Ballymore Champion 4yo Hurdle l281z
Grade 1, Punchestown 16:50
 €125,000 guaranteed,
4yo, 2m, Class 1   
Saturday 3rd May 2025

135nu

1 Lulamba 11/10F
2 Poniros 7/2
3 Hello Neighbour 13/2
12 ran Distances: 4l, ¾l, 3l
Time: 3m 49.60s (slow by 3.60s)

There was no 100-1 shock this time. Lulamba, narrowly denied in the Triumph Hurdle by the rank outsider Poniros, turned the tables in style in the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown—providing Nicky Henderson and James Bowen with a timely lift after the disappointment of Constitution Hill just 24 hours earlier.

Sent off the 11-10 favourite, Lulamba was always in a prominent position and never allowed his Cheltenham conqueror a moment’s peace. The two old rivals eyeballed each other into the home straight, but this time there was no late ambush—Lulamba quickened smartly from the last, powering four lengths clear, with Hello Neighbour staying on to grab third.

It was a second Grade One of the week for owners Joe and Marie Donnelly, following State Man’s defeat of Constitution Hill on Friday—this time the celebration felt a little more mutual.

“These are the days you dream about,” said Henderson. “A tough week at times, but a brilliant one overall for the Donnellys. Two Grade Ones—it doesn’t get much better.”

As for Lulamba, he now looks every inch a horse for the future.

“He’s still raw—it’s only his fourth start—but he’s got class,” Henderson said. “At Cheltenham, he did everything right, just got mugged by a horse we knew very little about. This time, it was on our .”

The chaser-in-waiting tag was never far away.

“You wouldn’t be shocked if he ends up over fences next season,” Henderson added. “But that’s a conversation for another day. Right now, we’ll enjoy this.”

And for those wondering about the stable star?

“Constitution Hill’s a little sore, but nothing serious. He’ll have a long summer to recharge. He’ll be back.”

But on a sun-drenched Saturday at Punchestown, the spotlight was firmly—and deservedly—on Lulamba.

QuinnBet

Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1)
€125,000 guaranteed, 4yo only, 2m, Class 1
12 ran
Going: Yielding

POS. FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1    Lulamba 4 11-0 Nicky Henderson James Bowen James Bowen 11/10F
2 4 Poniros 4 11-0 W P Mullins Paul Townend 7/2
3 ¾ Hello Neighbour 4 11-0 Gavin Cromwell Keith Donoghue 13/2
4 3 Murcia 4 10-7 W P Mullins Rachael Blackmore 13/2
5 22 Too Bossy For Us 4 11-0 W P Mullins Harry Cobden 10/1
6 2¾ Larzac 4 11-0 W P Mullins Mark Walsh 50/1
7 4 Sainte Lucie 4 10-7 W P Mullins Brian Hayes 50/1
8 12 Lumiere Du Large 4 10-7 W P Mullins Kevin Sexton 125/1
9 nk Blue Lemons 4 11-0 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 16/1
10 6½ Legionnaire Forez 4 11-0 W P Mullins Danny Gilligan 150/1
FELL Sony Bill 4 11-0 W P Mullins Sean O'Keefe 66/1
UR Ephesus 4 11-0 Denis Gerard Hogan Daniel King 100/1

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PAST RESULTS
Year Horse Age/Wt Owner Trainer Jockey SP
2024 Kargese 4 10-7 Kenneth Alexander W P Mullins Paul Townend 9/4F
2023 Lossiemouth 4 10-7 Mrs S Ricci W P Mullins Paul Townend 1/2F
2022 Vauban 4 11-00 Mrs S Ricci W P Mullins Paul Townend 4/11F
2021 Jeff Kidder 4 11-2 Albert Dravins & Eamonn Scanlon Noel Meade Sean Flanagan 22/1
2020 Abandoned - Covid-19
2011 Grandouet 4-11-00 Simon Munir Nicky Henderson GB Barry Geraghty 5/2
2010 Barizan 4-11-00 Peter Conway Evan Williams GB Jason Maguire 4/1
2009 Jumbo Rio 4-11-00 Patrick Wilmott Edward O’Grady Andrew McNamara 5/2
2008 Won In The Dark 4-11-00 Gerard Crehan Sabrina Harty Davy Russell 4/1
2007 Punjabi 4-11-00 Raymond Tooth Nicky Henderson GB Mick Fitzgerald 6/4 Fav
2006 Quatre Heures 4-11-00 John Mc’s Winchester Synd. Willie Mullins Mick Fitzgerald 9/2
2005 United 4-10-09 R B Holt Lucy Wadham GB Leighton Aspell 6/1
2004 Cherub 4-11-00 Atlantic ery Ltd Jonjo O’Neill GB Tony Dobbin 14/1
2003 Sporazene 4-11-00 Ged Mason/David Jackson Paul Nicholls GB Ruby Walsh 7/1
2002 Quazar 4-11-00 David Carr Jonjo O’Neill GB Tony Dobbin 9/2 Fav
*2001 Holy Orders 4-11-00 John J Brennan Willie Mullins Ruby Walsh 7/1
2000 Topacio 4-11-00 Pearse Racing Club Pat Hughes Charlie Swan 10/1
1999 Katarino 4-11-00 Robert Waley-Cohen Nicky Henderson GB Mick Fitzgerald 7/4 Fav
1998 Zafarabad 4-11-00 Elaine Baines David Nicholson GB Richard Johnson 2/1 Fav
1997 Grimes 4-11-00 J P McManus Christy Roche Conor O’Dwyer 5/2
1996 Shaunies Lady 4-10-09 D Coughlan Aidan O’Brien A P McCoy 10/1
1995 Shaihar 4-11-00 Des Sharkey Michael O’Brien Kevin O’Brien 16/1
1994 Glenstal Flagship 4-11-00 Joe Crowley Aidan O’Brien Charlie Swan 6/1
1993 Shawiya 4-10-09 Miss G Maher Michael O’Brien Charlie Swan 11/4
1992 Staunch Friend 4-11-09 Benny Schmidt-Bodner Mark Tompkins GB Steve Smith Eccles 6/1
1991 Mounamara 4-11-04 David Brennan Paddy Mullins Tommy Carmody 6/1
1990 Orbis 4-11-06 Mrs C Shubotham Jim Bolger Tommy Carmody 7/4 Fav
1989 Royal Derbi 4-11-09 J Lockhart Neville Callaghan GB Graham McCourt 7/1
1988 Allen’s Mistake 4-11-03 Allen Paulson Dermot Weld Brendan Sheridan 5/2
1987 Grabel 4-11-00 P Kehoe Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 8/1
1986 Derrymore Boy 4-11-03 N Grant Paddy Mullins Tony Mullins 9/2
1985 Atherstone 4-11-03 G Blair Noel Meade Paul Leech 25/1
1984 Clarinbridge 4-11-06 P Barrett Jim Bolger B Nolan 9/2 Jt Fav
1983 Grateful Heir 4-11-00 Mrs J O’Brien Liam Browne Mr Dermot Browne 20/1
1982 Bustineto 4-11-08 Timothy Kinsella Mick O’Toole Niall Madden 4/6 Fav
1981 Tie Anchor 4-11-01 Daniel Hale Paddy Prendergast Tom Morgan 3/1
1980 Pearlstone 4-10-13 William W Brainard Jun. Paddy Mullins Sean Treacy 11/2
*Run at Fairyhouse

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