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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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International mission for Gatsby
The Grey Gatsby
© Photo Healy Racing
Former French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby starts out on his career with Dermot Weld in the Finlay Volvo International Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday.
The six-year-old grey also has an Irish Champion Stakes in his locker when trained by Kevin Ryan and is an intriguing contender for Weld in this Group Three contest.
He is the highest rated of the six runners on 117 but has been off track since finishing fifth to Almanzor in the Group One Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot in October.
Pat Smullen is on board with Leigh Roche on Weld's Shamreen, who won the Group Two Blandford Stakes in September.
Weld has a good history in this race as Famous Name landed it three times in 2009, 2011 and 2012. Those victories were interspersed by Precious Gem winning it for him in 2010.
Ken Condon will be hoping for more rain for Success Days, who could make this mile and a quarter a tough test from the front.
Rattling Jewel goes for his hat-trick in the ultra-competitive Tote Rockingham Handicap. Nicole McKenna's charge has climbed to a rating of 90 but runs best at the Curragh and can go well for the home brigade.
Paul Midgley sends three British raiders over for this €100,000 contest. He has booked Pat Smullen for Naggers, who has been chalked up as the favourite after finishing second at Epsom.
Aidan O'Brien has won three of the last four renewals of the Group Three Grangecon Stud Stakes so Butterscotch and Clemmie merit close inspection.
The former is turned out again quickly after winning her maiden at Naas on Wednesday, while Clemmie wasn't beaten far in seventh in the Group Three Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Would Be King has been placed behind Beckford and Brother Bear, and could make it third-time lucky in the Barronstown Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden.
Aidan O'Brien runs three - newcomer Amedeo Modigliani, Bond Street and Gustav Klimt - with Ryan Moore on the latter.
The unexposed Silverkode is pitched into the RTE Radio One Handicap after winning his maiden over five furlongs at this track.
He is up in trip by another two furlongs but his proven ability on soft ground should stand him in good stead.
Beau Et Sublime has a lovely racing weight of 8st 5lb for the Troytown Grey Abbey Equine Hospital Handicap. His runner-up effort at Killarney puts him bang in contention.