Horse Racing

Jockey Darragh O’Keeffe claimed a treble on the day.

LAST UPDATE | 30 Apr

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.

'Goodbye and thank you to Bob Olinger!' - In the final race of his career Bob Olinger wins the Champion Stayers Hurdle at the #PunchestownFestival #RTEracing pic.twitter.com/5t4ivh3ChR

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 30, 2026

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.

“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.”

Happy retirement, Bob Olinger! ❤️@HenrydeBromhead pic.twitter.com/cP3CRjQE7F

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 30, 2026

Harry Cobden warmed up for his new job as JP McManus’ retained jockey by taking advantage of the late fall from Kopek Des Bordes aboard Salvator Mundi in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase at the Punchestown Festival.

The 27-year-old is due to begin his new role in the green and gold on Friday, but like when scoring aboard Kitzbuhel at the Cheltenham Festival, he was sporting the yellow and black of Joe and Marie Donnelly aboard the 13-2 chance, who was last seen finishing second in Grade One company at Aintree.

It was the Paul Townend-ridden Arkle runner-up Kopek Des Bordes who was sent off the 4-11 favourite to finish the season on a high and he looked to have the race at his mercy having travelled powerfully into the lead when falling two from out.

Favourite Kopek Des Borde crashed out at the second last, leaving the way open for the other Willie Mullins-trained horse Salvator Mundi to take the spoils in the Barberstown Novice Chase
📺Watch live on @RTE2 @RTEplayer @punchestownrace #rtesport pic.twitter.com/b1pu22WWTq

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 30, 2026

However, to Salvator Mundi’s credit he was always keeping hold of his stablemate’s coat tails and after being left with a narrow advantage following Kopek Des Bordes’ fall, he was able to gallop out to a 12-length win over Irish Panther and provide Mullins with an 11th straight win in the two-mile contest.

“He’s a good horse in his own right,” said Mullins of the winner.

“He was right on the premises; it wasn’t as if he was 20 lengths behind and picked up the pieces. He was going to be involved in the finish.

“If Kopek had made a mistake there and got away with it yer man was right on his tail.

“He’s always been a good horse, but things just haven’t gone right for him. It’s nice to get a big race like that with him. He won in Aintree last year and he’s no back-number.

On Kopek Des Bordes he added: “He probably just lost his concentration going to the fence, without horses around him to keep him focused.

“He appeared to take off but never put out his landing gear and landed on his knees. I think both horse and rider were very lucky. They seem to be all right, fingers crossed they are.”