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Punchestown 2024
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Cloke strikes at Down Royal again
Bellgrove (Sean Flanagan, red and green) keeps up the gallop
© Photo Healy Racing
Wexford trainer Pat Cloke trained his first track winner when Flynsini won at Down Royal on St Patrick's Day. He returned to the County Down venue for victory number two when Bellgrove landed the At The Races Beginners Chase.
This was a grief stricken affair but Sean Flanagan's mount ran out a good five and a half length winner of the two and a half miler, gaining the day from runner-up Empresario
Damian Murphy representing owner Matt Sawers said: "Matt couldn't make it as his wife got tickets for Elton John in Glasgow tonight and he had to go.
"He was a nervous, nervous horse but Pat (Cloke) has got him calm. We'll maybe look at a Grade 3 at Roscommon in September and Matt was talking about one of the big Perth meetings."
Sawers is from Glasgow and Murphy hails from Dublin.
Meanwhile Flanagan said: "He jumped all the way. He was left in front and ran around a bit but he's clever and careful."
(MG & EM)