Bob Olinger turned back the clock to claim the Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown, bringing his long and illustrious racing career to a fitting close. The 11‑year‑old veteran, trained by Henry de Bromhead, was sent out as the 4/1 second favourite behind Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo, who was the 5/4 favourite aiming for a third consecutive win over the three‑mile distance. From the start, Teahupoo dictated the pace and led the field into the final flight, but Olinger, who had been tracking just behind, began to make steady progress as the race entered its climax. When the two Robcour‑owned horses cleared the last hurdle together, Olinger surged ahead, displaying the same turn of foot that had made him a fan favourite for over a decade.
Teahupoo started to tire under the pressure, and although Willie Mullins’ Jimmy Du Seuil finished strongly to overtake the favourite for second place, he could not close the three‑quarter‑length gap to Olinger. The win marked Olinger’s 11th career victory and gave jockey Darragh O'Keeffe a remarkable treble on the day, having also piloted the first‑ and second‑placed finishers.
The triumph was a storybook ending to a career that has produced countless memorable moments. Olinger has previously won three Cheltenham Festival races – the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle, the Turners Novices' Chase and the Stayers' Hurdle – all while partnered with Rachael Blackmore, a partnership that will be remembered as one of the great horse‑rider duos of modern National Hunt racing. "He read the script perfectly; he was brilliant and Darragh was brilliant on him.
What a horse to have had," de Bromhead said in the post‑race interview. "He's given us so many incredible days. He's got a gear and he's pure class – he always has been." The trainer went on to praise the affection his team feels for the horse, noting that his assistant Davy Roche called Olinger "the best horse that ever came through our yard," a statement born of genuine admiration rather than hyperbole.
De Bromhead also highlighted the contributions of the jockey and the wider connections. "I'm delighted for everyone at home – the Achesons and Darragh – what a day he's had. He's a class rider and gave him a brilliant ride. It's really special, one of the top ones.
For him to go out like that is what he deserves; it's typical of him." He recalled the many years of partnership, including the 2020 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle win when Blackmore rode Olinger to victory during the COVID‑impacted season. After a brief setback, the horse was examined by vet Ger Kelly in Fethard, who identified and resolved the issue, allowing Olinger to return to his previous form. "We’ve been 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 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 they can end like that but many times they don't. To see him go out like that is just phenomenal," de Bromhead added.
The day also featured other notable performances. Harry Cobden, preparing for his new role as JP McManus' retained jockey, rode Salvator Mundi to a dominant 12‑length victory in the Barberstown Castle Novice Chase. The 27‑year‑old had previously showcased his talent on Kitzbuhel at the Cheltenham Festival and now seized the opportunity to impress the McManus stable. The race saw the favourite Kopek Des Bordes, ridden by Paul Townend, fall two fences from home after leading comfortably, allowing Salvator Mundi to stay close and then pull away.
Willie Mullins praised his winner, saying, "He's a good horse in his own right. 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, your 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 at Aintree last year and he's no back number.
He probably needs nice ground, he's probably more of a spring horse than a real winter horse." Mullins also expressed his delight for the Donnelly owners, who had endured a disappointing season but now have both Kitzbuhel and Salvator Mundi delivering top‑class wins. Regarding Kopek Des Bordes' fall, he noted, "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." Overall, Punchestown provided a dramatic finale to Bob Olinger's career and a day full of compelling narratives across the Irish racing scene, underscoring the sport's blend of skill, strategy, and the deep bonds between horses and their connections.