2008 Punchestown Winners

Kerrygold Champion Chase 2008 Results

Ruby Walsh stamped his authority at the Punchestown Festival yet again by leading his charge, Twist Magic to an emphatic victory over stable mate, Natal, in the 2008 Kerrygold Champion Chase.

The champion Irish National Hunt jockey needed a touch of magic to keep the favourite in the running after several mistakes were made at the fences but Twist Magic proved, without a doubt, he had the spirit and the finesses to finish right at the top. Trainer, Paul Nicholls celebrated a one-two finish and 2007 winner, Mansony, ridden by Davy Russell, finished third.

Guinness Gold Cup 2008 Results

Neptune Collognes became the first horse in Irish hunt history to win the coveted Guinness Gold Cup in consecutive years. In 2007 the Paul Nicholls trained steed broke records by becoming the first British trained winner of the premier Irish hunt festival and this year he showed yet again why he is such a class act by winning the race by a full seven lengths.

The elite win handed Walsh his fourth victory in the race and it was his second in tandem with the favourite, Neptune Collognes! Snowy Morning came in second, closely followed by Mossbank.

Ladbroke’s Stayer’s Hurdle 2008 Results

Alan King’s steadfast charge, Blazing Bailey, emulated his performance at Aintree earlier in the season by clinching the Ladbroke’s Stayer’s Hurdle.

The win, by seven lengths over nearest rival, Refinement, was even more remarkable as Blazing Bailey looked as though he had run out of steam approaching the home bend. Jockey, Robert Thornton, had to pull out all the stops to lead his mount to victory but praised BB for his unbelievable stamina and winning spirit.

ACCBank Champion Hurdle 2008 Results

Five-year-old Punjabi, ridden by Barry Geraghty, claimed the Champion Hurdle race at Punchestown, completing an unprecedented clean sweep by British teams in all the feature races.

The Nicky Henderson trained horse never looked as though he would falter and he never did. Punjabi claimed the kudos from his nearest challenger and race favourite, Sublimity, by three lengths with Ebaziyan coming in third.

2008 Results for the principal Punchestown Festival Races