Fifteen trainers have entered seventeen horses for a chance to run in the €65,000 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Final over 2 miles and 4 furlongs at Punchestown on Wednesday 28th October, 2020. Six of the horses entered are already series winners having won their maidens during the 2019/2020 season. The average auction purchase price of all the horses entered is just under €11,000, with a maximum purchase price of €26,000 and the lowest at €1,200. Of the five fillies entered four are in with a chance to win first prize-money of €39,000 and the €5,000 Weatherbys/ITBA NH Fillies Bonus Scheme if they are first past the post. The final, which was originally scheduled to be run at the Punchestown Festival, is open to all horses which ran in a qualifying auction hurdle race between August 2019 and March 2020 and have not won a Listed or Grade 1, 2 or 3 bumper or hurdle race.
Among the entries is Arcadian Sunrise, a recent winner on the flat for John Queally, he got off the mark in a qualifier at Thurles before following up in a Series Novice hurdle at Leopardstown in March. Dime a Dozen has been a model of consistency for John Hanlon and was an impressive winner in her maiden at Cork last October. Gold Speed was purchased for just €10,000 and now a three time winner his recent success over course and distance at Punchestown should leave the Adrian Murray trained son of Gold Well spot on for next week’s final. Finally, the Henry de Bromhead trained Fully Charged is the highest rated horse entered in the final, a €7,000 Tattersalls Ireland August graduate who has already won his purchase price back by winning his qualifier in Limerick last Christmas.
John Hanlon, trainer, said; “Dime A Dozen definitely runs and I’m delighted with her. We’ll give her a little bit of a blow over the weekend, and that should leave her right. I’ve been delighted with her all season and she is just rock solid. The Red Mills Irish EBF Series is brilliant and it’s great for trainers like me who have to work off a certain budget at the sales. There is a great bunch of lads involved with her and all roads lead to Punchestown on Wednesday.”
Adrian Murray, trainer of Gold Speed, said; “It’s a great series and he deserves a crack at a good race like this. He has won a bumper and two hurdle races for us and he is a horse that is going the right way. He was very good the last day in a handicap hurdle at Punchestown and he’ll do a little bit here in the morning and assuming that goes well, he’ll run in the final on Wednesday. On ratings he has his chance and it’s a great initiative and it’s a lovely pot to be running for.”
Nessa Joyce, Irish EBF Manager, said; “The Red Mills Irish EBF auction hurdle series has given owners, trainers and vendors at the sales a lucrative series of races to target with their horses, we are delighted to see such quality entries in the rescheduled final, and would like to thank connections for supporting the final and the series to date. The 2020/2021 series is already up and running and the plan is to host the 2021 final in its regular slot at the Punchestown festival.”
Gareth Connolly, Sales and Marketing Director at Connolly’s RED MILLS, said; “With all the current challenges, it’s great to have the Final to look forward too – we have all had to continue to adapt and we recognise and appreciate the huge effort being made by everyone to stage RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Hurdle Series Final. It’s great to see such a broad spread of trainers represented and we are delighted to be able to support the Final where a significant prize-fund is on offer, it presents a super opportunity for those horses taking part.”
Link to entries on HRI RAS site
