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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Review dundalk 12th Mar
Mick Halford was the trainer in form at Dundalk as he notched up a double with Banna Boirche and Indian Wind both in the colours of Paul Rooney.
The number 11 draw did no favours to Banna Boirche in the attheraces.com/cheltenham Handicap, but the 12-1 shot ran out an easy winner.
Shane Foley dropped him in behind and made smooth progress down the outside in the straight before collaring leader Solent Ridge at the furlong pole and scooting two lengths clear.
Halford doubled up when 7-2 favourite Indian Wind led at the two pole in the Crowne Plaza Championship Handicap under Gary Carroll and stretched clear in the final furlong to score by a length and three-quarters.
Pat Smullen is sure to be putting in a bold bid to regain his jockeys' title and got off the mark in the familiar silks of Khalid Abdullah when Brushed Aside easily took the ATR Festival Focus Fillies Maiden.
He settled Dermot Weld's three-year-old in second for much of the way and once she took charge two furlongs out, the 11-4 shot ran on well to score by a comfortable length and three-quarters.
Fran Berry is another sure to be prominent in the championship and he notched up a treble begun by Bashir Biyoum Zain in the attheraces.com Cheltenham Megasite C & G Maiden.
Paul Deegan's three-year-old (8-1), who was never far behind the pacesetters, edged off the rail to take over from long-time leader Silver Soldier 100 yards out and won by half a length.
Berry doubled up when the Noel Meade-trained Dark Prospect picked up the main prize of the evening in the Barry Geraghty On attheraces.com Handicap, making it two from two on the all-weather track this year.
The jockey was short of room when he wanted to get past front-runner Bashkirov over a furlong out, but he squeezed through and his willing partner (9-2) ran on stoutly to hold Maximo by a neck.
Berry completed his treble on Jessica Harrington's Morning Time (4-1) in the closing Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Package Maiden.
Eddie Lynam's filly Petit Chou (7-1) was quickly away under Billy Lee and