Ridden by J.J. Slevin, and trained by Martin Brassil, the Seán and Bernardine Mulryan-owned son of Saint Des Saints, held off the late brave challenge of the Cheltenham Gold Cup hero, Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown home straight.

A surprise winner of this event last season, French-bred Fastorslow started the 9-horse race today as 7/2 second favourite, with the Willie Mullins-handled Galopin Des Champs going to post the 1/2 favourite.

The eight-year-old Fastorslow had a length and a quarter advantage over the Irish and Cheltenham Gold winner of 2024 at the finishing line, with former American Grand National winner Hewick (12/1) third home, in the hands of Jordan Gainford, two and a quarter lengths behind the runner-up.

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Ridden by J.J. Slevin, in the colours of Ronnie Bartlett, the Carriganóg-trained gelding had just a neck to spare at the line. Runner-up was the Champion Chase winner at Cheltenham, Captain Guinness (6/1), who for much of the home straight looked as though he would add another Grade 1 to March’s victory at the highest level.

The race favourite, Dinoblue (11/10 favourite), carrying the colours of J.P. McManus, was third, a length and a quarter behind the runner-up.

The first Grade 1 of the week, the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle went to the favourite Mystical Power (2/1) in the hands of Mark Walsh.

Runner-up at Cheltenham before winning at Aintree, the son of Galileo out of top mare Annie Power, was a cosy length and three-quarters winner over Firefox (9/2) and Jack Kennedy, who were also runner-up to the J.P. McManus-owned horse at Aintree, with four and a quarter lengths further back to Slade Steel (5/2) and Rachael Blackmore in third.

Spillane’s Tower (5/2jf) provided Conna trainer Jimmy Mangan with another big success, taking the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase under Mark Walsh.

The son of Walk In The Park has improved immeasurably this season, and today had three-quarters of a length in hand on Monty’s Star (5/2jf) and Rachael Blackmore, with Three Card Brag (25/1) next best in third.

The opening race of the 2024 Punchestown Festival went to Knockiel Synge who produced a dominant performance under rider Georgie Benson to claim The Ladies Cup for trainer Peter Flood.

Tune In A Box, bred by Victor Connolly by Jukebox Jury, gave the visitors a win in the Blood-Stock.com Full Circle Series Final Handicap Hurdle. Trained by Tom Lacey, and ridden by Richard Patrick, the victor had eight lengths in hand on the runner-up Quest With Speed, from the John ‘Shark’ Hanlon yard.

Daddy Long Legs brought up a double for Willie Mullins when easily following up on his recent cross-channel success at Ludlow when taking this afternoon’s Listed Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle by an easy five lengths. It was a first winner of the week for Paul Townend as he bids to catch rival Jack Kennedy in the champion jockeys’ race by Saturday.

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It was a Grade 1 double on the day for trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend.

Impaire Et Passe powers to a second G1 victory @punchestownrace

Five runs
Five wins
G1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle
G1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle
Roll on next season@WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend | @simon_munir pic.twitter.com/aDyrOmI4dy

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2023

The French-bred Impaire Et Passe had a seven and a half lengths victory over High Definition as he added to his Grade 1 tally.

Townend’s body language was not one of ultra confidence as pace-setting stablemate Champ Kiely and High Definition opened up a three-length gap turning into the straight but the Cork jockey didn’t panic.

He came alongside the Joseph O’Brien-trained former Derby favourite High Definition jumping the last, and went on to claim a fifth consecutive win.

"All's well that ends well."@PTownend on an 'idle' Impaire Et Passe who remained unbeaten following success in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/OkmxTHMM5V

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2023

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The Willie Mullins-handler horse bounced back from his first defeat of the year behind Constitution Hill at Cheltenham to score by three lengths from his younger stablemate Vauban.

State Man – all class in the @paddypower Champion Hurdle

10 runs
Seven wins
@punchestownrace Champion Hurdle
Irish Champion Hurdle
Matheson Hurdle
Morgiana Hurdle
Champion Novice Hurdle@WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/WHfwelT8N7

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2023

The Marie Donnelly-owned six-year-old jumped well until the last but had more than enough in the tank to pick up once more under jockey Paul Townend.

Winning rider Paul Townend said:

“He’s been beating these horses all year and thankfully he was able to do it again today. As I said when I made it in Leopardstown (in the Irish Champion Hurdle in February), I thought he’d be better with a lead and it was probably the same here but he just looks to be the best of that bunch.”

"Constitution Hill is there, but this guy is the best of the rest."

13 winners already for @WillieMullinsNH already this week. He reflects on State Man's @paddypower Champion Hurdle @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/EFwiTrlyMR

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 28, 2023

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The sale that boasts Honeysuckle as its most famous graduate saw another potential future star take her turn in the ring as Colin Bowe’s Qualimita (Lot 14), a four-year-old daughter of Muhtathir sell to Mags O’Toole for €500,000. The mare put up one of the performances of the season when winning on her debut at Fairyhouse last Friday.

Histrionic (Lot 19), a son of Walk In The Park, from Denis Murphy’s Ballyboy Stables, fresh from an impressive 4YO maiden win at Tralee last weekend, sold to Tom Malone and Paul Nicholls for €450,000, also surpassing the previous record Punchestown price of €370,000 by some margin.

Almost half the catalogue sold for €200,000 or more, and among the other highlights were Lough Owel (Lot 5), another maiden winner from Fairyhouse last weekend that sold to Aidan O’Ryan and Gordon Elliott for €255,000.

Elliott also went to €235,000 for Bleu De Vassy (Lot 20) from Patrick Turley’s Kingsfield Stables who finished a close runner up at Necarne on Saturday nine lengths clear of the rest of the field, and paid €200,000 for Baltimore House Stables’ The Enabler (Lot 4), a son of Walk In The Park from the family of Denman who impressed when runner up at Curraghmore.

Top class breeding prospect Dolcita (Lot 1) by Saint des Saints was first into the ring and set the tone for an evening of spectacular trade, as the Willie Mullins-trained black type performer and Irish Grand National fourth sold to Cyril Crowe for €240,000.

Sam Curling’s Boston Boy (Lot 15) was runner up to Histrionic at Tralee last Friday and caught the eye of Stroud Coleman and Jonjo O’Neill who went to €230,000 for the son of Black Sam Belamy, and O’Neill also signed for Dromahane 4YO maiden winner Fortunate Man (Lot 6) from Moate Stables for €210,000.

Goffs Punchestown Sale 2023:

Offered: 22
Sold: 20 (91%)
Aggregate: €3,940,000 (+37%)
Average: €197,000 (+23%)
Median: €170,000 (+26%)
Top price: €500,000

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Today he had to battle more than ever. He was challenge on the home stretch by Tullyhill, the mount of Patrick Mullins but the 8/11f showed his quality, under John Gleeson, to eventually move clear and win by three-and-three-quarter lengths at the winning post. His record now reads 5 wins from 5 runs and two wins at Grade 1 level.

Winning machine A Dream To Share (8-11F) adds the Grade One Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race to an unbeaten record that now extends to five races. pic.twitter.com/aEtOghx7fn

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 26, 2023

Gaelic Warrior was an easy 10-length winner of the Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle. The German-bred son of Maxios was comfortable throughout the race under Paul Townend. The win, another success at the highest level for this week for Willie Mullins.

The Willie Mullins-trained Gaelic Warrior (4-5F) wins the Grade One Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle at Punchestown under a cool waiting ride from Paul Townend. pic.twitter.com/jWhttTirVG

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 26, 2023

Ballybawn Belter (17/2), in the colours of the race sponsor J.P. McManus, won the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle. Trained in Wexford by Liz Doyle, the five-year-old bay filly travelled well throughout the 2m 3f 180yards race, and claimed the lead on entering the home straight.

Though the daughter of Valirann began to tire in the shadows of the line, jockey Charlie O’Dwyer kept the previously two-time winner going to claim the win by one length. The English-trained challenger Bread And Butter finished runner-up for trainer Ollie Murphy, with Mouse Morris’ Camino Rock a neck further back in third.

“Will the line come in time? IT WILL!”

JP McManus’ green & gold silks are carried to glory by Ballybawn Belter for Charlie O’Dwyer & Liz Doyle in the opener on day two at @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/tbsG6qqetr

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 26, 2023

The race favourite, Sandor Clegane (15/8) third in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, was a comfortable winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final, a second Wexford trained winner on the day, this time for Paul Nolan, and ridden by Seán O’Keeffe.

Grangeclare West (6/4f), who had disappointed on his two previous runs, ran out a four-and-a-quarter length winner of the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle. In the colours of Cheveley Park Stud, the seven-year-old gelded son of Presenting was another winner at Punchestown 2023 for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins.

Hereditary Rule under seven-pound claimed Shane O’Callaghan gave John McConnell a Punchestown Festival winner when claiming the €100,000 HSS Hire Handicap Steeplechase, the penultimate race on the Wednesday card.

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In a five-runner Champion Chase, where Mullins provided four of the runners, the other coming from the Henry de Bromhead yard, it was Rachael Blackmore on de Bomhead’s Magic Daze that cut out the running.

“The fact that he was able to do things wrong today and still win probably shows he is a very good horse”

Paul Townend on a topsy-turvy win for Energumene in the Champion Chase

Watch the Punchestown Festival live on @RTE2 & @RTEplayer: https://t.co/mqqqaOH4G9 #rteracing pic.twitter.com/hRJx1KrWQq

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 25, 2023

With the odds-on favourite Energumene making an error three from home, Chacun Pour Soi and Danny Mullins came on their outside, and it was four Closutton horses battling it out heading to the second last.

With Paul Townend and Energumene on the inside of the track, Danny Mullins and Chacun Pour Soi lay down their challenge, and the race was between them heading to the last. As they went head-to-head up the home straight the Tony Bloom-owned nine-year-old won the battle of the French-breds as he had enough to hold off the 11-year-old Chacun Pour Soi by three-quarters-of-a-length and he took his six Grade 1 victory.

Blue Lord came home third with Gentleman Du Mee fourth and Magic Daze the last of the five to finish.

Facile Vega gave Paul Townend and Willie Mullins the first Grade 1 of the 2023 Punchestown Festival. The Hammer & Trowel-owned six-year-old bay gelding, who has finished second to Marine Nationale in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, upheld that form today as he beat two of his stable companions who had finished behind him at Prestbury Park in March, Diverge and Il Etait Temps. The latter was runner-up today with Oliver McKernan’s No Looking Back coming home in third, ahead of Found A Fifty and Diverge.

Facile Vega has emerged victorious in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown

Watch the action live on @RTE2 & @RTEplayer #rteracing pic.twitter.com/r953JaMhz5

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 25, 2023

Winning rider Paul Townend admitted he got a “bit of a fright at the third-last, but he lengthened well down straight for me again. We got it right today and he showed the true horse. I think when he does get a bigger obstacle in front of him, his jumping will come into its own then.”

Mullins had the treble up by race 5 with his son Patrick won aboard Predators Gold in the Goffs Defender Bumper. The Gigginstown Stud-owned four-year-old gelded son of Masked Marvel was purchased by Harold Kirk had two lengths in hand on his stable mate Milo Lises, the mount of Jodi Townend, with Gordon Elliott’s Western Fold filling the third spot under Barry O’Neill.

Shecouldbeanything, fifth in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month, gained some compensation with a four and a half length success in the opening Listed Howden Insurance Brokers Mares Novice Hurdle. Trained by Gordon Elliott, the six-year-old daughter of Malinas was a first winner for Jordan Gainford on his return from injury.

What a return for @GainfordJordan!

The jockey lands the opening race of the 2023 Punchestown Festival on his first ride since his Cheltenham Festival spill as Shecouldbeanything (7/2F) scores at @punchestownrace @gelliott_racing pic.twitter.com/MKVWXD4WIy

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 25, 2023

Half an jour later, Willie Mullins doubled-up when taking the Grade B Killashee Handicap Hurdle with Bialystok in the Rich Ricci colours. Ridden by Danny Mullins, the winner led home a 1-2-3 for the champion handler as Tax For Max with Daryl Jacob were runners-up with Tekao and Simon Torrens claiming third spot.

The other Grade 1 on the card went to Mullins, Emmet Mullins this time, as Donagh Meyler steered Feronily to victory in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase over 3 miles.

Feronily, the only horse proven at the trip prior to today’s race came home at 7/1 and have a length and three-quarters to spare over the Paul Townend-ridden Appreciate It with James Du Berlais third to cross the finishing line.

Feronily has secured a surprise win in the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase

Watch the Punchestown Festival live on @RTE2 & @RTEplayer: https://t.co/mqqqaOH4G9 #rteracing pic.twitter.com/5JU3Xbn47l

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 25, 2023

1-2-3 for Willie Mullins.

Bialystok (14/1) runs out a smooth winner on handicap debut in the Ricci silks and in this big Festival prize, leading home stablemates Tax For Max and Tekao at @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/jpFyf9tCiX

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 25, 2023

Three By Two won The Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Steeplechase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup for jockey Tiernan Power Roche and trainer Denis Paul Murphy.

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