Jumps Superstar Allaho Returns in Clonmel Oil Chase

Irish jumps racing fans are in for a thrilling midweek spectacle as one of the sport’s biggest stars makes his long-awaited comeback in the prestigious Clonmel Oil Chase. The Grade Two feature at Powerstown Park has been dominated by legendary trainer Willie Mullins, who has emerged victorious in seven out of the last ten editions. Past winners include Champagne Fever (2014), Kemboy (2018), and Douvan (2019), all adding to Mullins’ impressive record.

This year, Mullins will saddle two formidable runners with Janidil joined by his esteemed stablemate, Allaho. Owned by Cheveley Park Stud, this gelding has established himself as a force to be reckoned with on the track. With back-to-back wins in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, he showcased his exceptional talent by thrashing his rivals by 12 and 14 lengths respectively.

Allaho then took on an even greater challenge and conquered it triumphantly – stepping up to three miles and clinching a remarkable 14-length victory in the Punchestown Gold Cup during 2022. However, since that extraordinary feat, he has remained absent from competitive action for a staggering 19 months.

Despite this lengthy hiatus from racing, Allaho remains highly favored to overcome his three rivals under jockey Paul Townend’s skillful guidance. Richard Thompson, director of Cheveley Park Stud expressed excitement about their star performer’s return stating:

“Allaho has been fantastic for us; winning multiple Ryanairs including an impressive Punchestown Gold Cup victory along with other notable races like John Durkan Challenge Trophy. It’s great to see him back, and we’re hopeful that he will showcase his true potential once again.”

Turning nine years old in January, Allaho has been a prominent figure among the jumps horses owned by Cheveley Park Stud. Thompson remains optimistic about their future endeavors together:

“He’s been one of our top contenders since we acquired him, and we are looking forward to more exciting moments with him. Despite his absence from the track for over a year now, we believe that he still has great performances ahead of him. We had hoped for a third consecutive Ryanair win before his injury last season, but we remain hopeful that this goal can still be achieved.”

French Dynamite poses as the most significant threat to the Mullins pair in this exhilarating clash. Trained by Mouse Morris, French Dynamite aims to continue Morris’ winning streak after Gentlemansgame secured victory at Charlie Hall in Wetherby on Saturday.

Morris acknowledges the challenging task ahead but sees participation in Clonmel Oil Chase as an ideal starting point for French Dynamite:

“It is likely that he’ll need this run, and going up against Allaho will certainly be tough. However, participating in such a prestigious race will set him up well for future campaigns.”

The quartet is completed by Grange Walk trained by John Ryan who enters this remarkable contest as an outsider.