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25 Nov 2025
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25 Nov 2025
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Westport Cove with jockey Paul Townend on board jumping the first fence at Punchestown. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile.
Over the weekend, there were great celebrations at Punchestown Racecourse when the locally owned Westport Cove struck victory in the Matchbook Betting Exchange Craddockstown Novice Chase.
Owned by Westport native Cathal Hughes, the Willie Mullins trained horse made the running as the 9/4 second favourite and although the horse made a mistake jumping the second last fence, Westport Cove rallied gamely after the final fence under the excellent guidance of leading jockey, Paul Townend. You can watch the race finish at the end of this article.
Running in the Green and Red colours, this win represents the horse’s third win in his last four races proving the horse is in fine form. The 14.27 race was a Grade Two race which resulted in winning connections, scooping a nice prize pot of €22,500.
The horse that previously raced at the Cheltenham Festival in 2024 is also entered in the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase which is due to take place on Saturday at Fairyhouse although Westport Cove is not certain to run.
It was a big weekend of racing at the Kildare track where the John Durkan Chase took place. The Willie Mullins trained Gaelic Warrior ran out the winner in a pulsating race. The Durkan's who are natives of Bohola own a successful construction company while the proposed Mayo Centre of Excellence in Bohola will be named after the Durkan family.
READ MORE: Fionnuala McLaughlin inspires Westport to Camogie Connacht triumph
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