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Punchestown 2024
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Mark Nunan
Lee completes double on gambled-on Alexei
Alexei Vronsky and Billy Lee (right) won by a nose from Dazzling Darren
© Photo Healy Racing
Two reserves got into the Global Rossie Day On 21st June 3-y-o Handicap and fought out a thrilling finish. There was plenty of late off-course money for Alexei Vronsky (3/1 fav) but it looked like Michael O’Callaghan’s handicap debutant had been foiled by Dazzling Darren seeking a four-timer after three wins on the all-weather in Britain back in February.
The TV photo-finish angle at Roscommon is notoriously tricky, though, and when the result was called the favourite was up by a nose from Dazzling Darren (9/2), with the wandering Little Brother third at 25/1 another length and a quarter away.
It was a second winner on the day for Billy Lee, who was seen at his strongest on the gelded son of Power, who’d run respectably in some hot maidens as a two-year-old. The winning rider had picked up a two-day ban after winning the opener on Strongbowe
The winning trainer, for whom it was a second winner since racing resumed, was not present.