The champion National Hunt conditioner training the winner of a major race at an Irish racing festival was no surprise, but what was a shock was the 50/1 price of the winner in the hands of English amateur rider David Dunsdon.

Right at the bottom of the handicap, carrying 10-13, Dunsdon came late and wide on the eventual winner in the colours of Coldunell Limited to take victory in the opening day feature by three and a half lengths.

Another big-priced runner, Baltic Bird (25/1), ridden by County Cork jockey Johnny Barry for owner/trainer Bill Durkan. Spasiba (8/1), another Closutton runner, this one the mount of Jody Townend was third one and a half lengths behind the runner-up.

Eleven-year-old Lord Erskine was fourth for trainer Harry Rogers at 33/1 another one and three-quarters of a length back in fourth place.

Lot Of Joy (4/1f), another Willie Mullins-trained runner, ridden by his son, Patrick, eventually finished in 9th place.

Danny Mullins and Richard O’Brien claim 2024 Festival opener

The well-supported Feud (16/5) was an easy winner of the opening The Galmont Hotel and The Galway Bay Hotel Novice Hurdle.

Ridden by Danny Mullins for Richard O’Brien, the winner was well placed throughout the 2 miles 130 yards contest, before putting three and a half lengths between himself and the runner-up Mordor (15/2), the mount of Sam Ewing for the Gordon Elliott stable. Pigeon House (4/1), who was close to the front of the field throughout crossed the finishing line in third place, a further six and a half lengths behind.

The race favourite, the French-bred Willie Mullins-trained Sysko (9/4f) was never a threat, and finished in fourth place on his Irish debut.

County Meath-trained double on day one

Father and son Matthew and Kevin Smith teamed up to easily win the Easyfix Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles 130 yards.

The Co Meath outfit claimed the win Son Of Hypnos (16/1) who was a facile 10-length winner over Clonburg Bridge (16/1), with Vischio (10/1) and Harley Street (17/2) taking third and fourth places respectively.

Smith’s fellow Co Meath-based conditioner Jack Davison also returned to the winner’s enclosure, with Artful Approach (7/1), in The Clayton Hotel Galway Handicap.

In the hands of five-pound claimer James Ryan, the chestnut gelded son of Mehmas came on the outside of the field in the dying stages of the 7-furlong 50-80 Handicap, to take the win by one and a half lengths, with a short-head separating the runner-up and third, Cuban Confusion (10/1) and Louiescall (10/1). The 100/30 race favourite, Avatar Jet, crossed the line back in 12th place.

Rock Of Cashel loses maiden tag

Rock Of Cashel (3/1), eighth on debut at The Curragh last month, broke quickly at Ballybrit today, and was at the head of the field for the duration of the seven furlongs race.

When Wayne Lordan asked the son of Wootton Bassett to take his race, the two-year-old colt powered up the Galway hill and take a two and a quarter length win from another 3/1 shot Admiral Churchill under Billy Lee for the Paddy Twomey stable, with Joseph O’Brien’s Viking Invasion (7/1) next home, a further length behind.

The Dermot Weld-handled favourite Truth Be Told (13/8) finished fourth, another length and a half back.

Tony Mullins and Rory Cleary teamed up for success in The Grá Chocolates Handicap over 1 mile 4 furlongs and 84 yards at 7.45pm.

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In a five-runner Champion Chase, where Mullins provided four of the runners, the other coming from the Henry de Bromhead yard, it was Rachael Blackmore on de Bomhead’s Magic Daze that cut out the running.

“The fact that he was able to do things wrong today and still win probably shows he is a very good horse”

Paul Townend on a topsy-turvy win for Energumene in the Champion Chase

Watch the Punchestown Festival live on @RTE2 & @RTEplayer: https://t.co/mqqqaOH4G9 #rteracing pic.twitter.com/hRJx1KrWQq

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 25, 2023

With the odds-on favourite Energumene making an error three from home, Chacun Pour Soi and Danny Mullins came on their outside, and it was four Closutton horses battling it out heading to the second last.

With Paul Townend and Energumene on the inside of the track, Danny Mullins and Chacun Pour Soi lay down their challenge, and the race was between them heading to the last. As they went head-to-head up the home straight the Tony Bloom-owned nine-year-old won the battle of the French-breds as he had enough to hold off the 11-year-old Chacun Pour Soi by three-quarters-of-a-length and he took his six Grade 1 victory.

Blue Lord came home third with Gentleman Du Mee fourth and Magic Daze the last of the five to finish.

Facile Vega gave Paul Townend and Willie Mullins the first Grade 1 of the 2023 Punchestown Festival. The Hammer & Trowel-owned six-year-old bay gelding, who has finished second to Marine Nationale in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, upheld that form today as he beat two of his stable companions who had finished behind him at Prestbury Park in March, Diverge and Il Etait Temps. The latter was runner-up today with Oliver McKernan’s No Looking Back coming home in third, ahead of Found A Fifty and Diverge.

Facile Vega has emerged victorious in the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown

Watch the action live on @RTE2 & @RTEplayer #rteracing pic.twitter.com/r953JaMhz5

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 25, 2023

Winning rider Paul Townend admitted he got a “bit of a fright at the third-last, but he lengthened well down straight for me again. We got it right today and he showed the true horse. I think when he does get a bigger obstacle in front of him, his jumping will come into its own then.”

Mullins had the treble up by race 5 with his son Patrick won aboard Predators Gold in the Goffs Defender Bumper. The Gigginstown Stud-owned four-year-old gelded son of Masked Marvel was purchased by Harold Kirk had two lengths in hand on his stable mate Milo Lises, the mount of Jodi Townend, with Gordon Elliott’s Western Fold filling the third spot under Barry O’Neill.

Shecouldbeanything, fifth in the Grade 1 Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last month, gained some compensation with a four and a half length success in the opening Listed Howden Insurance Brokers Mares Novice Hurdle. Trained by Gordon Elliott, the six-year-old daughter of Malinas was a first winner for Jordan Gainford on his return from injury.

What a return for @GainfordJordan!

The jockey lands the opening race of the 2023 Punchestown Festival on his first ride since his Cheltenham Festival spill as Shecouldbeanything (7/2F) scores at @punchestownrace @gelliott_racing pic.twitter.com/MKVWXD4WIy

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 25, 2023

Half an jour later, Willie Mullins doubled-up when taking the Grade B Killashee Handicap Hurdle with Bialystok in the Rich Ricci colours. Ridden by Danny Mullins, the winner led home a 1-2-3 for the champion handler as Tax For Max with Daryl Jacob were runners-up with Tekao and Simon Torrens claiming third spot.

The other Grade 1 on the card went to Mullins, Emmet Mullins this time, as Donagh Meyler steered Feronily to victory in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase over 3 miles.

Feronily, the only horse proven at the trip prior to today’s race came home at 7/1 and have a length and three-quarters to spare over the Paul Townend-ridden Appreciate It with James Du Berlais third to cross the finishing line.

Feronily has secured a surprise win in the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase

Watch the Punchestown Festival live on @RTE2 & @RTEplayer: https://t.co/mqqqaOH4G9 #rteracing pic.twitter.com/5JU3Xbn47l

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 25, 2023

1-2-3 for Willie Mullins.

Bialystok (14/1) runs out a smooth winner on handicap debut in the Ricci silks and in this big Festival prize, leading home stablemates Tax For Max and Tekao at @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/jpFyf9tCiX

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 25, 2023

Three By Two won The Kildare Hunt Club Cross Country Steeplechase for the Ladies Perpetual Cup for jockey Tiernan Power Roche and trainer Denis Paul Murphy.

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In the colours of Michael O’Leary’s Giginstown House Stud, the 18/1 shot, stayed on well to hold off the late challenge of 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Minella Indo (11/2) by six and a half lengths, with the JP McManus-owned Janidil (7/1) a neck further behind in third.

Conflated – a new star in the staying chase division

December 4, @NavanRacecourse – wins the Foxrock Handicap Chase

February 5, @LeopardstownRC – lands the @paddypower Irish Gold Cup #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/gShrnNQh88

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2022

Minella Cocooner leads all the way in Grade 1

The €150,000 Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors ‘€50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff’ Novice Hurdle over 2 miles 6 furlongs was won in determined fashion by the front running Minella Cocooner.

In the colours of David Bobbett, the Danny Mullins-ridden gelded son of Flemensfirth, was an eight winner of the race for trainer Willie Mullins. Minella Crooner and Jack Kennedy were runners up at 100/30, and were best of the Gordon Elliott-handled runners. Another Cullentra House resident, Hollow Games (9/4f) was third in the seven-runner field.

An 8⃣th win in this G1 event for @WillieMullinsNH @LeopardstownRC

2012: Boston Bob
2013: Pont Alexandre
2014: Sure Reef
2015: Outlander
2016: A Toi Phil
2017: Let’s Dance
2021: Gaillard Du Mesnil
2022: Minella Cocooner pic.twitter.com/HwkGlYS0x3

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2022

Quick double for Mullins

Willie Mullins quickly doubled up when Paul Townend steered Vauban (9/2), who came on the outside of the 9-runner field to take the Grade 1 €125,000 Racing TV €12 per Month For This Weekend Only Juvenile Hurdle over 2 miles.

A race in which both Icare Allen (9/2) and Vadaly (18/1) put their unbeaten records on the line, it was Davy Russell’s mount, the 6/5f Fil Dor that gave the eventual winner most to do, before the Closutton inmate Vauban ultimately took the race by three lengths. Another Mullins runner, Il Etait Temps, was two and three-quarter lengths further back in third spot.

That’s a lovely performance from Vauban

Second to Pied Piper on his Irish debut, Vauban records Grade One glory in the Racing TV Spring Juvenile Hurdle for @WillieMullinsNH & @PTownend at @LeopardstownRC #DublinRacingFestival pic.twitter.com/J832tOCt8r

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2022

Four-timer on the day for Mullins and double for Townend

The €150,000 Grade 1 Patrick Ward Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Steeplechase over 2 miles 1 furlong brought up a Grade 1 double for jockey Paul Townend and a Grade 1 treble for trainer Willie Mullins.

Blue Lord (5/2) siezed the advantage at the last as the favourite Riviere D’etel (2/1f) blundered under Jack Kennedy. With the rider reorganising the mare in the run from the last, the momentum moved to Blue Lord.

The eventual winner crossed in front of the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned Blue Lord forcing stewards to call an enquiry. Despite the official distance between the winner and runner-up being only half a length, the result stood, giving Willie Mullins an open treble on the card.

The Lord of @LeopardstownRC… just

Some tussle between Blue Lord & Riviere D’etel, but @WillieMullinsNH completes a G1 hat-trick as Blue Lord clings on to land the Irish Arkle under @PTownend in the colours of @simon_munir & Isaac Souede pic.twitter.com/NQ994xLY9h

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 5, 2022

The Paddy Power ‘I’d Love A Can But Pints Are Cheaper’ Handicap Hurdle of €250,000 over an extended 3 miles went to the Kevin Sexton mount Good Time Jonny (17/2) for Co. Meath-based trainer Tony Martin.

A Wave Of The Sea repeated last year’s win in the Paddy Power ‘I’m Never Going Back To The Office’Handicap Steeplechase worth €100,000 over 2 miles and a furlong. The 9/2 chance was a winner for five pound claimer Shane Fitzgerald and trainer Joseph O’Brien.

The final race on the Day 1 card, the Grade 2 Goffs Future Stars INH Flat Race (C&G) over 2 miles of €100,000, went the way of Facile Vega (8/11) for Patrick and Willie Mullins.

Day 2 on Sunday is an eight-race card, with Honeysuckle, the crowd favourite, attempting to win another Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.

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