Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- Home
- News
Donal Murphy
Abu flies home to score for McDonogh & Oxx
Abu Nayef (right) keeps on strongly to beat Lady Giselle (left) & Kiss Goodnight
© Photo Healy Racing
Abu Nayef (2/1) came with a storming run down the outside to land the Killarney Avenue/Munster Joinery Handicap under Declan McDonogh for John Oxx. Lady Giselle for John Joe Walsh and Gary Carroll attempted to make all, and when she fended off the challenge of League Of Nations and Kiss Goodnight it appeared that she would do just that.
However the winning son of Nayef, who was making no impression from over two furlongs out, sprouted wings inside the final furlong and he got to the front close home and went from there to score by three parts of a length.
League Of Nations was sent off the even money favourite but he could only manage a disappointing fourth for Aidan & Joseph O’Brien.
Declan McDonogh said afterwards: "He was tapped for toe a bit and they got a few lengths on me but in the last furlong he really got into top gear.
"He stayed on well and he might get further."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee