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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Red Rocks pointed to 2nd win in as many runs
Red Rocks pointed to 2nd win in as many runs
Red Rocks Point and Colm O'Donoghue are too strong for Ebeyina and Pat Smullen
© Photo Healy Racing
Original 'second in,' Red Rocks Point was demoted to outsider of the three for the concluding Here's To Another Centenary Race at Gowran but the Fastnet Rock colt knows nothing about betting and he prevailed under Colm O'Donoghue.
Odds-on favourite Ebeyina was racing on much different ground than she'd encountered when so impressive on her sole start at Cork. She also had a tongue-strap on coming back a little in trip and dual course winner Warbird was the one they liked against her.
Front-runner Red Rocks Point (4/1) went even longer in-running as O'Donoghue didn't appear happy approaching the straight.
However the Ballydoyle runner was tough in the final quarter mile and Ebeyina couldn't find a way past as Warbird found disappointingly little.
A length and a quarter and seven and a half lengths separated the trio at the line.
Red Rocks Point was sporting blinkers on start number two having won a Dundalk maiden back in September.
Joseph O'Brien, who rode him then, was suspended today for a whip ban he picked up when dead-heating on Gypsy King at the Curragh.
Meanwhile O'Donoghue explained: "He loved the ground and he is tough and hardy. It is great to see him improving from last season.
"The boss (Aidan O'Brien) said he would be very hard to beat and he was proved right. I was never headed but when Pat (Smullen on Ebeyina) came to challenge he actually helped as my fella is still a bit raw. Hopefully there is plenty of improvement in him." (DM & EM)