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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Longacre Square lands claimer under Cooper
Mark Nunan
Longacre Square lands claimer under Cooper
Longacre Square (far side)
© Photo Healy Racing
The Slievenamon Claiming Hurdle went to Longacre Square (4/1) under Bryan Cooper.
In first-time cheekpieces, the Jeremy gelding led before two out and stayed on well to defeat the 3/1 favourite Yaiza by five lengths.
It was a second win over hurdles for Gordon Elliott’s 6-year-old who had won a Downpatrick handicap in May.
Cooper said: “A bunch of my friends from Kerry and Dublin own him and it was nice he could win again.
"He had been a bit disappointing since his Downpatrick win but did it well today. The cheekpieces seemed to help and he took advantage of a weak enough contest.
"He'll make a lovely summer chaser for somebody next year, he has the scope to do it and hasn't that many miles on the clock either. He'll pay his way."
Three horses found different homes, with 'Shark Hanlon' claiming both the winner for E8,000 and fourth-home Battle Of Benburb (E10,000), while the runner-up Yaiza was claimed by John McConnell for E8,000.
Quotes from Thomas Weekes