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Punchestown 2024
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Donal Murphy
Weld wins Knockaire with least fancied of his 4
Dermot Weld saddled four of the nine runners for the Listed Knockaire Stakes and won it with the least fancied of his quartet, as Enchanted Evening under Pat Shanahan kept on best to score at the odds of 16/1.
The 5yo daughter of High Chaparral last ran at Dundalk on Friday in Listed company finishing eleventh, just over five lengths behind the winner Clinical.
Settled in behind the leaders earlier on she made headway into fifth two furlongs out. She was ridden into second a furlong from home before getting on top inside the final 100 yards going on to score by a length and a quarter. Shirley Blake stayed on well to take second for Paul Cashman and Ben Curtis at 25/1 while stablemate to the winner Catch The Eye finished a short head back in third at 7/1.
The 2/1 favourite Seeharn for Kevin Prendergast and Declan McDonogh was a further half a length back in fourth.
The winner was recording her third career success today having won her maiden at Navan back in May of 2009 and another race at Dundalk in April of this year.
Winning trainer Dermot Weld said afterwards: "I thought Northern Rocked was the best of my runners but the ground was probably too deep for him.
"Enchanted Evening has always had ability and everything went right for her today. She is a beautifully bred filly.
"She has finished fourth in Group company so it's important to win with her. That's her for the season.
"I’m delight for Pat Shanahan. He gave her a great ride and he has never let me down. We go back many moons since he won the Irish Derby for me aboard Zagreb."