Punchestown Champion Hurdle

Last updated

Punchestown Champion Hurdle
Grade 1 race
Location Punchestown
County Kildare, Ireland
Race type Hurdle race
Sponsor Paddy Power
Website Punchestown
Race information
Distance2 miles (3,219 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
Weight11 st 4 lb (4yo);
12 st 0 lb (5yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for fillies and mares
Purse 250,000 (2021)
1st: €147,500
Punchestown Champion Hurdle
2023
Owner Mrs J Donnelly.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci green cap.svg Owner First Of Many Partnership.svg
State ManVaubanColonel Mustard
Previous years
2022
Owner Mr K Alexander.svg Owner Barnane Stud Ltd.svg Owner Mr John P McManus star on cap.svg
HoneysuckleEchoes In RainDarasso
2021
Owner Mr K Alexander.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
HoneysuckleSharjahEpatante
2020-2011
2019
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner A Potts.svg Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited.svg
Buveur D'AirSupasundaeWicklow Brave
2018
Owner A Potts.svg Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited.svg Owner Mrs M McMahon.svg
SupasundaeWicklow BraveBleu Berry
2017
Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited yellow cap.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited.svg
Wicklow BraveMy Tent Or YoursArctic Fire
2016
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Gigginstown House Stud.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
Vroum Vroum MagIdentity ThiefMy Tent Or Yours
2015
Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Wicklow Bloodstock Limited.svg Owner Prof Caroline Tisdall.svg
FaugheenArctic FireDell' Arca
2014
Owner Mr John P McManus.svg Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg Owner Mrs Sean Hussey.svg
JezkiHurricane FlySteps To Freedom
2013
Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg Owner The Festival Goers.svg
Hurricane FlyThousand StarsRock On Ruby
2012
Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg Owner Mrs S Ricci.svg Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg
Hurricane FlyZaidpourThousand Stars
2011
Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
Hurricane FlyThousand StarsBinocular
2010
Owner George Creighton and Mrs Rose Boyd.svg Owner Top Of The Hill Syndicate.svg Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg
Hurricane FlySolwhitThousand Stars
2010-2003
2009
Owner Top Of The Hill Syndicate.svg Owner Mr Raymond Tooth.svg Owner Hammer and Trowel Syndicate.svg
SolwhitPunjabiQuevega
2008
Owner Mr Raymond Tooth.svg Owner Mr W Hennessy.svg Owner Mr Peter Garvey.svg
PunjabiSublimityEbaziyan
2007
Owner Patrick Convery.svg Owner Mac's J Racing Syndicate.svg Owner Mr Laurence Byrne.svg
Silent OscarMacs JoyHardy Eustace
2006
Owner Mac's J Racing Syndicate.svg Owner Novices Syndicate.svg Owner Mr Laurence Byrne.svg
Macs JoyBrave IncaHardy Eustace
2005
Owner Novices Syndicate.svg Owner Mr D P Sharkey.svg Owner Mac's J Racing Syndicate.svg
Brave IncaHarchibaldMacs Joy
2004
Owner Mr Laurence Byrne.svg Owner Mr Terry Warner.svg Owner Mr John P McManus.svg
Hardy EustaceRooster BoosterFota Island
2003
Owner C D Carr.svg Owner Mr D Cox.svg Owner Mrs Margaret Gannon.svg
QuazarBack In FrontIn The Forge
 

The Punchestown Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

Contents

The present version of the race was introduced in 1999, and it was initially sponsored by Shell. Several different sponsors have followed, including Emo Oil, ACCBank, Rabobank, Racing Post and Betdaq. Its current sponsor, Paddy Power, began supporting the race in 2021.

The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, and the last to win both events in the same year was Honeysuckle in 2022. For a period the race was restricted to horses aged five or older, but the minimum age was lowered to four in 2009.

Records

Most successful horse since 1999 (4 wins):

Leading jockey since 1999 (6 wins):

Leading trainer since 1999 (9 wins):

Winners since 1999

Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
1999 Istabraq 7 Charlie Swan Aidan O'Brien
2000 Grimes 7 Charlie Swan Christy Roche
2001 Moscow Flyer [lower-alpha 1] 7 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2002 Davenport Milenium 6 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2003 Quazar 5 Tony Dobbin Jonjo O'Neill
2004 Hardy Eustace 7 Conor O'Dwyer Dessie Hughes
2005 Brave Inca 7 Tony McCoy Colm Murphy
2006 Macs Joy 7 Barry Geraghty Jessica Harrington
2007 Silent Oscar 8 Robbie Power Harry Rogers
2008 Punjabi 5 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2009 Solwhit 5 Davy Russell Charles Byrnes
2010 Hurricane Fly 6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2011 Hurricane Fly 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2012 Hurricane Fly 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2013 Hurricane Fly 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2014 Jezki 6 Tony McCoy Jessica Harrington
2015 Faugheen 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2016 Vroum Vroum Mag 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2017 Wicklow Brave 8Patrick Mullins [lower-alpha 2] Willie Mullins
2018 Supasundae 8 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington
2019 Buveur d'Air 8 Davy Russell Nicky Henderson
no race 2020 [lower-alpha 3]
2021 Honeysuckle 7 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead
2022 Honeysuckle 8 Rachael Blackmore Henry de Bromhead
2023State Man6 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
  1. The 2001 running took place at Leopardstown
  2. amateur rider
  3. The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby Walsh</span> Irish jockey

Rupert "Ruby" Walsh is an Irish former jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen. Widely regarded as one of the greatest National Hunt jockeys of all time, Walsh is the third most prolific winner in British and Irish jump racing history behind only Sir Anthony McCoy and Richard Johnson.

The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is the last leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling and is scheduled to take place each year on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.

William Peter Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is a 17 time Irish National Hunt Champion trainer.

The David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle, currently known for sponsorship purposes as the Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to mares aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs, and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The Punchestown Gold Cup 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 3 miles and ½ furlong, and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

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 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.

The Champion Stayers Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles, and during its running there are fourteen hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April.

The KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles ½ furlong, and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

The Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs, and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

The Champion Four Year Old Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. The race is for novice hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May. The race is currently sponsored by the Ballymore Group

The Champion INH Flat Race is a Grade 1 National Hunt flat race in Ireland for amateur riders which is open to racing horses aged four to seven years. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.

The December Festival Hurdle, currently known by its sponsored title of the Matheson Hurdle, is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Christmas Festival meeting in late December.

The Irish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in late January or early February.

The Morgiana Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 2 miles and half a furlong, and it is scheduled to take place each year in November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hurricane Fly</span> Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Hurricane Fly is a retired Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances in hurdle races when under the care of trainer Willie Mullins at Closutton in County Carlow in Ireland. He is a dual winner of the Champion Hurdle and previously held the world record for most Grade 1 races won by any racehorse until overtaken by Winx in 2019. Originally bred to be a flat racer, the gelding began his racing career in France where he had moderate success, winning twice in ten races. At the end of 2007 he was sold and transferred to Ireland where he began to compete in National Hunt events. On 15 March 2011, Hurricane Fly ridden by Ruby Walsh won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Jezki is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse who competes in National Hunt racing. After showing promise in National Hunt Flat races he won five times as a novice hurdler in the 2012/2013 season, with his victories including the Fishery Lane Hurdle, Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, Future Champions Novice Hurdle and Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle. In the following season he won the WKD Hurdle and the Hatton's Grace Hurdle before taking the 2014 Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham Racecourse and following up with a win in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle. In the following season he was beaten in his first three races by Hurricane Fly and finished fourth to Faugheen in the Champion Hurdle before winning the Aintree Hurdle over two and a half miles and defeating Hurricane Fly in the World Series Hurdle.

The Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt novice hurdle in Ireland which is open to horses aged four years or older.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faugheen</span> Racehorse trained in Ireland

Faugheen is an Irish Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2015 Champion Hurdle and back-to-back Christmas Hurdles in 2014 and 2015. His best performance on a racecourse came in the 2016 Irish Champion Hurdle for which he was rated the best two-mile hurdler of the 21st century. His career started over Point-to-point fences as a four-year-old and was sent racing under National Hunt rules in the 2013/2014 season where he emerged as a leading Novice hurdler, winning all of his races including the Dorans Pride Novice Hurdle, Cheltenham Novices Hurdle and Herald Champion Novice Hurdle acquiring the nickname "The Machine" in the process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nichols Canyon (horse)</span> British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Nichols Canyon was a British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his performances in National Hunt races. He showed good form on the flat before emerging as an outstanding performer in hurdle races. In his first two seasons of competition he raced on the flat and won three of his ten races including the Noel Murless Stakes and the Prix Denisy as well as finishing second in the St Simon Stakes.

Paul Townend is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Townend comes from Lisgoold in County Cork and rides primarily for the stable of Irish trainer Willie Mullins. Townend has worked for Mullins since beginning his career as an apprentice flat racing jockey. He is a six-time Irish jump racing Champion Jockey. He was champion in the 2010–11, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, and 2022–23 seasons.

References