O’Leary v JP for NH owners title
O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud is poised for its first owner’s title, but McManus is not far off. With 43 wins, giving the Ryanair chief a haul of just over €840,000, Gigginstown has a cushion of approximately €160,000 to defend ahead of this week’s Punchestown Festival. The leading earner in their purple and white silks this season being been popular veteran War Of Attrition, who gave O’Leary his greatest victory in the 2006 Gold Cup. Having been rejuvenated in staying hurdles in recent months, with Grade 2 successes in Gowran’s Alo Duffin Memorial Galmoy Hurdle and Navan’s Ladbrokes.com Boyne Hurdle, War of Attrition heads into well deserved retirement after the main race of the Festival, the Guinness Punchestown Gold Cup tomorrow.
Last year’s champion trainer, Willie Mullins is heading for his third title on the bounce with 134 winners and twice the prize money earned of nearest rival and previous champion Noel Meade, having already broken the €2m barrier he breached last season.
Ruby Walsh is also on course to retain his jockey’s title, despite being out of action since breaking his arm at Aintree. His 108 wins is 17 clear of Davy Russell as Walsh closes in on his sixth jockey’s title in a row. Ironically, though, if the riders’ title was decided on prize money as both the trainers’ and owners’ are, the Youghal man would be heading for his first crown with his magnificent haul of over €1.8m seeing him ahead of his great rival.
In the battle for amateur and conditional jockey title, there are only three wins separating Patrick Mullins and Nina Carberry (44-41).
Created by Siobhan Bulfin, the perpetual bronze sculptures of three horses jumping, inscribed with all title winners since 1947, will be presented to the champion trainer, jockey and owner, while perpetual silver trophies made by Alwright and Marshall Silversmiths will be awarded to the leading qualified rider and claiming professional.
