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Punchestown 2024
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Michael Graham
Last Goodbye maintains his winning run
Last Goodbye approaches the winning post in Cork
© Photo Healy Racing
Last Goodbye brought up in four-timer when finding plenty for Donagh Meyler in the valuable Grade C Easter Handicap Hurdle at Cork.
This was his first step into handicap company on a mark of 130 after bagging a bumper, a maiden hurdle and a novice hurdle.
He was in the van as Nine Stiches hugged the rail and swept into a share of the lead with Ice Cool approaching the third last.
Last Goodbye worked his way into a narrow lead jumping the second last but was pressed by Coolaghknock Glebe who took a fall there.
The leader was ridden by Meyler and led by a length at the last from Nine Stiches and Ice Cool. He was untidy at the last but stuck at it as Captainofthefleet found his second wind to challenge him on the run-in.
There was a length between the 6/1 winner and the 14/1 runner-up. Nine Stiches (11/2 from 10/1 in the morning) took third. He was three and three quarter lengths further back.
Liz Doyle said: "He doesn't do much in front but travelled like a good horse at Navan the last day. He just does enough to stick his old head out but won going away today which is good.
"I took a punt with the ground today but he handled it and now seems to handle most grounds. Donagh is worth loads with his 5lbs claim and it was the difference between winning and losing today.
"I've never had a horse win four races in-a-row before and his next run, probably in a 0-150 handicap hurdle at Punchestown, will tell us where to go then - we're still learning about him.
"I owned him myself for his first two runs but wanted to keep him instead of selling so gathered a group of general friends and other owners and they (Last Goodbye Syndicate) are great and leave me alone to make the decisions."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes