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Punchestown 2024
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- Murtagh's Les Arceaux on the up
Murtagh's Les Arceaux on the up
Les Arceaux wins under Colin Keane
© Photo Healy Racing
Runner-up in the opener on Cannonball Colin Keane struck in race three, the Gowran Park Golf Club Handicap, aboard Les Arceaux (8/1 into 7/1).
Johnny Murtagh owns and trains Les Arceaux and in this 45 to 65 three-year-old event he ran out a convincing winner over the favourite, Less Of That (4/1 into 3/1).
Three and three parts of a length split them at the line.
"He said he liked the ground. He's always showed us a bit at home and I thought he'd definitely win off his mark," said Murtagh.
"Ross (Coakley) was very happy the last day and said he maybe just didn't get up the hill (at Navan). Today the cut in the ground and a mile-and-one around here seemed ideal for him.
"I'd say he's a three-year-old hurdler in the making. He's big and he's tall and maybe there is a bit more improvement in him.
"Hopefully the handicapper won't be too hard on him."
Karen Kenny, rider of Masterstonemason trained by F.Costello, reported to the Clerk of Scales that her mount met with some interference in the early part of this race.
S. Foley, rider of A Beautiful Dream trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount stumbled on leaving the stalls and never travelled on the ground.
(GC & EM)