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Punchestown 2024
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Review kilbeggan 15th May
< Doctor Woodfield gave his supporters an uplifting tonic in a dramatic renewal of the Belvedere House Gardens & Park Handicap Chase at Kilbeggan.< Scavenger appeared to have the race in safe-keeping under Adrian Heskin after Mouse Morris' representative took a commanding lead six out.
The eight-year-old met the third-last fence all wrong, however, and ditched his rider upon the turf.< Trotsky then picked up the running, but Doctor Woodfield (7-1) was in a feisty mood and seized the day by 14 lengths & ndash; his first success for just over a year.
Trainer Cecil Ross said: "We've been waiting on rain but decided to take a chance and hopefully we've got away with it.
"Ideally he'd want a cut but no more than that.
"Hopefully he'll come back here for the Midlands National."
Dessie Hughes rattled off a no-nonsense double from the first two races on the card.< Saponara set the ball rolling in the opener before Marky Bob struck the target 30 minutes later.
Hughes attributed the fast ground as being key to the former's ruthless triumph in the Tullamore Maiden Hurdle
Bryan Cooper was already looking over his shoulder by the time they turned for home and had 10 yawning lengths in reserve of Time Machine the 7-4 favourite.
Hughes said of the 13-2 scorer: "The ground made all the difference to her."
Marky Bob's win in the ICA Centenary Celebration Maiden Hurdle was similarly convincing.
Roger Loughran stretched his opponents' stamina from the outset and waltzed six lengths clear as the 9-10 favourite.
"He needs to settle and could be a nice horse if he settles," added the Co Kildare handler.
Davy Condon's persistence helped Dreadnot over the line in the FBD Insurance Hurdle.
Condon beavered away aboard the Noel Meade-trained five-year-old and gained a decisive lead at the last.
He was then kept up to his work to repel 6-4 favourite One Back For Luck by four lengths.
Meade said of the 4-1 winner: "He was a great price."< The Fonze (8-1) later kept his cool under Michael Butler to land the Fay Bookmakers Hurdle.