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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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59/1 Wexford double for McManus and O'Keeffe
R to L - Bay Hill (Darragh O'Keeffe) Djingle (3rd, Adrian Heskin) & Jan Maat (mainly hidden, 2nd, Rachael Blackmore)
© Photo Healy Racing
The BoyleSports Beginners Chase at Wexford saw owner J P McManus and jockey Darragh O’Keeffe bring up a quick double courtesy of the Padraig Roche-trained Bay Hill
A son of Verglas, the successful grey certainly wasn’t bred for racing over fences but he proved himself well up to making a winning start at this game.
The 13/2 shot added to five Flat victories and three hurdle wins, here getting the better of Jan Maat and Djingle by a length and two lengths.
Gigginstown House Stud own Jan Maat and they also had the fourth home, 5/4 favourite Morgan
McManus and O’Keeffe were on the mark half-an-hour earlier with the Pat Flynn-trained Buttons And Bows
"That's nine wins now for us and he is a great little servant. He was hardly ever out of the first three last year," said Roche.
"Darragh gave him a great ride, he is a free seven pounds.
"He needed all of that seven to win but it's great to get it and it's great to get him started over fences.
"He is a summer horse and as long as the ground is good we will keep him going."
For his part Darragh O'Keeffe revealed: "That's my third double and my twenty third winner overall. I have another two winners to get before I lose the seven."
(DM & EM)