IF you were an onlooker last Sunday watching events from Anfield and watched the emotional You’ll Never Walk Alone renditions and tears from grown men on the Kop, you might have a grin to yourself when packed beside another large group of lads in the Punchestown stands. This was quite a different refrain – “Go on Bambino. H’on Bambino, GO ON Bam-binooo.”
We were always told to get out of the way of a chesnut mare, as quick as you would a Pickford tackle, but this one is made of reliable stuff and she led a five-timer for champion trainer Willie Mullins, including three Grade 1s on the Wednesday of the Festival.
The temperatures went up to 27 degrees, the crowds came to cheer the best long distance chaser we have seen in Ireland in a long time and this time Galopin Des Champs was at his brilliant best in April, winning his title!
The stands cheered him from when he jumped the third last and looked to have built an unassailable lead. There were no chants in the stands this time, just all in agreement with one word - “superstar”. Al Boum Photo might have his Closutton sculpture moved to make way for a bigger one of Galopin Des Champs!
Willie gets his own ovation from the crowds around the winner’s enclosure after his star chaser has been paraded.
The official attendance on day two of the Festival was 23,285, compared to 21,652 in 2024. But there was still lots of space around. It’s just a ‘no hassle’ meeting. No issues getting in, no issues moving about, no issues on visability into the parade ring, ice cream vans at your ease.
It’s like a barbeque on your street, come in shorts, bring the baby (someone did!), bring the granny, watch a race or two, sit around, the purists can watch the Grade 1s, there’s still room for some ‘small’ winners to get into the winners’ enclosure like the Latta winner Thisistheway.
The new seated covered area along the parade ring is well used and doesn’t take away any ‘move around’ space.
You can dress up or wear the shorts. Henry de Bromhead goes for the runners with the suit look, taking a leaf from our own Brendan McArdle. Apparently one contestant in the best dressed lady is clad in ‘spectacular’ trousers, Marietta Doran tells Brendan! I’ll keep my eyes on the real spectacular star on the track!
All in all, you could not ask for much more for a day’s racing. Well just thank the weather gods too!
Hourigan honoured
NATIONAL Hunt trainer Michael Hourigan received a presentation from the National Hunt Steeplechase Committee to mark his retirement after 52 years training.
Hourigan trained his first winner with Ramrajya at Limerick on St Patrick’s Day in 1979.
Michael trained over 1,000 on the track between jumps and flat and they include popular horses like Deep Bramble, Tropical Lake, Hi Cloy and Church Island, and his two most famous horses were Dorans Pride and Beef Or Salmon. They won over 50 races and included 16 Grade 1s.
The presentation was made by Jill Farrell on behalf of the INHSC.