Punchestown Champion Chase
Encyclopedia
The Punchestown Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt
chase in Ireland
which is open to horses
aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown
over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April.
It was formerly a handicap race, and for much of the 1990s and early 2000s it was usually sponsored by BMW
. It became a conditions race in 1999, and it was subsequently backed by Betdaq
(2004) and Kerrygold (2005–09). Its present sponsor, Boylesports
, began to support the event in 2010.
The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
, and the last to win both races in the same year was Master Minded
in 2009.
Most successful horse since 1950 (2 wins):
----
Leading jockey
since 1950 (5 wins):
----
Leading trainer
since 1950 (6 wins):
The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse
.
National Hunt racing
National Hunt racing is the official name given to the sport of horse racing in the United Kingdom, France and Ireland in which the horses are required to jump over obstacles called hurdles or fences...
chase in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
which is open to horses
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown
Punchestown Racecourse
Punchestown Racecourse is located in the parish of Eadestown, between the R410 and R411 regional roads near Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland. It is home of the National Hunt Festival of Ireland....
over a distance of about 2 miles (3,219 metres), and during its running there are eleven fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April.
It was formerly a handicap race, and for much of the 1990s and early 2000s it was usually sponsored by BMW
BMW
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...
. It became a conditions race in 1999, and it was subsequently backed by Betdaq
BETDAQ
BETDAQ is the trading name of Global Betting Exchange, a betting exchange operator based in Ireland. It is the second largest betting exchange operator in the market, with Betfair being the largest....
(2004) and Kerrygold (2005–09). Its present sponsor, Boylesports
Boylesports
Boylesports is the largest independent bookmaker in Ireland. Headquartered in Dundalk, County Louth, Boylesports has 161 retail branches throughout the country. In addition to their retail stores, Boylesports operates a telephone betting service, "Fon-A-Bet", and Internet-based betting and gaming...
, began to support the event in 2010.
The field usually includes horses which ran previously in the Queen Mother Champion Chase
Queen Mother Champion Chase
The Queen Mother Champion Chase is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles , and during its running there are twelve fences to be jumped...
, and the last to win both races in the same year was Master Minded
Master Minded
Master Minded is a French bred National Hunt racehorse presently trained in Great Britain by Paul Nicholls.- Early Days in France :...
in 2009.
Records
Most successful horse since 1950 (2 wins):
- Shower of Silver – 1955, 1956
- Muir – 1969, 1970
- Skymas – 1972, 1973
- Light the Wad – 1981, 1982
- Klairon Davis – 1996, 1997
----
Leading jockey
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
since 1950 (5 wins):
- Pat Taaffe – Third Estate (1951), Tumble Weed (1953), Nas Na Riogh (1954), Fortria (1961), Dicky May (1966)
----
Leading trainer
Horse trainer
In horse racing, a trainer prepares a horse for races, with responsibility for exercising it, getting it race-ready and determining which races it should enter...
since 1950 (6 wins):
- Tom Dreaper – Fortria (1961), Dicky May (1966), Ronan (1967), Muir (1969, 1970), East Bound (1971)
Winners since 1980
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1980 Paddy Bouler 7 S. Lynch Pat Rooney 1981 Light the Wad 8 Frank Leavy Dessie Hughes 1982 Light the Wad 9 Tom Morgan Dessie Hughes 1983 Turloughmore Lad 8 Pat Leech Paddy Norris 1984 Travelowen 7 Mr Tom Costello Tom Costello 1985 Buck House 7 Tommy Carmody Mouse Morris Mouse MorrisMichael 'Mouse' Morris is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey.As a jockey he rode Skymas to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1976 and 1977 and Billycan to win the 1977 Irish Grand National, while his most notable successes as a trainer have come with Buck House in the 1983 Supreme...1986 Another Brownie 7 Joe Byrne M. J. McGrath 1987 Eddie Wee 11 Conor O'Dwyer Billy Rock 1988 Flying Ferret 7 Brendan Powell Tony Redmond 1989 Super Furrow 9 Padge Gill Jerry O'Neill 1990 Rust Never Sleeps 6 Gerry O'Neill Augustine Leahy 1991 Good for a Laugh 7 Charlie Swan Arthur Moore 1992 The Musical Priest 10 Jason Titley Michael Purcell Michael PurcellMichael Peter Purcell was a rugby union player who represented Australia.Purcell, a flanker, was born in Brisbane, Queensland and claimed a total of 3 international rugby caps for Australia.-References:...1993 Viking Flagship Viking FlagshipViking Flagship was an Irish racehorse who began his racing career in October 1989 as 2 year old. He was first trained by his breeder Eithne C Holdsworth in Co...6 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...David Nicholson David Nicholson (horse racing)David Nicholson was a British National Hunt jockey and trainer. He was British jump racing Champion Trainer in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons....1994 Saraemma 8 Kevin O'Brien Homer Scott 1995 Strong Platinum 7 Conor O'Dwyer Paddy Burke 1996 Klairon Davis 7 Francis Woods Arthur Moore 1997 Klairon Davis 8 Francis Woods Arthur Moore 1998 Big Matt 10 Mick Fitzgerald Mick FitzgeraldMick Fitzgerald is an Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He has ridden the winners of the Grand National, on Rough Quest in 1996, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business in 1999. He was the stable jockey for Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the...Nicky Henderson Nicky HendersonNicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire...1999 Celibate 8 Richard Dunwoody Richard DunwoodyThomas Richard Dunwoody MBE is a retired British jockey in National Hunt racing. He was a three-time Champion Jockey, riding 1699 British winners in his career. His father was a leading Point to Point rider...Charlie Mann 2000 Get Real 9 Mick Fitzgerald Mick FitzgeraldMick Fitzgerald is an Irish National Hunt jockey who rode mainly in Great Britain. He has ridden the winners of the Grand National, on Rough Quest in 1996, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on See More Business in 1999. He was the stable jockey for Nicky Henderson and was leading jockey at the...Nicky Henderson Nicky HendersonNicky Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer twice.Henderson, educated at Eton College, has been a trainer since 1978, based at Seven Barrows near Lambourn, Berkshire...2001 Micko's Dream 9 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...2002 Strong Run 9 Paul Carberry Paul CarberryPaul Carberry is an Irish National Hunt jockey.- Background :He was born on 9 February 1974. He hails from a racing family. He is the son of jockey Tommy Carberry, who was a famous National Hunt jockey in the 1960s and 1970s. His uncle is Arthur Moore, one of Ireland's leading National Hunt trainers...Noel Meade Noel MeadeNoel Meade is a famous horse trainer from Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in Co. Meath, Ireland as a place to train his horses.Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, but it was not until 1978 that Meade started to become well recognized. Sweet Mint, winner of the Cork and Orrery...2003 Flagship Uberalles Flagship UberallesFlagship Uberalles was a racehorse, a half brother to the 1994 and 1995 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Viking Flagship, who raced between 1997 and 2005. He started his racing career as a Flat horse in Ireland and was trained by Dermot Weld and made his race course debut in April 1997...9 Richard Johnson Richard Johnson (jockey)Richard Johnson is an English National Hunt jockey.-Background:Johnson comes from a racing family with his father being an amateur jockey and his mother, Sue Johnson, a successful trainer.-Jockey career:...Philip Hobbs Philip HobbsPhilip Hobbs is a British racehorse trainer specializing mainly in National Hunt racing. He is based at stables near Minehead, Somerset....2004 Moscow Flyer Moscow FlyerMoscow Flyer was a top-class National Hunt horse over distances between 2 miles and 2½ miles . He won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2003 and 2005, the Tingle Creek Chase in 2003 and 2004 and the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2002...10 Barry Geraghty Barry GeraghtyBarry Geraghty is an Irish jockey.Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997, three years later he became the Irish Champion jump jockey for the first time. He rode his first Cheltenham winner on the Jessica Harrington trained Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase.He won the Grand National in...Jessica Harrington 2005 Rathgar Beau 9 Shay Barry Dusty Sheehy 2006 Newmill 8 Andrew J. McNamara John Joseph Murphy 2007 Mansony 8 Davy Russell Davy RussellDavy Russell is an Irish jockey who competes in National Hunt racing. Russell's first win as a professional jockey was for English-based Irish trainer Ferdy Murphy on Inn Antique in a novice hurdle at Sedgefield, 12 November 2002...Arthur Moore 2008 Twist Magic 6 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...2009 Master Minded Master MindedMaster Minded is a French bred National Hunt racehorse presently trained in Great Britain by Paul Nicholls.- Early Days in France :...6 Ruby Walsh Ruby WalshRuby Walsh is the reigning Irish National Hunt champion jockey. He is the second child, and eldest son, of former champion amateur jockey Ted Walsh and his wife Helen.-Success:...Paul Nicholls Paul Nicholls (horse racing)Paul Nicholls is a British National Hunt horse trainer with stables at Ditcheat, Somerset. A relatively successful jump jockey, Nicholls has become the leading National Hunt trainer of his generation, finishing the 2007-2008 season with 155 winners and a record £4 million in prize money...2010 Golden Silver 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins Willie MullinsWillie Mullins is an Irish racehorse trainer and former jockey. He is based at Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow, Ireland...2011 Big Zeb 10 Barry Geraghty Barry GeraghtyBarry Geraghty is an Irish jockey.Geraghty rode his first winner in January 1997, three years later he became the Irish Champion jump jockey for the first time. He rode his first Cheltenham winner on the Jessica Harrington trained Moscow Flyer in the 2002 Arkle Chase.He won the Grand National in...Colm Murphy
The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse
Fairyhouse Racecourse
Fairyhouse Racecourse is one of Ireland's premier horse racing venues. Situated in the parish of Ratoath in County Meath, on the R155 regional road, 3 km off the N3. It is the home of the Irish Grand National. The first race meet was held in 1848...
.