8-11-04 Barry Geraghty 4/1

2 Minella Indo (Barry Maloney) Henry de Bromhead 7-11-04 Rachael Blackmore 3/1

3 Allaho (Cheveley Park Stud) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-04 Paul Townend 5/2f

10 ran

Distances: 1, 1

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The Nicky Henderson-trained mare beat Davy Russell and Black Tears (12/1) by two and a quarter lengths, with Thosedaysaregone (10/1) a further two and a half lengths back in third.

This was winner number four for the English handler at the 2020 Festival and followed the victory of Champ in the Grade 1 RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase earlier in the day.

The J P McManus-owned, a seven-year-old by Lucarno, gave jockey Barry Geraghty his 41^st Festival success.

The Master of Seven Barrows said:

“You are getting into the realms of you don’t believe it. You certainly couldn’t believe Champ but this is a lovely mare. It’s always a very competitive race but she was very good. It wasn’t that headlong Coral dash with a lot of horses flat to the boards and anything could have won coming down the hill.

2.50pm Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3)

1 Dame de Compagnie (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 7-10-12 Barry Geraghty 5/1f

2 Black Tears (Caren Walsh & John Lightfoot) Gordon Elliott 6-11-02 Davy Russell 12/1

3 Thosedaysaregone (Brynes Bloodstock Ltd) Charles Byrnes 7-10-11 Kevin Brouder (3) 10/1

4 Cracking Smart (Gigginstown House Stud) Gordon Elliott 8-11-11 Gavin Brouder (7) 33/1

25 ran

Distances: 2¼, 2½, 1¼

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2/1 favourite Epatante, a six-year-old mare, is the fifth of her sex to win the Champion Hurdle, and the first since Annie Power in 2016. She beat the Willie Mullins-trained Sharjah (16/1) by three lengths in what was a ninth success in the race for owner J P McManus.

Sharjah briefly threatened on the run to the last hurdle, while Darver Star (17/2), trained by 2019 Unibet Champion Hurdle winning trainer Gavin Cromwell, ran with huge credit to finish in third place.

The winner, Epatante, was unplaced in the G2 novice mares’ hurdle at The Festival last year, but Geraghty said: “She got lit up on the day last year, when we put the hood on her. She was keen at Exeter and we just felt that the occasion was going to light her up, so we put the hood on her. She ran with the choke out. We plugged her ears today – she settled lovely yet travelled sweetly. There are always a lot of decisions to be made in the run up to a race and thankfully, they went right, as they can often go wrong.”

3.30pm Unibet Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)

1 Epatante (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson & Barry Geraghty 2/1f

2 Sharjah (Susannah Ricci) Willie Mullins & Mr Patrick Mullins 16/1

3 Darver Star (SSP Number Twenty Two Syndicate) Gavin Cromwell & Jonathan Moore 17/2

17 ran.

Distances: 3, 3¾.

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