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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Walsh doubles up on Zak
Alan Magee
Walsh doubles up on Zak
Cappacurry Zak and Ruby Walsh jump the last
© Photo Healy Racing
Ruby Walsh completed a double on the afternoon when successfully partnering the Leslie Young-trained Cappacurry Zak in the 2m5f maiden hurdle at Tramore.
The five-year-old gelding appeared to have it all to do when making a blunder at the last with a circuit to go, and 2/1 favourite Speed Demon soon built up a sizeable advantage.
However that lead was whittled away by the penultimate flight, and Cappacurry Zak soon hit the front.
The ‘jolly’ weakened quickly and it was left to Perfect Woman to take the runner-up spot a length and three quarters off the 3/1 winner, who idled on the run-in. Marvellous Moment kept on one paced to finish a further six and a half lengths adrift in third.
Walsh earlier initiated his double on the 1/ 2 shot Valyssa Monterg in the opening mares maiden hurdle.
Young: "It was probably a funny sort of race but he got the job done and that is the main thing. Chasing will be his game.
"We will look for something over Christmas with him and he will go chasing sooner rather than later. He was second around here in April.
"He would probably want the ground better or looser than that. The way the horse went off in front made it an awkward ride and he had a lot to do to peg him back. I'd say Ruby has won on every horse he has rode for me."
Owner Sean O'Connell added: "Myself and Tom Treacy own him and it took us four hours to get down this morning from Ballinrobe but it was worth it. Leslie looks after him very well and we are delighted.
"Once he goes chasing it'll be a different ball game and we would like to think he has a bit more improving in him. Ruby won for us before on Lets Try Again at Ballinrobe a few years ago."
(DM & AM)