Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase 6u154w |
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| Grade 1, Punchestown 18:35 €125,000 guaranteed 5yo plus 3m 120y  |
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135nu
1 Feronily 7/1
2 Appreciate It 7/2
3 James Du Berlais 12/1
6 ran Distances: 1¾l, 6½l, 6½l
Time: 6m 29.90s (slow by 33.90s)
Feronily powers to victory under Donagh Meyler for trainer Emmet Mullins in the Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase @punchestownrace pic.twitter.com/whIgROLt40 https://t.co/596QzOfwKQ via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) April 25, 2023
Emmet Mullins managed to beat his all-conquering uncle Willie as Feronily put up a strong show on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.
The champion trainer had saddled four of the first five winners on the card, with a couple of one-twos, a one-two-three and a one-two-three-four thrown in for good measure.
Having won the first two Grade Ones of the afternoon with Energumene, the master of Closutton saddled four of the six runners in a bid to bag another top-level prize – but was ultimately beaten by his nephew and neighbour.
With Henry de Bromhead’s favourite Journey With Me falling in the back straight, it was just a question of which Mullins would win before the home turn, with Feronily leading the way under a bold ride from Donagh Meyler.
Appreciate It – looking to give Paul Townend a Grade One treble on the card – emerged as the biggest threat between the final two fences, but Feronily was not for catching and stuck to his task gamely on the run-in to score by a length and three-quarters.
James Du Berlais and Classic Getaway finished third and fourth, while Sir Gerhard was pulled up.
While Emmet Mullins is no stranger to big-race success, having most notably saddled Noble Yeats to win last year’s Grand National at Aintree, Feronily was giving him his first Grade One winner.
He said: “We bought him last November as a five-year-old and people said he was too old. We’ve run him in bumpers, hurdles and chases and he’s won a Grade One and now he’s a young horse again. It’s funny how the wheel turns sometimes.
“He’s progressing with each run and is an exciting horse to have. He’s such a good jumper and what I saw in the point-to-point field was the reason we bought him. Jumping is his forte and we weren’t going to waste time.
“I don’t know where we go from here, but he’s definitely a staying chaser.”
Meyler was also enjoying his first Grade One victory.
He said: “I just can’t believe it to be honest with you, it’s kind of been a monkey on the back for a long time now. I’m over the moon.
“He’s had an unusual prep, but you’d be a foolish man second-guessing Emmet Mullins!”
“He’s a fantastic horse, well bought, and it’s great to ride a Grade One winner for Emmet and Paul Byrne (owner) as well.”
Dooley Insurance Champion Novice Chase (Grade 1)
€125,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 120y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Yielding to Soft
POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 Feronily 6 11-10 Emmet Mullins Donagh Meyler 7/1
2 1¾ Appreciate It 9 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 7/2
3 6½ James Du Berlais 7 11-10 W P Mullins Daryl Jacob 12/1
4 6½ Classic Getaway 7 11-10 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 9/2
FELL Journey With Me 7 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 9/4F
PU Sir Gerhard 8 11-10 W P Mullins Mr P W Mullins 7/2
Past Results: 151g32
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2022 Capodanno 6 11-10 John P McManus W P Mullins Mark Walsh 11/4
2021 Colreevy 8 11-05 Mrs N Flynn W P Mullins Danny Mullins 7/1
2020 Abandoned - Covid 19
2019 Delta Work 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Gordon Elliott D N Russell 13/8F
2018 Disko 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud N Meade B J Cooper 13/8
2016 Zabana 7-11-10 Chris Jones Andrew Lynch Davy Russell 7/2
2015 Valseur Lido 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 15/2
2014 Carlingford Lough 8-11-10 J P McManus John Kiely A P McCoy 7/2
2013 Mount Benbulben 8-11-10 Barry Connell Gordon Elliott Danny Mullins 14/1
2012 Sir Des Champs 6-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Willie Mullins Davy Russell 2/7 Fav
2011 Quito De La Roque 7-11-10 Gigginstown House Stud Colm Murphy Davy Russell 7/2
2010 Kempes 7-11-10 J P McManus Willie Mullins A P McCoy 9/1
2009 Rare Bob 7-11-10 D A Syndicate Dessie Hughes Paddy Flood 7/1
2008 Air Force One 6-11-10 Brian Walsh (Co. Kildare) Charlie Mann GB Noel Fehily 2/1
2007 Offshore Account 7-11-10 Brian Polly Charlie Swan Denis O’Regan 16/1
2006 Missed That 7-11-10 Violet O’Leary Willie Mullins David Casey 4/1
2005 Forget The Past 7-11-10 Sean Mulryan Michael O’Brien Timmy Murphy 7/4 Fav
2004 Lord Sam 8-11-08 Plain Peeps Victor Dartnall GB Jim Culloty 5/4 Fav
2003 Heart Midoltian 6-11-00 Mrs Seamus Neville Seamus Neville Davy Russell 16/1
2002 Native Endurance 6-10-09 Patrick J O’Donovan Paddy Mullins David Casey 11/2
*2001 Sackville 8-11-12 Seamus O’Farrell s Crowley David Casey 4/11 Fav
2000 Zourito 7-12-00 Wilson Dennison Arthur Moore Barry Cash 100/30
1999 Ferbet Junior 6-12-00 David Attwood Jessica Harrington Barry Geraghty 3/1
1998 Fiddlers Tune 8-11-05 Herb M Stanley Michael Cunningham A P McCoy 7/2
1997 Linton Rocks 8-11-08 Hon. Mrs Townshend Tim Thomson Jones GB Richard Dunwoody 7/4 Fav
1996 Shanagarry 7-12-00 Patrick Heffernan Patrick Heffernan Conor O’Dwyer 3/1
1995 Camitrov 5-11-03 Jim Lewis Simon Christian GB Richard Dunwoody 7/2
1994 Belvederian 7-12-00 Tony O’Reilly Mouse Morris Graham Bradley 8/11 Fav
1993 Force Seven 6-11-05 Sheila Moore Paddy Mullins Trevor Horgan 11/4 Fav
1992 Milford Quay 9-11-10 W A Jones Martin Pipe GB Peter Scudamore 15/8 Fav
* Run at Fairyhouse
