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Punchestown 2024
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- Doyle takes his opportunity on Zip
Alan Magee
Doyle takes his opportunity on Zip
Zipporah (Ricky Doyle) clears the last
© Photo Healy Racing
Ricky Doyle was seen to great effect when partnering Zipporah to a surprise 14/1 win in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Clonmel.
Partnering his eighth winner under both codes, Doyle had built up a lead of around 20 lengths approaching the straight and was able to look around for non-existent dangers after the second last.
The George Webb-trained gelding eventually came home nearly four lengths ahead of Pops Well with Sarah Battle and Saddlers Luck completing the placings.
The seven-year-old mare also adopted front-running tactics to win two point-to-points for Webb earlier this year.
Niall Kelly, on his first day as a professional rider, was brought to hospital for tests and reported to be suffering from concussion after his mount All Honours slipped up entering the straight.