Connell and Walsh among the winners on Day 1 of Punchestown Festival
Trainer Barry Connell celebrates winning The William Hill Champion Steeplechase (Grade 1) with Marine Nationale Photo: ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Two of the three Grade 1 Races on offer on Day 1 of the 2025 Punchestown Festival on Tuesday went to the “home” team courtesy of Nurney based owner/trainer, Barry Connell and Clane jockey Mark Walsh.
Connell’s Marine Nationale, who was recently paraded around Nurney GAA club after enjoying success at the Cheltenham Festival, won the feature race, The William Hill Champion Steeplechase at 6pm while earlier in the day Walsh was on board Irancy who took THE KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle for Willie Mullins.
Both Connell and Walsh were delighted with their wins when they spoke to Pat Costello on behalf of the Kildare Nationalist after their respective races.
Barry, Congratulations on the win in the William Hill Champion Steeplechase. You have won many races but that one seemed to be special?
Thank you. Ah yeah, look when the horse won the Champion Chase (at Cheltenham) it was brilliant, absolutely brilliant but he didn’t get much credit because people said that if Jonbon didn’t make a mistake he probably would have won. So, it's great to show them today what he's capable of doing, he’s a superstar.
Our plan is to go back and win another two with him. It’s great for Kildare. There are not too many National Hunt horses trained in Kildare anymore. There’s myself and Martin (Brassil) and Padraig Roche and a few more so it's nice to be flying the flag for Kildare and we are very proud of all our little team in Nurney in Bowerbaun Stables who have contributed every bit to his success.
We visited the Yard a few times with the Kildare Nationalist in last year or so, it’s a real family affair and that was evident here today.
Rory, my son works with me. It’s fantastic, it’s fairyland stuff, you couldn’t make it up.
It’s been a very long season so what’s next for the horse now?
He gets a break now but we had to play catch up. It was his novice’s season last year and he had only two runs as he got a suspensory injury. We were playing catch up all year this year but now that was his pinnacle today.
You could see the reaction from the crowd, he was a very popular winner. Champions of Champions?
We have to take on the best here. It was an interesting clash between the Ryanair winner and the Champion Chase winner. But we were Champion Chase winner. Anyone wants to take us on, fair play, come and have a go.
Finally, Barry, what does Punchestown mean to you as a local trainer?
It’s fantastic. After Cheltenham it’s brilliant, it’s absolutely brilliant.
Mark, that’s the first Grade 1 done and dusted, did it all go to plan on board Irancy?
Yeah, all went well. The lads went a good gallop but I was always happy on my horse. They came back to me at the second last and it was plain sailing from there.
Was it a case of just biding your time because Patrick (Mullins) did set a good gallop on Salvator Mundi?
That’s it. I couldn’t go on a gallop early as if I went to chase him early, I would have gotten my own horse beaten. I just had to sit away and let my horse travel the way he could.
You are back winning on your home track, what does that mean to you,?
Ah sure it’s brilliant. I love Punchestown and it’s always a great Festival at the end of the season. I’m delighted.
Finally, Mark, can you believe the season you are having and it’s not over yet?
It’s not over yet. I’ve had a brilliant season and long may it last.
