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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review thurles 17th Jan
Review thurles 17th Jan
Mikael D'Haguenet and Ruby Walsh fly home at Thurles
© Photo Healy Racing
< Quito De La Roque got back to winning ways with a solid round of jumping in the Grade Two Matty Ryan Memorial Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles.
Always to the fore under Paul Townend, the 12-1 chance took up the running from fellow Gigginstown-owned Roi Du Mee at the end of the back straight and never looked back.
The well-fancied Days Hotel faded out of it after a blunder three out, leaving Quito De La Roque to beat Roi Du Mee by six and a half lengths, with Joncol back in third.
A dramatic last-flight blunder from odds-on favourite Djakadam gifted the www.thurles.ie Maiden Hurdle to Kilmainham
Ruby Walsh had taken the lead approaching the last on Djakadma, but ended up clinging to the horse's neck after a blunder, before finally parting company.
That left Mark Walsh to come home on 20-1 chance Kilmainham, beating Top Othe Ra by six and a half lengths.
Walsh could have been forgiven some trepidation after dusting himself off that fall to ride recent Limerick faller Mikael D'Haguenet in the W.T. O'Grady Memorial EBF Novice Chase, but the 1-2 chance never gave him a moment's worry.
Though a little slower through the air than Western Leader early on, he galloped on remorselessly and eventually came home 12 lengths clear of He'llberemembered
Walsh and Mullins endured another mishap when Tarla came down two out in the Fame And Glory & Sans Frontieres Coolmore NH Sires EBF Mares Novice Chase.
That left 14-1 winner Noras Fancy to just edge a battle with Dangan Daylight for trainer and jockey Jimmy and Patrick Mangan.
Mullins and Walsh were back in the winner's enclosure in the INH Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle when 4-6 favourite Ballycasey landed the spoils with aplomb.
Mullins made it a treble when Patrick Mullins guided Equus Maximus (9-1) home in the Arctic Tack Stud Hunters Chase, while 10-1 chance Sherika took the Leugh Handicap Hurdle for Grainne O'Connor and Mark Enright.