Rider JJ Slevin once again proved his aptitude for high-stakes races with a stunning last-minute victory on Banbridge during the opening day of the Punchestown festival on Tuesday. Slevin expertly manoeuvred the 6-1 winning horse, trained by his cousin Joseph O’Brien, to narrowly clinch victory in the €300,000 William Hill Champion Chase, defeating Captain Guinness and its jockey, Rachael Blackmore
Captain Guinness, the horse belittled by many who saw its Cheltenham two-mile victory as a one-off, seemed destined to claim the festival double after a clear leap at the final hurdle. Despite his natural speed having Banbridge scrambling for most of the race, stamina finally gave Banbridge the edge.
As eyes were on odds-favourite Dinoblue fading on the stretch, Slevin spurred on his horse to pass a competitor struggling to get to the finish line, securing the win by a neck.
This victory was a fitting conclusion to the month for the 31-year-old jockey, who first tasted Irish Grand National success earlier in April on Intense Raffles. This recent win is a fantastic morale lift ahead of his ride on Fastorslow in the upcoming Wednesday’s Gold Cup.
Slevin, who won last year’s race riding 20-1 Fastorslow, has continued to cement his partnership with owner Sea Mulryan. The pair also won the John Durkan Punchestown Chase in November. However, the precariousness of big-race success was demonstrated in March’s Cheltenham Gold Cup when Slevin was thrown off Fastorslow as the race was heating up.
Subject to a barrage of harsh online feedback afterwards, Slevin confessed, “That was probably one of the most disappointing moments of my career.” Despite this, his confident ride on Banbridge in front of an improved attendance of 16,361 (compared to 14,937 in 2023) suggests that a victorious outcome on Fastorslow would help him to banish some ghosts.
There was no undue burden for him. Riding for Joseph always releases the strain, as the objective was to run well, and it always feels exceptional when it works out.
“Joseph’s patience with the horse throughout the year, waiting for good ground, has been remarkable; it takes courage to wait and today this patience paid off.
“I knew at the end, I had to leap well. I took a forward leap and he was good at it. He was running when he hit the ground and that gives you a tiny lead,” he said.
O’Brien, with his significant riding prowess, is well aware of the criticism that a derby rider can receive but stated that “JJ gave him an outstanding ride and the race was as we had expected. He held back a bit, and the horse worked hard.”
Mark Walsh’s third on Dinoblue was the only Grade One gap on the day. He obtained a double victory for his manager JP McManus on Mystic Power and Spillane’s Tower.
In the KPMG Champion Novice Hurdle, Mystic Power confirmed its position with Firefox and turned the tables on Slade Steel based on their Cheltenham performance, thanks to a determined effort.
The progeny of Galileo and Annie Power put in significant effort to keep up with the fast initial pace but finally justified their 2-1 favouritism.
Walsh also claimed a widely celebrated win in the Dooley Group Champion Novice Chase as Spillane’s Tower easily adapted to the three-mile increase, following his Easter Sunday victory at Fairyhouse.
At the finish line, he led by a nearly comfortable three quarters of a length from the other joint favourite, Monty’s Star. This gets him on to McManus’s formidable list of young chasers, which includes Fact To File and Corbett’s Cross.
For trainer Jimmy Mangan, Spillane’s Tower has revived his grand race limelight, similar to what he experienced with the Grand National champion, Monty’s Pass.
“He’s an extraordinary horse for us,” Mangan said. “We have big dreams for him because he has something special.”
Mystical Power has continuously baffled Willie Mullins by outperforming his anticipations and it now seems probable that the horse may attempt a Champion Hurdle campaign in the following season. Mullins recounted the animal’s late start, stating that Mystical Power didn’t initially display any exceptional ability, evident in his sluggish three-year-old year. However, as the horse matured into his fourth year, Mullins began to notice some emerging talent.
The recent match was evidently a keeper’s race, suggesting that Mystical Power might be a 2½ mile hurdle runner. This kind of horse is essential for Champion Hurdle victory, implying that this could be where Mystical Power’s future lies, Mullins further explained.
Although Mullins only had one additional winner, Daddy Long Legs, the manner in which he claimed a handicap made his 16-5 odds appear a great deal. This victory elevated Paul Townend’s seasonal winning tally to 116, placing him six behind Jack Kennedy in the competition for the jockey’s crown.
“Every victory is crucial,” Townend reiterated, noting the significance of the wins both for him and for Willie Mullins the previous week.
On the other hand, despite coming second on Firefox, Kennedy didn’t have a win that day and received an eight-day suspension due to exceeding the allowable number of strikes. This ordeal marks his third infraction of the whip rules in recent history.