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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Intruder comes late under Benson
Intruder comes late under Benson
Royal Intruder followed up on his recent win at Sligo to take the second race on the card, the Paschal Corrigan Memorial Handicap, for his trainer Shane Donohue with Danny Benson in the saddle.
On just his second ever start over a mile, the 6yo son of Royal Applause was sent off at 14/1 but belied those odds just getting up near the line to win by a head. Topadee for Pat Flynn and Danny Grant looked set to follow up on her win at Tipperary as she got to front close home, but she couldn't hold off the challenge of the winner and had to settle for a share of second with Cairdiuil in the end.
The well backed favourite (9/2 into 5/2) Fairy Wing just missed out on a place finishing a further length and a half back in fourth for Jessica Harrington and Fran Berry.
The winner was recording his seventh career success today and just his second in Ireland, his other five wins coming in the UK.
Winning trainer Shane Donohoe said afterwards: "The win the last day gave him confidence. Danny (Benson) gave him a very good ride, he is a very good rider. I said to him before they went out to leave it as late as you can.
"I hope the handicapper is not too hard on him, he is an old man. I have no plans for him now, we ran him today to see would he get the mile."
The race was named in memory of former John Oxx travelling head man Paschal Corrigan who passed away earlier this year.
Donal Murphy