Harry Cobden Archives - SportsNewsIreland

King Rasko Grey & Paul Townend win Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Fri, 01 May 2026 19:14:18 +0000

King Rasko Grey (8/13 favourite) followed up on his Grade 1 Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle win at the Cheltenham Festival in March with another victory at the highest level at Punchestown on Friday afternoon.

Competing in the Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle, the Audrey and Greg Turley-owned grey was the first part of a Grade 1 double on the day for trainer Willie Mullins and stable jockey Paul Townend.

CLINGS ON

Turners Novices’ Hurdle winner King Rasko Grey scrapes home from the fast-finishing Lord Byron in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle @punchestownrace. @WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/9HfEidpfwS

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 1, 2026

The French-bred six-year-old gelding held off the late challenge of British-trained Lord Byron as the Faye Bramley-handled son of Camelot continued to close the gap with the line approaching.

As they hit the winning post, King Rasko Grey had a head advantage over the Harry Cobden-ridden four-year-old.

Kiely’s Place (10/1), also representing the winning handler, took third under the trainer’s son, Patrick.

The post King Rasko Grey & Paul Townend win Grade 1 Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Salvator Mundi wins G1 Novice Chase as Kopek Des Bordes crashes out at the last

Breandán Ó hUallacháin — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 20:51:16 +0000

Salvator Mundi (13/2) and Harry Cobden won a dramatic Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at Punchestown on Thursday evening.

The complexion of the race changes totally at the final fence as race favourite Kopek Des Bordes (4/11f) and Paul Townend fell when it looked as though they would head for victory.

Drama! Kopek Des Bordes exits at the second-last (seems to be OK) & Salvator Mundi picks up the pieces in G1 under Harry Cobden pic.twitter.com/y421jo6dra

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2026

Cobden, who will be owner J.P. McManus’ retained jockey next season, got Salvator Mundi to rally bravely, and the Joe and Marie Donelly-owned French-bred ran out a 12-length winner over Irish Panther (15/2), who had lead the field for most of the two miles and 75 yards’ race.

“We probably got a little bit lucky.”@CobdenHarry on G1 glory for Salvator Mundi pic.twitter.com/O7fIwBvqSG

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2026

The Kieran Buckley-ridden runner-up had 30 lengths to spare over the third-placed Jacob’s Ladder (18/1) representing the Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy team.

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