16:55 Punchestown

Saturday 2 May 2026

All14:3015:0515:4516:1516:5517:3018:0518:35

Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 3m 57.10s

Apolon De Charnie⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146

3/1

Chased home Proactif on his hurdles debut at Auteuil in September and having also made the move to Willie Mullins he took a huge step forward when landing the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham (50/1) on his first run since. More to come.

Form: 21

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Bartholomew^t²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Ricky Doyle| T: M Brassil| D

10/1

Confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut in good style fitted with a tongue tie when winning 2m Cork juvenile last month. Open to further improvement but this is a big leap.

Form: 41

Bertutea^t⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Gilligan| T: W P Mullins| OR: 131| D

40/1

Made a successful start for Willie Mullins in maiden at Limerick (2m, heavy) over Christmas. No impact in Leopardstown Grade 1 and the Fred Winter subsequently, making late errors in a first-time tongue strap at Cheltenham.

Form: 32-1P0

Kai Lung^h²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: John Shinnick| T: W P Mullins| D

40/1

Has looked a handful over hurdles, refusing to settle and failing to complete in the Triumph and Fairyhouse Grade 2 since his Naas win in January.

Form: 1PU

Macho Man²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 138

7/1

Decisive winner at Auteuil in October and good efforts behind Proactif at Fairyhouse on his completed starts since (pulled up after bad mistake fourth in the Triumph). Clearly needs to pull out a bit more.

Form: 12P2

Madness D'elle⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Daniel King| T: W P Mullins| OR: 125| D

40/1

Off the mark in 2m Gowran juvenile in February. Found the Fred Winter too competitive, his jumping suffering, and he's down the Willie Mullins pecking order here.

Form: 3210

Matin Midi Et Soir²²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Darragh O'Keeffe| T: H De Bromhead

5/2

Quickly developed into a useful hurdler at Auteuil, his latest success coming in a Group 3 over 2¼m in September. Interesting contender for new connections.

Form: 1-21

Moulin Labbe²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Kennedy| T: W P Mullins| OR: 123| D

50/1

Bumper winner in France and landed 2m Navan juvenile maiden in good style for new connections in February. Finished well held behind Proactif and Macho Man in Fairyhouse Grade 2 last month, although didn't look out of place for a long way up in class.

Form: 1517

One Horse Town⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 129| D

20/1

Fair Flat winner for this yard and landed first 4 starts over hurdles, including a Cheltenham Grade 2 in November, but his form has levelled off (well held in the Triumph 7 weeks ago).

Form: 113220

Saratoga⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mark Walsh| T: P Roche| OR: 140| D

9/2

Improving all the time and followed in the footsteps of his half-brother Brazil in landing the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in the manner of a smart prospect. Well worth his place at this level.

Form: 3321

Charme De Faust²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134| D

14/1

Off the mark at the first attempt for new yard in 2m Thurles maiden in January and has advanced her form in the Dawn Run and Fairyhouse Grade 1 Mares Novice since (did best of those held up). Can progress further and wouldn't rule out back in trip.

Form: 2143

Majolique²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| D

10/1

Off the mark over hurdles for new yard at the first attempt at Naas and took a sizeable step forward on that when third to Proactif and Macho Man in Fairyhouse Grade 2 last month. There's even more improvement in her.

Form: 13

Non-Runners

Proactif²⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: W P Mullins J: H Cobden

Forecasts

Matin Midi Et Soir (5/2), Apolon De Charnie (3/1), Saratoga (9/2), Proactif (5/1), Macho Man (7/1), Bartholomew (10/1), Majolique (10/1), Charme De Faust (14/1), One Horse Town (20/1), Bertutea (40/1), Kai Lung (40/1), Madness D'elle (40/1), Moulin Labbe (50/1)

Willie Mullins saddles 8, headed by Cheltenham Festival winners APOLON DE CHARNIE and Saratoga, with the Triumph Hurdle hero taken to follow up. His old rival Proactif bounced back from his Cheltenham defeat with a gutsy success at Fairyhouse and is unlikely to be far away.