In the colours of J.P. McManus, the Mark Walsh-ridden gelding was a sixth winner of the week for the owner and a third for the jockey.

Last seen in the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Majborough’s jumping was better this time, though he jumped noticeably to his left at the final two fences in the straight.

The Willie Mullins-trained son of Martinborough ran out an easy 14 length winner from Gavin Cromwell’s Only By Night (5/1), with Keith Donoghue in the saddle.

The runner-up prize money saw Cromwell surpass the €2 million mark for the first time in his relatively short training career.

Noel Meade’s Jesse Evans (40/1), ridden by Donogh Meyler, was third past the post, a further half a length behind the runner-up.

The winning jockey, Mark Walsh, who is currently joint-leading rider at this year’s Punchestown Festival alongside J.J. Slevin, said of Majborough post-race:

“He has some engine. He always jumps a little bit left but he’s never jumped that badly left. It’s the first time he’s went that badly left going right-handed. If you could just iron them out he has some ability, some engine.

“He’s only five and hopefully he’ll mature this summer. I’m looking forward to what he could mature into over the next 18 months or two years.”

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The Closutton trainer’s winners included the three Grade 1 races on the card.

Kaid D’Authie (9/4 favourite) and Mark Walsh was the first Mullins winner on Wednesday. The J.P. McManus-owned French-bred won the Louis Fitzgerald Hurdle by three and a half lengths.

Kaid D’Authie had pulled up on his most recent racetrack appearance, in the Grade 1 Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

Three Grade 1 victories

In the first Grade 1 of the afternoon, Jasmin De Vaux (13/8 favourite) brought up the Closutton-handled double, and gave stable jockey Paul Townend his first winner of the 2025 Punchestown Festival.

The next Grade 1 on the card was a win for Townend’s sister, Jody, as Bambino Fever (11/8 favourite) completed the Cheltenham-Punchestown champion bumper double.

Galopin Des Champs (5/6 favourite) was most impressive – a 22 length winner – in the Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup. The son of Timos was a fourth winner on the card for Team Mullins.

James Du Berlais (7/1) and J.J. Slevin completed the Willie Mullins five-timer with success in the Grade 3 Colm Quinn BMW Handicap Chase.

Crucial winner for John Shinnick 

Glanworth, Co Cork jockey John Shinnick closed the gap in his quest for the conditional jockeys’ championship with success on 9/1 chance Thisistheway.

Owned and trained by the Lattas in Wexford, the daughter of Doyen was a length and a quarter victor over the fast finishing Littlefoot (80/1) and Conor Stone-Walsh.

The Tom Mullins-trained, Danny Mullins-ridden Coral River (6/1) was a further three lengths back in third.

Shinnick is now only one winner behind leader Tiernan Power Roche in his bid to succeed Danny Gilligan as champion conditional rider come Saturday afternoon.

British-trained winner

David Pipe continued the success of the British trainers as he won the Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle with Thanksforthehelp (14/1).

Carrying the colours of the race sponsor, J.P. McManus, the Gavin Brouder-ridden eight-year-old grey came late to claim a two and a half-length success from race favourite Ballysax Hank (5/1), with a further three and a quarter lengths back to Stay Gold (20/1) in third.

The Declan Queally-trained and ridden Carrigmornaspruce (11/2) took the concluding Grade 3 Weatherbys GSB EBF (Mares) IMH Flat Race.

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Ridden by Mark Walsh, the J.P. McManus-owned winner led home a Willie Mullins 1-2-3-4.

The Closutton hot favourite for the race, Cheltenham Festival winner Kopek Des Bordes (30/100 favourite), was fourth of the Mullins winners.

Salvator Mundi (100/30), who made the pace throughout under Patrick Mullins, took the runner-up position nine lengths behind the winner.

Karbau (22/1) and Danny Mullins were third, three lengths behind the second, with Kopek Des Bordes and Paul Townend a further 19 lengths back.

The winning rider, Mark Walsh, was full of praise for trainer Willie Mullins post-race, stating:

“Fair play to Willie for getting this lad to the track because he is a seven-year-old and he has had a lot of problems. Luckily this year everything has gone right for him and he deserved that big race today.

“Once we jumped the third hurdle at the top of the hill, the two lads were gone on me and I couldn’t go any quicker, so I didn’t force this fella.

“He didn’t come down the hill in Cheltenham great so I just held him together going down the hill here in Punchestown and just let him go his own comfortable stride. I wasn’t chasing them. Luckily enough, they came back to me going to the second last.”

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A great week for the Cheltenham Festival’s leading all-time owner got even better as he claimed the blue riband of chasing on Friday.

Well placed throughout the race, Inothewayurthinkin is a first Gold Cup for trainer Gavin Cromwell, and is another Grade 1 this week for rider Mark Walsh.

Inothewayurthinkin is the first supplementary entry to win the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, as he was added to the field on Saturday, 8th March at a cost of £25,000.

Bred by Noreen McManus, the winner is a second victory for the Limerick owner in the Gold Cup, and his 84th Festival winner.

Inothewayurthinkin is the 20th seven-year-old to succeed and the 31st horse trained in Ireland to win the contest.

Mark Walsh, narrowly pipped for the leading rider at this year’s Cheltenham Festival by Paul Townend, said of the victory:

“I’m dancing inside! Brilliant, I can’t believe it. They went a nice gallop. He jumped well on the whole, he just missed the ditch going down the back the last time.

“In fairness to this fella, he’s done some growing up in the last year. He won here last year, but Gavin Cromwell is a genius. The way he trained him, he had him spot on for today. Brilliant. He’s a home-bred as well, which makes it extra special. Delighted.”

A shocked Gavin Cromwell admitted:

 “I don’t know what to say as it is absolutely massive. I never thought I would have a horse good enough to run in a Gold Cup, let alone win.

“It is unbelievable and it will probably take a while to sink in. I’m absolutely thrilled. I didn’t think we were travelling particularly well as just on that ground he looked to be flat out.”

The defending champion and two-time winner Galopin Des Champs (8/13 favourite) was second for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins.

The Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame (40/1) was another 12 lengths away in third for Darragh O’Keffee and owners Robcour.

A sad postscript to the race was that Corbetts Cross, trained by Emmet Mullins for J.P. McManus, who fell at the last fence in the Boodles Gold Cup sadly lost his life.

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Runner-up in the race last year to Limerick Lace, both of them owned by J.P. McManus, the Doctor Dino eight-year-old was a comprehensive eight and a half length winner this time.

Gavin Cromwell’s Brides Hill (9/2) and Keith Donoghue were second, while Gordon Elliott’s Shecouldbeanything (12/1) was another five and a half lengths further back in third in an Irish-trained trifecta.

Today’s better ground was of assistance to the winning mare, according to her owner, J.P. McManus:

“She’s a much better mare on good ground. Mark said she loved it out there and loved the surface, whereas last year she found it tough. She’s been at it a while now, so her jumping should be good!”

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The Willie Mullins-trained gelding, who had finished behind dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs in his last two races, produced a magnificent performance in winning by nine lengths from Heart Wood (18/1) and Darragh O’Keeffe.

“The manner of the way in which he won was a bit of a surprise, but I felt coming here he’d win it,” Willie Mullins admitted post-race. 

Last season’s Brown Advisory winner was an 81st Cheltenham Festival success for J.P. McManus, and a 12th for the winning rider, Mark Walsh.

“I do agree that he might have been the horse to give Galopin Des Champs a battle tomorrow in the Gold Cup and he was in it, but felt it was better to bide our options,” Mullins explained.

The Closutton master continued:

“He’ll probably be a Gold Cup horse next year. He’ll be a year older and we felt that at this stage a hard race in the Gold Cup, if the ground turned up soft… It’s not like that, but that was the way I was thinking all season. JP [McManus] didn’t want him to have a very hard race in the Gold Cup this year – sometimes that can ruin a horse’s career. So next year – I’m not going to say any more about two-year plans after Lossiemouth, but another year might be right. I think that’s what we’re looking at.”

Fact To File finished the 2 miles five furlongs race out so well, Mark Walsh informed:

“I was struggling to pull him up! Even coming up by the junction of the track here, he heard all the crowd on my left shouting, and he started pricking his ears and ducking away from them, so there’s loads left.”

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It was a 79th Festival winner for McManus, the winning-most owner in Festival history.

Winning trainer Joseph O’Brien, for whom it was a 5th Festival victory, said of the Mark Walsh-ridden winner:

“This race is always won by ex flat horses, but I suppose that is where the improvement has come from having run on winter ground then getting a bit of spring ground today as he seemed to really thrive on it.

“He did surprise me to be honest with you as to how easy he got there as coming here I thought he was in with a chance, but we didn’t think he was that well handicapped

“Mark gave him a great ride as the pace was on, but he took a sit and let them all at it. I would say that was probably the difference today.”

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The J.P. McManus-owned son of Capital Stud’s Martinborough won last season’s Triumph Hurdle, but returns this year as a novice chaser.

A win in a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse was soon followed up with success in the Grade 1 Goffs Arkle Novice Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The Race iQ information shows that Majborough is a better chaser than hurdler. His Jump Index over the smaller obstacles last season was 7.7, while his overall Jump Index over fences to date is 9.0 out of 10.

Jockey Mark Walsh will hope to maintain the good recent record of trainer Willie Mullins in the My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase. The Closutton wins in the last two years, with Gaelic Warrior in 2024 and El Fabiolo in 2023, were both ridden by Paul Townend.

Touch Me Not, trained by Gordon Elliott for Gigginstown House Stud, was 9 lengths behind  Majborough at Leopardstown last month.

Irish-based handlers have tasted success in this race 7 of the last 10 years, with Henry de Bromhead (Put The Kettle On in 2020) adding to Mullins’ six victories.

2:00pm My Pension Expert Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y

1 Jango Baie (FR) 6 11 7 Countrywide Park Homes Ltd Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville
2 L’Eau du Sud (FR) ts 7 11 7 GMasonJHalesLHalesPHogarthSirAFerguson Dan Skelton Harry Skelton
3 Majborough (FR) 5 11 7 Mr John P. McManus W. P. Mullins Mark Walsh
4 Touch Me Not (IRE) 6 11 7 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott Jack Kennedy
5 Only By Night (IRE) 7 11 0 Mrs J. M. Russell Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue

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Cracking performance

Relentless from Caldwell Potter who emulates his late brother Mighty Potter with glory in the G1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle@LeopardstownRC | @gelliott_racing | @jackkennedy15 pic.twitter.com/JsVvHL8LXo

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2023

In a field of nine runners, the Caldwell Construction Ltd.-owned son of Martaline was a six and a half length winner over Gigginstown House Stud’s Predators Gold (Patrick and Willie Mullins), while Down Memory Lane (Mr Derek O’Connor/Gordon Elliott) came home in third, 38 lengths behind the runner-up, with only five of the nine starters completing the 2 mile contest in very testing conditions.

Gordon Elliott pays tribute to Caldwell Potter and Jack Kennedy after their success at Leopardstown. pic.twitter.com/6fcS4CnfNi

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 27, 2023

1-2-3 for McManus and Mullins

Owner J.P. McManus had a 1-2-3 in the Grade 1 The Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase over 2 miles 1 furlong as Dinoblue (9/4) defeated Gentleman De Mee (11/2) by seven and a half lengths, with Saint Roi (16/1) another 39 lengths back in third.

A dramatic renewal of the G1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase as Dinoblue leads home a JP McManus & @williemullinsnh 1-2-3 at @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/xJ2eYieavB

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 27, 2023

In the five-runner field, the only three finishers all carried the colours of the Limerick-born J.P. McManus, all coming from from the stable of champion National Hunt trainer, Willie Mullins.

The race favourite, Captain Guinness (6/4), from the Henry de Bromhead yard, pulled up, while the other runner Dysart Dynamo – also from the Willie Mullins yard – fell.

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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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