Punchestown

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-bred horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Tuesday's Observations features a half-sister to a Group 1-winning sire. 13.55 Punchestown, Mdn, €18,000, 2yo, f, 7fT BEYOND DREAMS (IRE) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is a rare Michael Tabor runner for the Dermot Weld stable and as a half-sister to the dual group 1-winning sire Zoustar (Aus) has plenty to...

Trainer Nicky Henderson took to social media late Sunday night to announce the passing of stable star Shishkin (Ire) (Sholokhov {Ire}) after getting cast in his stable and fracturing a hind leg. The multiple Grade 1-winner had been scheduled to leave for Punchestown Monday morning for a tilt at the G1 Ladbrokes Punchestown Gold Cup. Shishkin had launched his 2024 season victoriously with a trip to the winner's enclosure Feb. 10 in the G2Betfair Denman Chase and had last been seen running fourth Apr. 11 in the G1 William Hill...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a daughter of Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). 13.15 Punchestown, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, f, 7fT GREENFINCH (Justify) is the eighth foal out of the accomplished Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), heroine of four Group 1 races including the Irish 1000 Guineas, and therefore a...

The Punchestown Festival has been very much the Willie Mullins show with Ireland's dominant jumps trainer going into the final day of the meeting with 14 winners in the bag already.   Mullins looks as though he will be hard to topple in the feature G1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle on Saturday given he runs four of the eight runners, including Triumph Hurdle winner Lossiemouth (Fr) (Great Pretender {Ire}), but Andrew McNamara will be bidding to spoil the party once again with Enjoy The Dream (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). The aptly-named...

Two wild card entries were added to the Goffs Punchestown Sale which will take place after racing on Thursday, Apr. 27. The first wild card is Milo Lises (Fr) (Storm The Stars) (lot 22), a 4-year-old gelding consigned by Willie Mullins's Closutton Stables, who debuted as the runner-up in Tuesday's Goffs Defender Bumper. Also in play is Williethebuilder (Ire) (Arcadio {Ger}) (lot 23), another 4-year-old gelding, who is consigned by D. Queally of Lisroe Farm and finished second in Tuesday's 4-year-old bumper. All horses will be available to inspect at...

Goffs' flagship National Hunt Sale, formerly known as the Goffs Land Rover Sale, will now be known as the Goffs Arkle Sale in honour of history's greatest chaser, Arkle, who was sold at Goffs. Goffs Arkle Sale this year will be held in partnership with Land Rover Defender, and the vendor of the horse that wins the renamed €100,000 Goffs Defender Bumper at the Punchestown Festival will also win an all-new Defender Hard Top. "So many household names in National Hunt racing have gone under the hammer at Goffs during...

13.25 Punchestown, Mdn, €15,000, 2yo, f, 7fT Coolmore and Westerberg's LAMBADA (IRE) (Dubawi {Ire}), one of two representing Aidan O'Brien, is a daughter of G2 Rockfel S. victrix Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and thus a half-sister to G2 Rockfel S. winner and GI Belmont Oaks Invitational and G1 Matron S. placegetter Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}). She is joined by stablemate Promises To Keep (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), who is a full-sister to three black-type performers headed by G1 Irish Derby and G1 Gold Cup runner-up Kingfisher (Ire). 14.00 Punchestown, Mdn, €12,500,...

The only man in history to win the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Gold Cup and Grand National in the same season, Henry de Bromhead is not content on tightening his grip on the major jumps races and is now taking aim at the Irish 1,000 Guineas with Star Girls Aalmal (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}).  De Bromhead signed off on another memorable National Hunt season at Punchestown last month by sending out Honeysuckle (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}) to win her 12th Grade 1 and extend her unbeaten record to 16. As the Flat...

The 2021/2022 Irish National Hunt Champions were announced at Punchestown on Saturday. Of the six, five were repeat winners, with Jack Foley named the Champion Conditional Jockey for the first time. Ireland's NH champions are as follows: Champion Owner: JP McManus (19th win) Champion Trainer: Willie Mullins (16th win) Champion Jockey: Paul Townend (fifth win) Champion Conditional: Jack Foley Champion Amateur: Patrick Mullins (14th win) Champion Lady Amateur Rider: Jody Townend (second win) Horse Racing Ireland Chief Executive, Suzanne Eade, said, "This is the first time since May 2019 that...

Coolmore and Westerberg's newcomer River Thames (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) sported Michael Tabor's second colours for Tuesday's BetVictor Supporting Irish Racing Maiden at Punchestown, but was very much first choice coming home and shaped with abundant promise by earning TDN Rising Stardom with a neck defeat of stablemate Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). He was isolated in a mid-division berth as the field stretched out over many lengths through halfway. Making impressive headway under pressure off the home turn, the 5-1 chance quickened smartly to take second entering the final furlong and...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Observations features a half-sister to GI Belmont Oaks Invitational S. placegetter Just Wonderful (Dansili {GB}). 13.30 Punchestown, Mdn, €14,000, 2yo, f, 7fT Coolmore and Westerberg's WEST COAST (IRE) (Dark Angel {Ire}) is a daughter of G2 Rockfel S. victrix Wading (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) and thus kin to two...

British-based buyer Equos took home the top two lots from the Goffs live online Punchestown Sale prior to racing on Thursday afternoon. After first swooping for the 4-year-old gelding Anyharminasking (Ire) (Getaway {Ger}) (lot 6), a maiden winner at Tipperary last weekend, for €145,000, Equos added Fairyhouse bumper runner-up Itso Fury (Ire) (Fame And Glory {GB}) (lot 11) for €115,000 and, finally, the sale-topping Springwell Bay (GB) (Kayf Tara {GB}) (lot 15) for €155,000. The 4-year-old was runner-up in Tuesday's Goffs Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown. The sale saw five...