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Punchestown 2024
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Review CURRAGH 23rd Aug
< Arazan propelled himself towards the top of the market for next season's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket with an impressive victory in the Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh.
John Oxx's 4-1 shot, a half-brother to Azamour, was defending an unbeaten record in the Group Two race after a debut victory and moved kindly throughout in the testing conditions.
Mick Kinane eased him to the front at the two-furlong marker and under hands and heels riding he left the rest trailing, with Ryehill Dreamer four lengths away in second and a further three lengths to Grand Ducal in third.
Classic sponsors Stan James gave him a 12-1 quote for Newmarket, but Paddy Power were more impressed and make him 6-1 joint-favourite with Mastercraftsman. The National Stakes is next on the agenda.
Last year's runner-up Hasanka responded well to a positive ride from Kinane to win the K & M Timber Ballycullen Stakes.
Another from the Oxx yard, the four-year-old was settled in second as Hold Me Love Me set the pace in the Listed contest over a mile and three-quarters, but Kinane took the bull by the horns and went on with three furlongs still to go.
Hasanka (11-4) pulled steadily clear and showed no sign of stopping as her rivals struggled to lay down a challenge, and she eased to victory by four lengths from the pacesetter.< Choose Me led home a great one-two for the Kevin Prendergast stable in the valuable Tattersalls Ireland Sale Stakes.
Chris Hayes had a wall of horses in front of him as he looked for room to make his challenge in the final two furlongs, where stablemate Heart Of Fire was making the best of his way home.
When the gaps finally came, Choose Me (7-1) galloped on strongly to take charge 100 yards out and won by two lengths from Heart Of Fire, with favourite What's Up Pussycat in third.
Jim Bolger introduced a smart youngster in the Galileo filly Forest Storm (4-1), who ran right away with the Loder EBF Fillies Race.
The main race on the Tralee Festival card, the Fels Point Hotel 4-Y-0 Handicap Hurdle, went to Perfect R
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