Today he had to battle more than ever. He was challenge on the home stretch by Tullyhill, the mount of Patrick Mullins but the 8/11f showed his quality, under John Gleeson, to eventually move clear and win by three-and-three-quarter lengths at the winning post. His record now reads 5 wins from 5 runs and two wins at Grade 1 level.

Winning machine A Dream To Share (8-11F) adds the Grade One Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion INH Flat Race to an unbeaten record that now extends to five races. pic.twitter.com/aEtOghx7fn

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 26, 2023

Gaelic Warrior was an easy 10-length winner of the Grade 1 Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle. The German-bred son of Maxios was comfortable throughout the race under Paul Townend. The win, another success at the highest level for this week for Willie Mullins.

The Willie Mullins-trained Gaelic Warrior (4-5F) wins the Grade One Irish Mirror Novice Hurdle at Punchestown under a cool waiting ride from Paul Townend. pic.twitter.com/jWhttTirVG

— RTÉ Racing (@RTEracing) April 26, 2023

Ballybawn Belter (17/2), in the colours of the race sponsor J.P. McManus, won the opening Adare Manor Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle. Trained in Wexford by Liz Doyle, the five-year-old bay filly travelled well throughout the 2m 3f 180yards race, and claimed the lead on entering the home straight.

Though the daughter of Valirann began to tire in the shadows of the line, jockey Charlie O’Dwyer kept the previously two-time winner going to claim the win by one length. The English-trained challenger Bread And Butter finished runner-up for trainer Ollie Murphy, with Mouse Morris’ Camino Rock a neck further back in third.

“Will the line come in time? IT WILL!”

JP McManus’ green & gold silks are carried to glory by Ballybawn Belter for Charlie O’Dwyer & Liz Doyle in the opener on day two at @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/tbsG6qqetr

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 26, 2023

The race favourite, Sandor Clegane (15/8) third in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival, was a comfortable winner of the Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final, a second Wexford trained winner on the day, this time for Paul Nolan, and ridden by Seán O’Keeffe.

Grangeclare West (6/4f), who had disappointed on his two previous runs, ran out a four-and-a-quarter length winner of the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle. In the colours of Cheveley Park Stud, the seven-year-old gelded son of Presenting was another winner at Punchestown 2023 for jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins.

Hereditary Rule under seven-pound claimed Shane O’Callaghan gave John McConnell a Punchestown Festival winner when claiming the €100,000 HSS Hire Handicap Steeplechase, the penultimate race on the Wednesday card.

The post A Dream To Share Wins Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Bumper appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.

Kiely, along with his backroom of Paul Kinnerk, Alan Cunningham, Aonghus O’Brien and Donal O’Grady, will stay on following the climax of the 2021 season, which saw the county lift the Liam McCarthy Cup for the second year in a row.

The Treaty County did so in emphatic fashion, putting on an all-time great final performance against Cork to retain their crown.

The side broke the record for the most points scored in a final, scoring 3-32 (41), beating Cork and Kilkenny’s previously shared record of 39.

The Galbally native was brought on board in 2016 on a three-year contract and has brought an era of success to a county that were in need.

Across five seasons, Kiely has led Limerick to eight trophies, including three All-Ireland Championships.

The 49-year-old led the county to their first All-Ireland in 45 years in 2018 and they have gone on to win three of them in four years under him, including the county’s first-ever back-to-back victories at senior level.

Three Munster Senior Hurling Championships in a row and two National Hurling League titles compliment the Liam McCarthy’s won under the former Limerick dual player.

Missing from the backroom is former strength and conditioning coach Mikey Kiely, who joined Ulster Rugby in August following the win over Cork in Croke Park.

Kiely was key to Limerick players’ high levels of fitness throughout the season and he is already making an impression on the Ulster squad.

A statement from Limerick GAA reads: “Following a County Executive Committee Meeting this evening the Limerick Senior Hurling Management Team consisting of:
John Kiely, Paul Kinnerk, Alan Cunningham, Aonghus O’Brien and Donal O’Grady,
has been approved for a two-year term and will be brought forward to the October County Committee Meeting for ratification.”

The post John Kiely Set To Extend Limerick Tenure By Two More Years appeared first on SportsNewsIreland.