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2025-05-03 Punchestown 16:50
Punchestown

Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)

Going: Yielding

Distance: 2m

Prize: €73,750

Runners: 12

Surface: Turf

Age: 4yo

Class: Class 1

Type: Hurdle

NO.

HORSE

FORM

AGE

ODDS

Lulamba (FR) G D

J:James Bowen T:Nicky Henderson

Form: 112

Age: 4

WT: 11st 0lbs

OR: 148

3.25

Additional info

Owner: Mrs J Donnelly

Breeder: Thierry Cypres

Last run: 50 days

Pedigree

Sire: Nirvana Du Berlais (FR)

Dam: Ejland (FR)

Damsire: Vision D'Etat (FR)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 24 Wins: 2 Percent: 8

Comment: British raider is rated 148 after three starts over hurdles; won his first two, a 3yo hurdle at Auteuil and a 4yo hurdle at Ascot; found just Poniros too good when beaten a neck in the Triumph; didn't get the smoothest of runs that day and may be able to turn the form around; big chance.

Poniros (GB) G D

J:Paul Townend T:W P Mullins

Form: 1

Age: 4

WT: 11st 0lbs

OR: -

3.95

Additional info

Owner: Tony Bloom

Breeder: Wilgerbosdrift (uk) Ltd

Last run: 50 days

Pedigree

Sire: Golden Horn (GB)

Dam: Rue Renan (IRE)

Damsire: Lope De Vega (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: 1-7 on the Flat for Ralph Beckett and rated 91; sent off 100-1 for his stable and hurdles debut in the Triumph but belied those odds and beat Lulamba by a neck; the choice of Townend and given that was his first start over hurdles, there should be more to come; leading contender.

Hello Neighbour h (IRE) G D

J:Keith Donoghue T:Gavin Cromwell

Form: 116

Age: 4

WT: 11st 0lbs

OR: 145

7.8

Additional info

Owner: Patrick Sheanon

Breeder: John Yarr

Last run: 50 days

Pedigree

Sire: Harzand (IRE)

Dam: Je T'Adore (IRE)

Damsire: Montjeu (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 77 Wins: 4 Percent: 5

Comment: Unbeaten in two Flat starts and rated 97; 2-3 over hurdles including a Grade 1 win at the DRF in February; final flight mistake proved costly when a 5.5l sixth of 17 behind Poniros and Lulamba in the Triumph; capable of finishing closer to those rivals and he is shortlisted.

Murcia t (FR) F D

J:Rachael Blackmore T:W P Mullins

Form: 318281

Age: 4

WT: 10st 7lbs

OR: 141

8.6

Additional info

Owner: Kenneth Alexander

Breeder: Sarl De Chambure Haras D'Etreham Et Al

Last run: 30 days

Pedigree

Sire: Doctor Dino (FR)

Dam: Belle Et Chic (FR)

Damsire: Poliglote (GB)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: 2-8 over hurdles and rated 141; gained first win at the top table when scooting clear in the Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree (2m1f, good to soft) a month ago; Paul Townend prefers Poniros but Rachael Blackmore has enjoyed plenty of success for this owner (35-103); claims.

Too Bossy For Us (IRE) G

J:Harry Cobden T:W P Mullins

Form: 7

Age: 4

WT: 11st 0lbs

OR: -

13.5

Additional info

Owner: H O S Syndicate

Breeder: Dayton Investments (Breeding) Limited

Last run: 50 days

Pedigree

Sire: Golden Horn (GB)

Dam: Above The Clouds (FR)

Damsire: High Chaparral (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: Useful on the Flat and rated 89 in that sphere; far from disgraced when racing keenly in the Triumph on hurdles and stable debut under Harry Cobden; should have learned plenty from that experience and Cobden rides again; interesting outsider could go well if settling better.

Blue Lemons (IRE) G D

J:Danny Mullins T:W P Mullins

Form: 1P1

Age: 4

WT: 11st 0lbs

OR: 137

19.49

Additional info

Owner: Sullivan Group Limited & Merriebelle Irish Farm Limited

Breeder: Norelands Bloodstock & M Gilsenan

Last run: 12 days

Pedigree

Sire: Blue Point (IRE)

Dam: Solar Event (GB)

Damsire: Galileo (IRE)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: Flat recruit has won two of three over hurdles; scored in a Gowran maiden (2m, sft) and won a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse (2m, sft-hvy) twelve days ago; pulled up in the Triumph on good to soft in between those wins; may need softer ground.

Sainte Lucie h (FR) F BF CD

J:Brian Hayes T:W P Mullins

Form: 3-1885

Age: 4

WT: 10st 7lbs

OR: 128

44.05

Additional info

Owner: Mrs S Ricci

Breeder: Terrains D'Avilly St Leonard Et Al

Last run: 16 days

Pedigree

Sire: Great Pretender (IRE)

Dam: Sainte Folie (FR)

Damsire: Saint Des Saints (FR)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: Won her maiden over C&D (yld to sft) in December; highly tried since but has come up well short; beaten 9l off 131 when 11-10 favourite in a Grade 3 mares' handicap at Cheltenham on latest; unlikely to be good enough here on what she has shown so far.

Legionnaire Forez (FR) G BF

J:Danny Gilligan T:W P Mullins

Form: 26

Age: 4

WT: 11st 0lbs

OR: -

59.88

Additional info

Owner: Gigginstown House Stud

Breeder: Mrs Marie Coyne Bodin & Mr Paul Coyne

Last run: 87 days

Pedigree

Sire: Estejo (GER)

Dam: Dynamite Forez (FR)

Damsire: Lucarno (USA)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: French recruit; placed in an AQPS race over 1m4f for former yard; beaten at short odds on heavy ground in a Fairyhouse maiden on his Irish debut in February; probably better than he showed that day but this looks a big ask upped markedly in class.

Larzac t (FR) G

J:Mark Walsh T:W P Mullins

Form: 20

Age: 4

WT: 11st 0lbs

OR: -

75.19

Additional info

Owner: John P McManus

Breeder: Andre - Marcel Pommerai

Last run: 50 days

Pedigree

Sire: No Risk At All (FR)

Dam: Oxyna (FR)

Damsire: High Yield (USA)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: French recruit; went close on heavy ground over 2m2f at Auteuil last October; pitched in at the deep end in the Triumph at Cheltenham on debut for this yard and came up short; could improve for that experience but needs to; others appeal more.

Lumiere Du Large t (FR) F

J:Kevin Sexton T:W P Mullins

Form: 20

Age: 4

WT: 10st 7lbs

OR: -

75.19

Additional info

Owner: Gigginstown House Stud

Breeder: Pascal Noue

Last run: 50 days

Pedigree

Sire: Great Pretender (IRE)

Dam: Dissidente (FR)

Damsire: Double Bed (FR)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: French Flat winner is 0-2 over hurdles; trailed in 37l behind Poniros in the Triumph on her stable debut; jockey bookings suggest she is well down the Mullins' pecking order and she may need softer ground.

Sony Bill t (FR) G D

J:Sean O'Keeffe T:W P Mullins

Form: -F2350

Age: 4

WT: 11st 0lbs

OR: 134

109.89

Additional info

Owner: The Why Knot Partnership

Breeder: Stephan Hillou Lespes Et Al

Last run: 53 days

Pedigree

Sire: Battle Of Marengo (IRE)

Dam: Eau Tenebreuse (FR)

Damsire: Lando (GER)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 137 Wins: 28 Percent: 20

Comment: 2-8 over hurdles and rated 134; both wins came in France and he's held by Hello Neighbour on their meetings at Leopardstown in December and February; disappointed on handicap debut in the Fred Winter and deserted by Townend; others make more appeal.

Ephesus tp (IRE) G D

J:Daniel King T:Denis Gerard Hogan

Form: 32314

Age: 4

WT: 11st 0lbs

OR: 124

188.68

Additional info

Owner: T & M Partnership

Breeder: Capital Bloodstock

Last run: 12 days

Pedigree

Sire: Galileo (IRE)

Dam: Muwakaba (USA)

Damsire: Elusive Quality (USA)

Trainer last 14 days

Runs: 20 Wins: 2 Percent: 10

Comment: Flat winner gained his first victory over hurdles in a 2m1f Limerick 4yo maiden early last month on good ground and the runner-up has won since; finished 12l behind Blue Lemons at Fairyhouse latest but he may get a lot closer to that rival on this sounder surface; could outrun likely odds.