John O'Riordan

1 week ago | irishracing.com | John O'Riordan

Sarah Costello enjoyed a day she will never forget when partnering Dark Note to win the 34th Running Of The "Have The Conversation - Say Yes To Organ Donation" Punchestown Charity Race. Trained by Andy Slattery, the six-year-old was sent off 7/4f market leader to win the last race of the 2025 Punchestown festival. A previous dual winner on the Flat, Dark Note had also been successful over hurdles at Sligo.

1 week ago | irishracing.com | John O'Riordan

For the second evening in succession, Emmet Mullins and John Gleeson teamed up to win with a well backed newcomer as Vitorio Piel made all the running to land the DAR Golf Construction (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Punchestown. Available at 8/1 overnight, the five-year-old proved popular with festival punters, supported at all rates down to 7/4f. Sent straight to the front by Gleeson, the Spanish Moon gelding travelled strongly throughout. Kicking clear off the home bend, he soon had matters in hand.

1 week ago | irishracing.com | John O'Riordan

Hey Sunshine bookended what has been a fantastic week for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend when showing plenty of heart to win the Listed Lawlor's Of Naas Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown. Despite her diminutive stature the six-year-old mare proved size to be no barrier when outbattling seasoned handicappers on her first start outside of novice company. Although well beaten in a Grade 1 contest at Fairyhouse last month, the daughter of Shantou had won her first three starts over flights.

1 week ago | irishracing.com | John O'Riordan

The final Grade 1 contest of the 2024/25 Irish National Hunt season went for export, as the Nicky Henderson trained Lulamba reversed Triumph Hurdle form with Cheltenham conqueror Poniros to win the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle. Considered unlucky in some quarters when narrowly denied at the festival in March, the Henderson trained four-year-old was supported into 11/10f to overturn that form with the Mullins runner, Poniros.

1 week ago | irishracing.com | John O'Riordan

Bill Baxter continued a fine week for the British raiding party when giving the visitors their seventh winner of the festival in the Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (Listed Race) at Punchestown. Always prominent under Harry Bannister, the grey charted a wide course before sweeping through to head long time leader Beachcomber entering the straight. Asserting on the run to two out, the 12/1 chance kept on well to land the spoils for Bannister and trainer Warren Greatrex.