Banbridge robs Captain Guinness in broad daylight as opening day feature proves to be a thriller
Okay, it wasn't quite Edredon Bleu, Direct Route and Flagship Uberalles in tandem over the last in that epic Champion Chase in 2000, but the 2024 Punchestown version was still a timely reminder there is no finer spectacle than our top two-mile chases, especially when three horses are flung at the final fence, leaving every ounce out on the track.
Shame on us. We never gave Captain Guinness the credit he deserved for winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase last month, constantly finding flaws in the performance and pointing out who wasn't there and who didn't finish. We allowed him to go off at 6-1 for the William Hill Champion Chase, and he was only a few yards shy of slapping egg on all our faces.
His jumping was joyous. You could sit down with a cup of tea on the couch and just watch the replay over and over again – ping, ping, ping. It was almost as if Rachael Blackmore was pressing a button before every fence. Glorious.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
inReports
- 'She's learned from her few experiences' - Battle Queen gets off mark under Oisin Murphy as Mostahdaf's brother disappoints
- 'That wasn't a surprise' - Absolute Queen relishes conditions to record impressive third success under Billy Loughnane
- Punchestown: 'We thought there was a little bit of improvement in her' - Noble Hilltop a first winner in Ireland for Edward Buckley
- Redcar: 'It would be the Albany at this stage' - George Boughey has lofty targets in mind for maiden winner Dolce Vitta
- Newton Abbot: 'He could go in with the special ones' - Christian Williams excited as Fortified Fortune creates fine impression
- 'She's learned from her few experiences' - Battle Queen gets off mark under Oisin Murphy as Mostahdaf's brother disappoints
- 'That wasn't a surprise' - Absolute Queen relishes conditions to record impressive third success under Billy Loughnane
- Punchestown: 'We thought there was a little bit of improvement in her' - Noble Hilltop a first winner in Ireland for Edward Buckley
- Redcar: 'It would be the Albany at this stage' - George Boughey has lofty targets in mind for maiden winner Dolce Vitta
- Newton Abbot: 'He could go in with the special ones' - Christian Williams excited as Fortified Fortune creates fine impression