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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Ice Cool and Lynch team up well
Michael Graham
Ice Cool and Lynch team up well
Val O'Brien
© Photo Healy Racing
Andrew Lynch made all on Ice Cool who had plenty in the locker to account for his four rivals at Wexford.
Ice Cool came off the bridle at the third last in this three mile rated novice hurdle but Lynch hugged the rail on the long run to the second last with Tuzo and Pilgrim Way in pursuit.
Once the second last was negotiated, Ice Cool drew five lengths clear of Pilgrim Way approaching the last where a good jump sealed the deal.
The 2/1 shot beat Pilgrim Way (4/1) by eight and a half lengths. Tuzo, the 6/4 favourite, weakened from the penultimate hurdle and finished half a length adrift of Pilgrim Way in third.
Trainer Val O'Brien said: "He is very consistent, he always runs a good race. He will probably go to Punchestown now or Killarney. If he gets into any of the handicaps at Punchestown we will probably run him there.
"There are races over two and half and three miles for him and if he doesn't get into the three mile he will go for the two and a half. He likes soft ground and if Punchestown came up fast I probably wouldn't run him at all."
This was the first time that Ice Cool had tackled three miles.
The winner is owned by the handler's brother Sean O'Brien.
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy