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Punchestown 2024
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- Sovereign bidding for Curragh repeat
Sovereign bidding for Curragh repeat
Sovereign Debt
© Photo Healy Racing
Sovereign Debt comes back to defend the Listed Dubai Duty Free Millenium Millionaire Celebration Stakes in the Curragh on Saturday but has to overcome a burden of 10 stone to do so.
The Dandy Nicholls-trained grey shares top weight with Aidan O'Brien's Cougar Mountain and arrives in Ireland in decent form having finished second in a Listed race at York.
Chris Hayes is back on board after steering him to a comfortable four-and-three-quarter-length success in this race last year.
Connections would certainly welcome some of the forecast rain.
The six-furlong Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise European Breeders Fund Maiden looks a very hot contest. Aidan O'Brien's War Front colt Whitecliffsofdover who holds a National Stakes entry, is a speculative pick on debut.
His stablemate Intelligence Cross should be popular on the back of finishing well to be runner-up over course and distance earlier this month. He is also well entered up. Rock In Peace could improve from his second to Yulong Baobei, who was subsequently Listed-placed. Champagne Or Water is climbing the weights but appears to be thriving on her racing. She has put in two very solid efforts this season, which yielded a win and a second place, so should be one to follow in the Paddy Power Handicap. Don Vincenzo bolted up in Leopardstown, which was good preparation for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship European Breeders Fund Handicap. He is proven beyond this two-mile trip and has a lovely racing weight of 8st 5lb.
The 105-rated Bebhinn was a very useful juvenile and receives all the allowances in the Listed Dubai Duty Free Jumeirah Creekside Dash Stakes. If tuned up on her first start since September, she could go close.
Dermot Weld 's Hazmiyra is pitched into the valuable Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Summer Fillies Handicap after winning her maiden in Naas. The hint should be taken as her trainer mentioned black type after she shed her maiden tag.