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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Donal Murphy
Outsider Under beats favourite Box
Down Under jumps the last with Corporate Box (hidden) on his inside
© Photo Healy Racing
Down Under sprang a 20/1 surprise in the Streamstown Handicap Chase scoring under Mark Walsh for Fran Flood and JP McManus (also on the mark at Listowel with Bay Hill .
The eight-year-old son of Milan won at Leopardstown over Christmas but he had been disappointing since and finished a well-beaten eighth over the course and distance on his last start.
Settled towards rear he was ninth with a circuit to race. He improved into third before three out and travelled best in second on the approach to the last.
He hit the front at the last and kept on well from there to win by four and a quarter lengths. Corporate Box was sent off the 7/2 favourite (from 5's on-course) and she had to settle for second under Luke Dempsey for Rodger Sweeney while Shamiran (8/1), who was hampered at the fifth last, was a further twenty-one lengths back in third under Ian McCarthy for Stephen Nolan.
Fran Flood junior said afterwards: "That was a bit of a surprise. I have to say he disappointed us here the last day."
"Mark said they went so fast so he bit the bullet and dropped him out. We maybe got Jody (McGarvey) to force him along a bit much last time.
"The race fell his way and they maybe went too quick. The one thing on his side is that he's a bit of a stayer when he gets his chance.
"It was similar to when he won in Leopardstown. He looked that day like he was going to pull up four out. Hopefully he does it again for us."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson