RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final will take place on Gold Cup Day at the Punchestown Festival

Irish European Breeders’ Fund and Connolly’s RED MILLS today announced that the €75,000 Auction Hurdle Series Final will take place on Gold Cup Day at the Punchestown Festival (Wednesday May 1st).

To enter the €75,000 final, horses must have run in one of the fourteen qualifiers and have not won a listed race or a Grade 1, 2 or 3 race.

To date nine of the fourteen qualifying races have been run with the next race taking place on Thursday January 24th at Gowran Park on the prestigious Goffs Thyestes Day. The last four chances to qualify to enter the final take place on February 9th (Naas), February 23rd (Fairyhouse), March 4th (Leopardstown) and March 24th (Downpatrick).

The series was designed to create opportunities for horses bought for €45,000/€30,000 or less at store sales in Ireland and the UK, thereby, giving owners and trainers an opportunity to claim some of the €355,000 prize-money on offer.

The conditions for the qualifying races specify that all horses must be by an EBF registered stallion and bought as an unraced three or four-year-old at a recognised National Hunt Store sale for €45,000/ €30,000 or less, with weight allowances depending on purchase price.

In addition, the €5,000 Weatherbys/ITBA NH Fillies Bonus Scheme is in place for all races in the series.

Speaking about the announcement, John O’Connor, Irish EBF Chairman, said: “It is an exciting prospect for connections to have a qualified runner at the festival and it gives a chance to one of the 51 trainers, who already have a runner qualified, to take home the first prize on May 1st. The Irish EBF and our co-sponsor Connolly’s RED MILLS are committed to continuing and enhancing the series into the future and in so doing helping to support the NH sector and encouraging the purchase of NH store horses at auction for €45,000 or less.”

Speaking after The Holy One’s win in the RED MILLS Irish EBF Series at Thurles on Sunday, Jessica Harrington said:

“I think it’s a great series, it really encourages people to go to the store sales to buy in that price range, some of the races are for horses bought for less that €45,000 and others for less than €30,000 and you have a chance of not taking on the very expensive horses and a lot of very good horses only cost that much.”

Eric McNamara, trainer, commented: “This series is a huge benefit to owners and trainers, every trainer I’ve spoken to is 100% behind it and are grateful to the Irish EBF and RED MILLS for their support.

To have the final during the Punchestown Festival is a wonderful boost to the series and will focus everyone on qualifying their horses in the last four series races. We fully believe the series will continue to get bigger and better each year.”

Gareth Connolly, Sales and Marketing Director at Connolly’s RED MILLS said; “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to stage the RED MILLS Irish EBF Hurdle Series Final at the Punchestown Festival. As well as the attractive prize-fund of €75,000 it’s another opportunity for trainers and owners to have a runner at the Festival.

We’re very grateful to everyone who helped make this happen. The series is building momentum and with another four qualifiers to go after Thursday’s leg in Gowran, we expect the final will be hotly contested.”