SBK Irish EBF Mares’ Champion Hurdle (Grade 1)
CHAMPIONS were crowned on the 2025/’26 National Hunt season’s final day at Punchestown last Saturday, with two of those decorated individuals getting on the score sheet during the afternoon.
The season’s final two Grade 1 races were contested, with the featured SBK Irish EBF Mares’ Champion Hurdle being won by Willie Mullins’ lesser-fancied runner and novice Place De La Nation (10/1).
The four-runner race featured Cheltenham Mares’ Hurdle winner Wodhooh (8/11 favourite) and Mullins’ Jade De Grugy (6/4) and while both raced together and made the pace, Gigginstown House Stud’s Place De La Nation swept by in the home straight to score under Danny Mullins.
Champion trainer Mullins was notably absent due to a recurring back issue and afterwards his son Patrick, who collected his 18th amateur jockeys’ title on the day, reported: “Place De La Nation had been knocking on the door being placed at Cheltenham and in a Grade 1 at Fairyhouse, so is a high-class mare.
“That said, she did need the other two to cut each other’s throats and that probably is what happened.
“We thought it would be hard to go up against the geldings in the novice race and while we had been trying to split up our runners, she wasn’t qualified to run in the listed mares’ novice hurdle.
“This then looked the race she had the best chance of winning. Danny got the fractions right, as he always does, and is lethal in that second-string role.”
Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
THE second Grade 1 race on Saturday, the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, was won by champion owner J.P. McManus’ Saratoga (9/2), who provided trainer Padraig Roche with a first top-level success.
Ridden by Mark Walsh on his own final day as McManus’ retained first-jockey, Saratoga today followed up his Fred Winter heroics with today scoring by three and three-quarter lengths from Bartholomew.
Roche reported: “To win any race at the Punchestown festival is great but to win a first Grade 1 here is unbelievable, I’m over the moon. Alan Crowe recommended buying the horse through his job in Ballydoyle and Dad (Christy) convinced J.P. to buy him. Alan was first jockey to Dad for years and told us if we could buy this horse, to do so.
“We take whatever horses we get from J.P. every year and I’m delighted for him, as he has always been there. In total, we only have 10 or 12 jump horses and six or seven flat ones so I’d love to get more and further outside owners. I haven’t a clue where he runs next!”
SEVEN-time champion rider Paul Townend missed out on this year’s title but swept all before him in the season’s big races and got on the scoresheet on Saturday, teaming up with champion trainer Mullins to win the DAR Golf Handicap Chase on the Corbett & Clancy-owned Uncle Pat (7/2 favourite).
Racing wide throughout, Uncle Pat eventually scored readily by 15 lengths from Fisher Lane, with Mullins’ assistant David Casey reporting: “He had run well in the National Trial, and in a maiden hurdle, here and obviously likes the place.
“He ran well in the Ulster National recently and those extended trips suit him really well and he also likes good ground.
“The lads have said that the middle of the course is more watered, so going either on the inside or outside was the place to be.
“A lot of horses don’t stay those extended trips but our two (Uncle Pat and runner-up Fishery Lane) do.”
Popular win
Most popular winner of the day was the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Barry Lyndon (16/1) in the Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase, as the Fidelma Toole-owned gelding returned to form under J.J. Slevin.
Trainer McLoughlin was greeted by many well-wishers and later reported: “It is a great festival, I’ve been watching it on television all week and there have been great crowds.
“It is nice when it works out well although I’m on chemotherapy myself at the moment, but am getting through it well.
“Any winner is nice and we had a lean enough winter, so to win a race with the ‘Taaffe’ name on it is great. My father was the first person to win on Arkle in 1962 and was a lucky man.
“He was one of four to win on Arkle, along obviously with Pat Taaffe. I wouldn’t have many winter horses and have more nicer-ground ones so hopefully they’re starting to click now.”
Regarding Barry Lydon he said: “We’ll look at some of those Nationals now and could bring him to England. Today was the plan so now we’ll work on the next one.”
Dual winner
Trainer Ian McCarthy’s family-owned and locally-trained Fountain House (11/8 favourite) became a dual-winner at the festival this week, when landing the opening Howden Cross Country Chase under Rob James.
A 39 length-winner at the course on Tuesday, the eight-year-old followed up in a somewhat similar manner, when scoring by 10 lengths from former high-class chaser Fakir D’oudairies.
McCarthy said afterwards: “We brought him to Ballinesker Beach in Wexford after he won on Tuesday and it is lovely for the likes of this horse to freshen them up.
“Next year, we will again look for these races and possibly the La Touche for him. Poor Eoin Mahon has done all the work with this horse but unfortunately is injured this week.
“We have got the best of Rob James’ 7lb claim this week and this is absolutely brilliant.”
Winning ways
Former Grade 1-winning juvenile hurdler Hello Neighbour (12/1) resumed winning ways in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Handicap Hurdle, scoring for jockey Keith Donoghue, trainer Gavin Cromwell and owner Patrick Sheanon.
Hello Neighbour arrived late to score a neck success from Kopeck De Mee, with Cromwell commenting: “He deserved that as he has been trying hard all year.
“It can be a tough year stepping up for those juveniles and it was his first time stepping up to that trip but he was a Grade 1 winner and has that bit of class. He’ll go on a break now and hopefully will be a nice chaser next season.”
Brookhouse bumper
Trainer Henry de Bromhead and owner Roger Brookhouse introduced impressive debutante Crystasia (8/1) to win the Sebden Steel Bumper, as the five-year-old scored easily by 12 lengths under jockey John Gleeson.
De Bromhead later reported: “He looked lovely and had done some nice bits of work. We hoped he would put up a nice performance and while Roger normally goes home on a Friday this week, Davy Roche (de Bromhead’s head man) somehow persuaded him to stay and thankfully it was worth it. It is great to have the Brookhouses here and they love it here.
“He has always looked a nice horse but we wouldn’t dig that deep with them at home. He will have a summer’s break now.”
RIDER Neil Durkan and his father, trainer Bill Durkan, were appropriate winners of the Say Yes To Organ Donation Charity Race, with easy victor Touch The Moon (11/8 favourite).
November’s annual course Grade 1 John Durkan Chase is run in memory of the late family member, who had sourced Istabraq before his passing, and today brother Neil reported: “It was a nice buzz and was special to do it on our own horse trained at home. Punchestown has a very special place in the heart of the Durkan family and John was very much embedded in the racing industry.
“For a Durkan family member to get across the line at Punchestown, whether in a charity race or another race, is special. I have ridden in the Corinthian Challenge and twice in this race.
“I actually have a picture on the wall at home of myself as a 16-year-old with three and a half stone of lead riding in another charity race in Ballinrobe. I’m at the other end of the scale now though.”