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Punchestown 2024
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Donal Murphy
1, 2 for Murphy as O'Brien doubles up
Capitol Hill (nearest) gets up close home to beat his stablemate High Hill Beauty
© Photo Healy Racing
John Murphy saddled a one, two in the John Buckley Auctioneers Handicap, as Capitol Hill just got the better of High Hill Beauty Ridden by Joseph O’Brien (double for him after he took the opener on Royal Irish Hussar , the son of Papal Bull (also a one, two for that sire), was sent off the 7/4 joint favourite, having gone close on his last three starts. High Hill Beauty (7/1) kicked for home two furlongs out under Connor King, as Capitol Hill came out of the pack to try and chase her down. The winner kept on best inside the final furlong to just wear down his stablemate in the closing stages, scoring by a head at the line. Woodsophiesmile was 4/1 last night with Paddy Power, but opened on-course at just 2/1 before being backed into 7/4 joint favouritism at the off. The Tony Martin trained filly couldn’t match the front duo for pace, and she finished five lengths back in third under Wayne Lordan. John Murphy said afterwards: "He'll go to Galway and he’ll make a nice summer hurdler in time. The runner-up will go to Galway too." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes