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Punchestown 2024
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- Bobskier springs a surprise under Dempsey
Donal Murphy
Bobskier springs a surprise under Dempsey
Bobskier is pushed out by Luke Dempsey to beat Mahrajaan
© Photo Healy Racing
Luke Dempsey recorded his first winner since September of last year as he partnered Bobskier to victory in the All American Race Day Apprentice Handicap.
The Ger O’Leary trained six-year-old daughter of Big Bad Bob disappointed on her first three starts this year and she was sent off an unconsidered 16/1 chance as a result.
Settled in mid-division she was ridden in fifth three furlongs out and took closer order as they entered the straight.
She improved into second just under two furlongs out, getting to the front at the furlong pole before keeping on well under pressure in the closing stage to score by three parts of a length at the line.
The eleven-year-old Mahrajaan ran well to finish second at 7/1 under Tom Madden for Charles Byrnes while Enough Is Enough was a further length and a half back in third under Ray Dawson for Pat Meany at 20/1. Calle Aneto who won at Sligo on Tuesday, was sent off the well-backed 11/4 favourite (opened at 4/1 on-course) under Katherine O’Brien for Joanna Morgan but he could only manage a disappointing eighth.
Luke Dempsey said afterwards: "I got a bit heavy so I’m working in Gordon Elliott’s now and I’m going to do both codes.
"She is very tough. I thought she was going to get caught for toe coming into the straight but she is as tough as they come."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes