Dancing City wins at Punchestown
Dancing City wins at Punchestown

Grade 1 Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle report & free video replay | Dancing City slicker than Punchestown rivals


Dancing City followed up his Aintree success with a battling victory in the Grade 1 Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Wednesday.

Sent off the 7/4 favourite to follow up his dominant Sefton Novices' Hurdle win, Willie Mullins' horse found plenty for pressure under Paul Townend to see off the late threat of his stablemate High Class Hero.

He pulled out more in the closing stages to win by half a length, with the Gordon Elliott-trained pair Better Days Ahead and Stellar Story beaten into third and fourth respectively.

Townend said: "Tough, probably even a little bit deceiving as he's danced every dance this year. I thought I'd got to the bottom of him at Aintree.

"I was fearful of the second, but no, he's a good horse. I planned on being closer but was happy with where I was, he quickened up nicely.

"The way he races is helpful for those staying horses."

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Mullins added: “It just shows how tough he is that he’s been to every racing Festival, it takes a lot of doing. It all goes well for the future going over fences.

“He did quite well coming back from Aintree. We haven’t done that before – Cheltenham, Aintree, Punchestown. It looks achievable so we might do more of it in the future!

“He didn’t show how good he was until we went out in trip.

“High Class Hero ran very well and looked for a minute that he might upset Paul.”


Redemption Day at Punchestown for Jody Townend

Redemption Day came from last to first to give rider Jody Townend a first Grade One win in the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race.

Trained by Willie Mullins, Redemption Day finished second in this contest two years ago before enduring a 611-day absence. But following a Fairyhouse win last month, he enjoyed his moment in the spotlight.

Stablemate Jasmin De Vaux was sent off the 6/4 favourite to follow up his Cheltenham bumper success, but Patrick Mullins was pushing along from some way out, while in contrast Townend was making smooth progress through the field having sat at the rear in the early stages.

Redemption Day was cantering over his rivals at the top of the straight and when Townend popped the question, he responded in style to run out a three-and-three-quarter-length winner.

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The winning rider said: “Once he settles, he has some engine. He has the turn of foot of a Flat horse. With the turn of foot he has, once he settled, I actually didn’t mind what they did.

“He went so asleep again on me again, you’d wonder what he is going to do and how much he is going to find. He did the same in Fairyhouse, he just picks up and I was still there too soon again today. Thankfully, it paid off.

“I just love the horse, I was second on him two years ago to Facile Vega here.

“I’m delighted for the owner, Tim O’Driscoll, as he gave him plenty of time when got the injury and stuff, and it has paid off.”

On riding her first Grade One winner, she added: “I can’t believe it to be honest, it is unreal!”

Mullins was delighted to see Townend strike a blow at the highest level and said: “That’s fantastic for Jody, her first Grade One.

“She’s always does her own thing in her races and it works! We often discuss what’s going to happen but when the tape goes up, Jody just does what Jody wants to do.

“She’s had some success, so we just have to take our hats off to her.

“This horse missed a year and I thought he could be Champion Bumper material. I thought that I’d rather do that than go hurdling. He can go hurdling next season.

“He followed home Facile Vega here two years ago and that sort of form stands up every day of the week. It paid off.

“He could run on the Flat over a mile and a half or a mile and six.”


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