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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Michael Graham
Moore and O'Brien at double with Ivy League
Ivy League, near side, fends off Marhaba Ashmayme by half a length
© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore doubled up at Dundalk through Ivy League in race five - the mile maiden for three-year-olds only.
He was an uneasy 13/8 favourite having drifted out from even money.
The Galileo colt worked his way to the front with a quarter of a mile to go but veered right approaching the final furlong and opened the door to gambled-on newcomer Marhaba Ashmayme (12/1 - 13/2).
The favourite kept on in the final furlong to beat the challenger by half a length, and Notwithstanding was two and three quarter lengths away in third at 10/3.
Chris Armstrong, representing O'Brien, said: "He's still a baby and he's still very green. He has a lot to learn but he will improve from that there and we'll let him go to a conditions race next. Hopefully he will keep progressing.
"He's got ability and we just have to get the greenness out of him but he will get there. He ran in a good maiden at the Curragh the first day and he has come on nicely. We will take little steps with him but will go for a conditions race."
The Stewards interviewed P.A. Harnett, rider of fourth-placed Atlantic Breeze concerning his use of the whip in the latter stages of this race. Evidence was heard from the rider concerned. In his evidence, P.A. Harnett stated that he had miscalculated his use of the whip and thought that he was on the allowable limit. Furthermore he added that he had also used the whip down the shoulder and also when having attained his best possible placing as his mount was lairy and he wanted to keep him going forward. Having viewed a recording of the race and considered the evidence the Stewards were of the opinion that P.A. Harnett was in breach of R10(3)(a) by hitting his mount in front of the saddle with his whip in the forehand position, R10(3)(c) by the unnecessary hitting of his mount that clearly had obtained its maximum placing and R10(3)(g) by using his whip with excessive frequency. Having taken his previous record into consideration and pursuant to the provisions of R10(6)(a), the Stewards suspended P.A. Harnett for six racedays.
O'Brien and Moore teamed up to land the opening juvenile maiden on the card with debutant Blackbeard