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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review navan 9th Dec
Review navan 9th Dec
Willie Mullins saddled a one-two in Navan's Foxrock Handicap Chase, but not in the order most expected.< Acapella Bourgeois was the 4-7 favourite to atone for his Troytown tumble and entered the home straight with every chance.
His stablemate Polidam (10-1) was still going great guns at the head of affairs, though, and pulled out plenty for Danny Mullins to win by nine lengths.
The Mullins-trained Invitation Only (2-1) saw off odds-on favourite Any Second Now to take top honours in the Mervyn Gray Construction Beginners Chase.
A faller on his fencing bow, his jumping was better this time as he made all in the hands of Paul Townend to triumph by four and a quarter lengths.< Tombstone regained the winning thread in the Grade Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Klairon Davis Novice Chase.
In what was effectively a match on paper, the Gordon Elliott-trained even-money shot gave a lead to favourite Jett until they swapped positions at the head of affairs nearing the end of the back straight.
Jett was there under sufferance, though, with Tombstone moving more menacingly, and he cleared the last two efficiently to help seal a three-and-three-quarter-length verdict.
Point-to-point winner Speak Easy made a successful start to his career over timber in the Kells Maiden Hurdle.
Market leader Dis Donc took it up approaching the penultimate obstacle, but Mark Walsh brought the Joseph O'Brien-trained Speak Easy with a storming challenge at the last and he went six lengths clear at the rewarding odds of 10-1.
Walsh followed up in the same JP McManus colours when Robert Tyner's A Hardy Nailer (7-1) just got the better of Martello Park in a stirring finish to the Dunmoe Mares Maiden Hurdle.< Glenabo Bridge (6-1) held off Pack Your Bags to take the John Lynch Carpets Handicap Hurdle, while the Elliott-trained 4-5 favourite Defi Bleu claimed the REA T & J Gavigan Estate Agents Flat Race.