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- Double for De Bromhead as Australia scores
Donal Murphy
Double for De Bromhead as Australia scores
Sizing Australia (right) pictured on his way to victory at Punchestown in April
© Photo Healy Racing
After winning the second with Bendanella Henry De Bromhead quickly doubled up (double coming in at 41/1) in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, as Sizing Australia landed the spoils under Kevin Sexton.
The twelve-year-old son of New Frontier, who won the Cross Country race at the Cheltenham Festival in 2011, was sent off at 6/1 for this two mile contest.
He won a banks race at the Punchestown Festival on his last start back in April and reverting to hurdles, he attempted to make all.
He was ridden and briefly headed entering the straight, but he regained the lead before the last, keeping on strongly on the run-in to score by two and three parts of a length. Mojito Royale finished second under Mikey Butler for Eoin Doyle at 7/1, while Tynaghs Trooper (8/1) was a further neck back in third under Andrew Ring for Philip Rothwell. Luimneach Abu was sent off the 7/4 favourite for Shane Broderick and Mark Walsh, but he could only manage a disappointing fourth.
Henry De Bromhead said afterwards: "He will go for the Cross Country now at Cheltenham in November and that will leave him spot on.
"Kevin has been with me a few months now and he gave him a super ride. He gave him a good, strong ride and he really got a good tune out of him.
"He looked like he was beaten in the straight, but he rallied again.”