Highlight of the day
The reception that awaited Galopin Des Champs after breaking his Punchestown Gold Cup hoodoo was something to behold. His rivals failed to run to their best, but any time you can round off your season with a 22-length Grade 1 win is something to be celebrated.
Ride of the day
Paul Townend might have been hard on himself for having to ride without his irons on the run-in aboard Jasmin De Vaux, but he has been a key part in getting the Albert Bartlett winner’s jumping right in recent starts. He makes a tricky ride look much more straightforward than ought to be the case.
Performance of the day
It can be tough for horses to consistently back up big spring festival performances, yet Bambino Fever has lived up to the challenge every time. From the Dublin Racing Festival to Cheltenham and now Punchestown, she’s proven herself capable of delivering at the top table in multiple different styles of race.
In-running carnage
of the day
It was all change late on in the Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle. Thanksforthehelp, sent off 14/1, traded as big as 249/1 in-running and runner-up Ballysax Hank (well-backed 5/1 favourite) hit a low of 1/7. In the same race, the eventual fifth, Cloonainra, also traded as short as 1/9.
In the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle, 13/8 favourite Jasmin De Vaux’s maximum in-running price was just shy of 8/1. Meanwhile, Seo Linn matched as low as 2/11 before being collared close home in the concluding bumper.
Market mover of the day
The market spoke strongly in Ballysax Hank’s favour on the morning, sent off the 5/1 market leader from 10/1, while morning odds of 22/1 about Fleur In The Park evaporated into an SP of 17/2 ahead of his third in the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle.
Eye-catcher of the day
Last year’s running of the Grade 3 Weatherbys General Stud Book Irish EBF Mares’ Bumper was highly informative for this season, with Grade 1 Honeysuckle Novice Hurdle winner Aurora Vega, Cheltenham Festival scorer Air Of Entitlement, the Grade 1-placed Mozzies Sister and valuable Punchestown Festival winner Thisistheway all among the beaten runners. Considering how long Rock On Byhad missed the whole winter since winning an autumn bumper at Galway, the Paul Nolan-trained mare is one to be positive about going forward after finishing fifth in the 2025 renewal behind Carrigmoornaspruce. She weakened close home but travelled up in the style of a bright prospect and is entitled to improve.
Quote of the day
“A lot of people don’t bring their horses back [to Punchestown] from Cheltenham - they’re afraid to - but I think ‘let’s have a crack’. It’s good racing and good for the sport. Win, lose or draw, you’ve got to turn up.”
- Willie Mullins after Galopin Des Champs’ ended a four-race losing run at Punchestown