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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Rochford wins battle of the ladies
Favourite backers were on good terms with themselves as Lady Wingshot travelled like a dream throughout the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fillies Maiden at Naas but after leading over a furlong out she couldn't cope with the determined race winning effort of Lady Rochford the margin between the pair at the line being a short head.
The success of the Keagan Latham-ridden Lady Rochford wasn't unexpected either as she was backed from 12/1 this morning into 7/1 and though she was behind Lady Wingshot at the Curragh 10 days ago she came home strongly here to just edge out that rival.
Ger Lyons, saddling his second winner in the Sheikh Mohammed silks (Printmaker won at Dundalk in April), said: "In fairness to Keagan he got off her at the Curragh and he was fuming. He said the interference cost him and he was quite confident that wherever Lady Wingshot finished he wouldn't be far away.
"She is lovely and always showed natural ability but a little bit of temperament too. We'll bring her home now and let her grow up a bit.
"She has won her maiden now and to get black-type would be a bonus. The first day she ran here she got jizzed up and didn't handle the ridges on the fast ground.
"She appreciated the bit of juice the last day and here tonight. She has ability and my job as a trainer is to get it out of her.
"I have three for Sheikh Mohammed so we've just one left to win with now."