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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review thurles 7th Nov
Review thurles 7th Nov
Noble Prince (purple and yellow) stays on best to beat Realt Dubh (blue and white) into second
© Photo Healy Racing
< Noble Prince (6-1) rolled back the years when beating a strong field in the Listed John Meagher Memorial Chase at Thurles.
Paul Nolan's charge had graced the winning enclosure just once since scoring in the Jewson at the Cheltenham Festival in 2011, but the nine-year-old bounced right back to his best form under a masterful ride from Ruby Walsh.
Walsh sat quietly while Quito De La Roque cut out the early running under Davy Russell, and his mount travelled into the race with consummate ease before taking an inside berth coming into the straight.
He jumped to the front at the final fence and went on to score by three and a quarter lengths.
A patient David Casey ride aboard Gentleman Duke (11-4) was rewarded in the Irish Stallion Farms E.B.F. Beginners Chase.
Arthur Moore's charge tracked long-time leader Raise Hell before getting on top late on and going away to score by a cosy two and a quarter lengths.< Georgie was out to confirm a taking Galway performance in the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase, but he was forced to settle for a supporting role as Musawama (13-2) struck.
The five-year-old ran out a comfortable 14-length winner under 7lb conditional jockey Kevin Sexton.
Sexton then doubled up In the Templemore Mares Maiden Hurdle when Catimini (11-4) came out on top in a ding-dong battle with Diyala who did her chance no favours when pecking badly at the final flight.
She scored by five and a half lengths before Gold Patrol (9-2) landed the Cashel Maiden Hurdle under Barry O'Neill by three lengths.< Famous Ballerina (5-2) was one of two favourites to oblige when she landed the Holycross Handicap Hurdle under Michael Fogarty by a length and a quarter, before Wrath Of Titans (8-15) was the other when landing the Toboradora NH Flat Race by half a length under Johnny King.