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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Foley lands the opener on Bell I Am
Mark Nunan
Foley lands the opener on Bell I Am
Bell I Am and Shane Foley (yellow cap) head eventual third Zoom Call (far side)
© Photo Healy Racing
The opening Irish EBF Median Sires Series Fillies’ Maiden went to 114/4 joint favourite Bell I Am in the hands of the season’s leading jockey Shane Foley.
The daughter of Belardo tracked the leaders on the inner and a gap opened up between horses in the straight.
Foley, riding his 48th winner of the campaign, drove her into it and his mount responded well to hit the front soon after. She ran on well to score by half a length from the staying-on Allagar with early leader Zoom Call only another neck away in third. Shambara was the other 11/4 joint favourite and finished sixth.
The winner, homebred by owner Sebastian Curran, had shown promise in two runs over 5f including when third to subsequent Group 2 winner Aloha Star on debut.
She kept on well over this slightly longer trip to give Jessica Harrington a ninth individual two-year-old winner of the campaign.
The winning rider said: "She was very good. She's not over big but she's all heart in fairness to her.
"I got a nice split in the straight after the road and she picked up well.
"It's lovely ground and she handled it well."