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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review thurles 21st Oct
Review thurles 21st Oct
< Silverhand landed the odds in cosy fashion to complete a hat-trick over jumps in the Cat Busters Hurdle at Thurles.
The Noel Meade-trained grey took full of advantage of the late defection of stablemate Aitmatov to win without having too hard a race.
Paul Carberry was content to sit in behind as first Elysian Rock and then Killyglen made it a true-run contest.
Jumping into the lead at the final flight, the 1-3 shot held the persistent Killyglen by a length and a quarter.
"That's just the way it's supposed to happen!" quipped trainer Noel Meade. "It doesn't usually work out like that."
"Having said that, the second horse ran a cracker and we needed to jump the last.
"He loves that good ground and the trip gives him a chance. He could maybe go to England for a handicap next but he'll definitely not run on heavy ground during the winter."< Sizing Australia booked his ticket to Cheltenham next month when finally opening his account in the Liams Legends Beginners Chase.
Henry de Bromhead's charge had finished second in the event the two previous years, but made no mistake this time.
Leading at the sixth-last, the 7-4 joint-favourite plugged on well for Andrew Lynch to beat his market rival Your Busy by three-quarters of a length.
"This was a nice prep race and he'll go for the cross-country race at Cheltenham in November now," said de Bromhead.
"Hopefully we can try and win one with him this year but it's not easy with Enda Bolger around.
"He's one of the first horses Alan and Ann (Potts) had with me and has been a great horse over the years."< Erritt Lake (4-1) gave Paddy Flood his first winner since returning from injury when outpointing Loup Du Saubouas by three lengths in the Welcome Home Liam McCarthy Beginners Chase.
Eoin Doyle's For A Finish (9-1) earned a short break after defying top weight in the Cross Of Cashel Cup Winners 2010 Handicap Chase under Alain Cawley.