A great day for Kildare trainers on day one of Peerless Punchestown
Sean Flanagan on Eachtotheirown wins The PRL Champion Novice Hurdle (Grade 1. Photos: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
After finishing a remote tenth of 11 horses in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the Barry Connell trained, Eachtotheirown, made a pillar to post success in landing the PRL Champion Novices Hurdle Grade 1 on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival.
It was one of four winners for County Kildare trainers with Ian McCarthy’s Fountain House, Jessica Harrington’s Powerful and Martin Brassil’s Abbeyglen also successful on a card that was dominated by a Willie Mullins treble.
Sent off a 16/1 chance for the first Grade 1 race of the 2026 festival, the son of Westerner was sent to the front from the off under Sean Flanagan where he jumped from hurdle to hurdle to stay on strongly after the last to score by four and a quarter lengths.
Despite facing a challenge from the uneasy market leader El Cairos on the approach to the final flight of hurdles, the six-year-old produced the goods after jumping the last to power clear of the staying on Blake with Le Labo a further two and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Owned by trainer Connell in partnership with Tim O’Driscoll, he couldn’t land a blow in the opener at the Cheltenham Festival, but with a hood applied, he took up the running from the off and he wasn’t for catching on the run-in.
Commenting after the race, Connell said: “ "He was 'rank' the last day so the obvious thing to do was to leave him off in front today and he got a 'freebie'. That is a good horse, only has had a handful of runs over hurdles but he is a chaser and we've had to wait for him as he is a big stamp of a horse. He was like a chaser jumping his hurdles today and has a fair engine.
"The Arkle Chase at Cheltenham next March is to the forefront of my mind for him next season as he is an out-and-out two-miler who doesn't like being restrained. He has been a slow burner and they went no gallop in the Supreme the last day, and to be fair to Sean, he left him coast home and came here a fresh horse.”
There was no fairytale return for the 2025 winner of the William Hill Champion Chase winner at Punchestown, Marine Nationale, as he had to give second best to Champion Chase winner at Cheltenham, Il Etait Temps in the day one feature.
After missing the Cheltenham Festival through injury, Marine Nationale was the fresher horse and jumped from fence to fence in cheekpieces, but turning for home, he was joined by Il Etait Temps, and the writing was on wall jumping the last as the Willie Mullins trained grey romped to a five-length success.
Commenting on the loss, Connell said: “He jumped fantastic with those cheekpieces on. He was foot-perfect and saw a couple of long ones there. I’d say he’s probably a little flat. Normally, when you land there at the back of the second-last, speed is his big forte, and he looked like he ran a bit flat today.
“All credit to the winner. There’s no doubt he was a worthy winner on the day.”
Fountain House got the Punchestown Festival off to a winning start for Kildare trainer Ian McCarthy with an impressive win over the banks under a brilliant ride from Rob James as the victor took up the lead at the second-last to power clear to a 39-length success to record his fourth win of the season.
Commenting afterwards, his trainer said: “It was the plan all year to come here and it has worked out. I didn't think he'd do it that easy but he is a proper horse and we've had great fun along the way with him.
"He is a family-owned horse, we own him ourselves and unfortunately his regular rider Eoin Mahon was injured today. It was also Eoin that advised me to buy him and the horse hasn't looked back since then. I'm mainly into breaking and pre-training but keep a couple of these for the enjoyment.”
Powerful got his nose in front once against Punchestown under a fine Simon Torrens ride to land the Albert Bartlett Series Final for owner JP MacManus at odds of 9/1. Easing to the front after the second-last, he jumped the last in front before repelling the last challengers, Daylatedollarshort and Moab, winning by a half a length and a neck.
Abbeyglen looks a nice prospect for the Mulryan’s and trainer Martin Brassil, after running out an impressive winner of the Goff Land Rover bumper under John Gleesson as he was five and a half lengths too strong for Altesse Du Luy.
Costing €160,000 at last year’s Arkle Sale, he went to post an 11/2 shot, before pulling away in the closing stages to get his head in front in fine style.
