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Punchestown 2024
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Michael Graham
Lady Jane Wilde impresses on debut
Lady Jane Wilde hits the front
© Photo Healy Racing
Newcomer Lady Jane Wilde surged home to take the opening maiden at the Curragh in eye-catching fashion.
Niall McCullagh 's mount raced in rear before making head in the final quarter of a mile.
She was noted arriving behind the leaders with a furlong to go but still looked to have plenty on her plate.
However, in the final 150 yards she steamed home between horses to hit the front in the closing stages.
She won going away by a length and three parts at 66/1. The gambled-on Bright Idea (10/1 to 9/2) had to be content with second while Recall The Show was another half a length away in third at 7/1.
Trainer Aidan Howard said: “I liked this filly all along. She’s been working with all of our handicappers and doing it very easy.
“She has a lot of speed so I told Niall to take his time because I wasn’t sure if she would stay the seven but she seemed to stay it out well.
“Where we go from here I’m not sure. She has no entries. We were coming here to have a good experience and hopefully to be in the shake-up.
“Niall said she handled the ground well.
“I don’t normally have two-year-olds and Miss Jabeam is my only previous two-year-old maiden winner.”
The winner carried the colours of Claire Berry, wife of JP McManus' racing manager Frank Berry.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee