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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review thurles 25th Feb
Review thurles 25th Feb
< Western Leader ran his rivals ragged with a superb all-the-way win in the Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle at Thurles to spark a 10-1 double for trainer John 'Shark' Hanlon.< Premier Victory kept Western Leader company but the mare was shaken off when Conor O'Farrell asked him to pull away.
The result was never in doubt as the 4-1 shot stormed clear to score by 12 lengths.
"That's three Grade Two's we've won in six weeks, so we're not going too bad," said Hanlon.
"He was very good there and he'll probably now go to Aintree for the two-and-a-half or three-miler. He'd stay forever.
"He'd handle better ground, too, and I always thought he was better than Luska Lad. He'll go chasing next season."
The well-backed Misala completed the trainer's brace with a hard-fought success in the Killinan Maiden Hurdle under Davy Russell.
Misala, the 5-4 favourite, just edged out his main market rival Good Time Donie on the run-in to prevail by a neck.
Formerly with Adrian Sexton, Misala was having his first start for his new connections.
"I have only had him six or seven weeks and he is really a big chaser. He'll have a break now and come back then for Punchestown," said Hanlon.< Red Basil got off the mark in his eighth career start with a smooth success under Katie Walsh in the Tipperary (Lady Riders) Handicap Hurdle.
The nine-year-old made all despite being off the track since August 2008 and justified 4-1 favouritism by four lengths from Mon Champion
"When this race was lost to the frost two weeks ago, Katie convinced me to wait and it has been worth waiting for," said trainer James Nash.
"We always liked him but the star performance has to go to his owner, Eamonn Duignan, to give a nine-year-old another chance.
"He cracked his pelvis and he'll probably go chasing because he is a fantastic jumper. Katie gave him a fantastic ride."< Dynamic Approach backed down to 5-1 from 7-1, landed the Ladbrokes Cheltenham Bumper Series Flat Race by two and a half lengths from Under The Arch
Winning trainer Eddie Hales s