Brilliant Bob Olinger bows out with Punchestown win
OUT ON A HIGH: Darragh O’Keeffe celebrates winning The Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) on Bob Olinger. Pic: INPHO/Morgan Treacy
Bob Olinger rolled back the years to land the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown on the final start of his long and glittering career.
It was Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo who was sent off the 5-4 favourite looking to win the three-mile event for the third straight year and led the field down to the final flight.
However, Henry de Bromhead’s stalwart was gaining ground by the second and as the two Robcour-owned contenders jumped the last in unison, it was the 4-1 second-favourite who landed full of running with Teahupoo beginning to wilt.
Willie Mullins’ Jimmy Du Seuil was finishing off fast and passed Teahupoo for second, but he could not close the three-quarters of a length gap to Bob Olinger, who at the age of 11 was registering his 11th win, not to mention giving jockey Darragh O’Keeffe a treble on the day.
It is the final act of a career that provided connections with many memorable days, winning three times at the Cheltenham Festival – the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle, Turners Novices’ Chase and finally Stayers’ Hurdle, all in unison with Rachael Blackmore.
“He read the script thankfully; he was brilliant and Darragh was brilliant on him. What a horse to have had,” said De Bromhead. “He’s given us so many incredible days.
“He’s got a gear and he’s just pure class, he always has been.
“Davy Roche, my assistant, said he’s the best horse that’s ever come through our place. That’s a big statement and he is probably a bit biased because he adores him, he’s like his second child.
“I’m delighted for everyone at home, obviously the Achesons and Darragh, what a day he’s had. He’s a class rider and he gave him a brilliant ride.
“It’s really special, it’s one of the top ones. For him to go out like that is what he deserves, it’s typical of him.
“We’ve had some amazing years with him. Brian (Acheson) rang me the other day to say that’s what he was planning to do and I just said ‘spot on, perfect’.
“We’ve been so lucky to be part of his story. Rachael won the Stayers’ Hurdle on him, the year of covid when he won the Ballymore what a ride she gave him.
“Then we lost him for a little bit, but Ger Kelly (vet) in Fethard was brilliant and he found the issue. He went back to Robbie’s (Power) and came back a different horse, the same as he was before.
“This is one you savour, just a special day. You dream that they can end like that but plenty of time they don’t. To see him go out like that is just phenomenal.”
