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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review leopardstown 29th Dec
Review leopardstown 29th Dec
< Petit Mouchoir produced a remorseless gallop from the front to land the Ryanair Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Bryan Cooper was happy to set the gallop on the 6-1 chance and had a clear lead for much of the race, though 2-5 favourite Nichols Canyon did almost get on terms at the second last.
Willie Mullins' charge jumped markedly right, though, and Petit Mouchoir kicked again, bounding clear on the home straight to score by seven lengths.< Our Duke showed tremendous battling qualities to land the Grade One Neville Hotels Novice Chase.
Jessie Harrington's 4-1 chance was having only his second start over fences and looked to have scuppered his chances with a mistake on the back straight in a closely-bunched field.
However, Robbie Power got him back on an even keel and he hauled in Coney Island after the last to score by half a length.
Mullins' amazing post-Christmas winning spree continued when Let's Dance landed the Grade Three Willis Towers Watson EBF Mares Hurdle with the minimum of fuss.< Slowmotion did everything to press the 1-3 favourite, but Walsh was still motionless when Barry Geraghty was in full flow and the odds-on favourite cruised clear to score by 17 lengths.< Battleford had already made it yet another winner for Mullins and Walsh with victory in the Guinness Maiden Hurdle, though the 4-9 favourite was made to work hard.
Walsh was happy to lead the way on the odds-on favourite, but he had to pull out all the stops to fend off the persistent Coeur Joyeux who was only two lengths down at the line.< Exactoris (4-1) landed the spoils in gutsy fashion for Joseph O'Brien and J J Slevin in the Top Oil EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle.< Courtncatcher (12-1) struck for Patrick Duffy in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase under Conor Brassil, while a confident Finny Maguire guided Robbie McNamara's Quick Grabim (9-4) to victory in the Donohoe Marquees Flat Race.