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Punchestown 2024
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- Saint provides Halford & Foley with quick double
Donal Murphy
Saint provides Halford & Foley with quick double
Saint By Day (noseband) comes to pass Noverre Princess with Atmospheric High in third
© Photo Healy Racing
Mick Halford & Shane Foley completed a quick fire double as they took the second division of the www.sardaireland.com handicap with 7/2 shot Saint By Day
The duo had taken division one of the race just thirty minutes earlier with the 6/4 favourite Coach Bombay
Saint By Day, who is a 6yo son of Marju, was recording just his second career victory today after scoring over the course way back in November 2009.
On his twenty-ninth run since that victory he finally got his head in front again as he kept on best inside the final furlong to get up close home and win by a head.
The 3/1 favourite Noverre Princess hit the front a furlong from home but she couldn't hold off the challenge of Saint By Day and had to settle for second for trainer Joanna Morgan.
Top weight Atmospheric High completed the placings a further length and a quarter back in third at 10/1 under Billy Lee for Eddie Lynam.
Winning trainer Mick Halford said afterwards: "He likes to be ridden quietly. When he is among horses he panics and holds his breath so we had a tongue tie on him.
"You are always vulnerable when being ridden from behind like that. The step up in trip suited him and he loves that surface and we will keep him to it.
"Hopefully now that he has got his head in front there will be more to come.
"His owner Paul Rooney has been very patient and he deserved that win."
(On-course reporting by Michael Graham)