Punchestown Champion Chase

Last updated

Punchestown Champion Chase
ClassGrade 1
Location Punchestown
County Kildare, Ireland
Race type Steeplechase
Sponsor William Hill
Website Punchestown
Race information
Distance2 miles ½ furlong (3,219 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 12 lb
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Purse 300,000 (2024)
1st: €177,000
Boylesports.com Champion Chase
2024
Owner Mr R A Bartlett.svg Owner Declan Landy.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
BanbridgeCaptain GuinnessDinoblue
Previous years
2023
Owner Mr Tony Bloom hooped cap.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.svg
EnergumeneChacun Pour SoiBlue Lord
2022
Owner Mr Tony Bloom hooped cap.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg
EnergumeneChacun Pour SoiEnvoi Allen
2021
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg Owner John Galvanoni.svg
Chacun Pour SoiAllahoNube Negra
2020-2011
2019
Owner Edward O'Connell.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Clipper Logistics Group Ltd.svg
Un De SceauxMinCastlegrace Paddy
2018
Owner Edward O'Connell.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg
Un De SceauxDouvanA Toi Phil
2017
Owner A Potts.svg Owner Edward O'Connell.svg Owner Crossed Fingers Partnership.svg
Fox NortonUn De SceauxGod's Own
2016
Owner Crossed Fingers Partnership.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Mr R A Bartlett.svg
God's OwnVautourSimonsig
2015
Owner Mr Graham Wylie.svg Owner R A Scott.svg Owner Mrs A F Mee and David Mee.svg
Felix YongerBaily GreenHidden Cyclone
2014
Owner A Potts.svg Owner Mr Allan Stennett.svg Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg
Sizing EuropeBallynagourSavello
2013
Owner Mrs Caroline Mould.svg Owner A Potts.svg Owner James Treacy.svg
Sprinter SacreSizing EuropeDays Hotel
2012
Owner A Potts.svg Owner Mr D J Sharkey.svg Owner Mr Patrick Joseph Redmond.svg
Sizing EuropeRealt DubhBig Zeb
2011
Owner Mr Patrick Joseph Redmond.svg Owner A Potts.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
Big ZebSizing EuropeCaptain Cee Bee
2010-2003
2010
Owner Mrs Violet O'Leary.svg Owner Goat Racing Syndicate.svg Owner A Potts.svg
Golden SilverForpadydeplastererSizing Europe
2009
Owner Mr Clive D Smith.svg Owner Mr Patrick Joseph Redmond.svg Owner Kings Syndicate.svg
Master MindedBig ZebConna Castle
2008
Owner Mr B N Fulton.svg Owner Mrs Monica Hackett.svg Owner Michael Mulholland.svg
Twist MagicNatalMansony
2007
Owner Michael Mulholland.svg Owner Braybrook Syndicate.svg Owner Irish World Partners Syndicate.svg
MansonyJustifiedSteel Band
2006
Owner Mrs Mary T Hayes.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner John F Kenny.svg
NewmillFota IslandCentral House
2005
Owner One-O-Eight Racing Club.svg Owner Mr Brian Kearney.svg Owner Mrs John Magnier.svg
Rathgar BeauMoscow FlyerNative Upmanship
2004
Owner Mr Brian Kearney.svg Owner One-O-Eight Racing Club.svg Owner Mrs Moira McGrath.svg
Moscow FlyerRathgar BeauStrong Run
2003
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Grand Alliance Racing Club.svg Owner Mrs Rose Boyd.svg
Flagship UberallesArctic CopperKillultagh Storm
 

The Punchestown Champion Chase, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the William Hill Champion Chase, is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and half a furlong (3,219 metres) and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April.

Contents

It was formerly a handicap race, and for much of the 1990s and early 2000s it was usually sponsored by BMW. It became a conditions race in 1999, and it was subsequently backed by Betdaq (2004) and Kerrygold (2005–09) and Boylesports (2010–19). The present sponsor, William Hill, began to support the event in 2021.

The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, and the last to win both races in the same year was Energumene in 2023.

Records

Most successful horse since 1950 (2 wins):

Leading jockey since 1950 (5 wins):

Leading trainer since 1950 (8 wins):

Winners since 1980

YearWinnerAgeJockeyTrainer
1980 Paddy Bouler 7S. Lynch Pat Rooney
1981 Light the Wad 8 Frank Leavy Dessie Hughes
1982 Light the Wad 9 Tom Morgan Dessie Hughes
1983 Turloughmore Lad 8 Pat Leech Paddy Norris
1984 Travelowen 7 Tom Costello [a] Tom Costello
1985 Buck House 7 Tommy Carmody Mouse Morris
1986 Another Brownie 7 Joe Byrne M. J. McGrath
1987 Eddie Wee 11 Conor O'Dwyer Billy Rock
1988 Flying Ferret 7 Brendan Powell Tony Redmond
1989 Super Furrow 9 Padge Gill Jerry O'Neill
1990 Rust Never Sleeps 6 Gerry O'Neill Augustine Leahy
1991 Good for a Laugh 7 Charlie Swan Arthur Moore
1992 The Musical Priest 10 Jason Titley Michael Purcell
1993 Viking Flagship 6 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson
1994 Saraemma 8 Kevin O'Brien Homer Scott
1995 Strong Platinum 7 Conor O'Dwyer Paddy Burke
1996 Klairon Davis 7 Francis Woods Arthur Moore
1997 Klairon Davis 8 Francis Woods Arthur Moore
1998 Big Matt 10 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
1999 Celibate 8 Richard Dunwoody Charlie Mann
2000 Get Real 9 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2001 Micko's Dream [b] 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2002 Strong Run 9 Paul Carberry Noel Meade
2003 Flagship Uberalles 9 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2004 Moscow Flyer 10 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2005 Rathgar Beau 9 Shay Barry Dusty Sheehy
2006 Newmill 8 Andrew McNamara John Joseph Murphy
2007 Mansony 8 Davy Russell Arthur Moore
2008 Twist Magic 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2009 Master Minded 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2010 Golden Silver 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2011 Big Zeb 10 Barry Geraghty Colm Murphy
2012 Sizing Europe 10 Andrew Lynch Henry de Bromhead
2013 Sprinter Sacre 7 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2014 Sizing Europe 12 Andrew Lynch Henry de Bromhead
2015Felix Yonger9 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins
2016 God's Own 8 Paddy Brennan Tom George
2017Fox Norton7 Robbie Power Colin Tizzard
2018 Un de Sceaux 10 Patrick Mullins [a] Willie Mullins
2019 Un de Sceaux 11 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
no race 2020 [c]
2021Chacun Pour Soi9 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2022Energumene8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2023Energumene9 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2024Banbridge8 JJ Slevin Joseph O'Brien
  1. 1 2 amateur rider
  2. The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse
  3. The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland

Earlier winners

See also

References