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Punchestown 2024
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Donal Murphy
1,2 for Sheehy brothers as Declaree opens her account
Declaree and Danny Sheehy
© Photo Healy Racing
Danny Sheehy beat younger brother Mikey into second, when guiding Declaree to a straightforward success in the Follow Us On Social Media Maiden.
Placed on her first seven starts, the Johnny Murtagh-trained victor was last seen finishing down the field in a Listed contest at Naas.
From initial shows of 13/8 for this seven furlong heat, the Fastnet Rock bay came in for strong market support and was eventually returned the clear favourite at 4/7.
Sent straight to the front, the Newtown Anner Stud Farm-owned filly made all and had her eight rivals off the bridle with a furlong and a half to go.
Soon pushed along, she readily increased her advantage and was four and a quarter lengths clear at the line.
The Joseph O'Brien-trained Authenticate (9/2) filled the runner-up spot, while her stable companion Winsome (13/2) was a length and a quarter back in third.
"She is very straightforward," the winning rider commented.
"She has been very consistent in her runs and probably just unlucky not to get her head in front.
"Obviously, the headgear was a big help and she seemed to like the surface here.
"It was nice to get her head in front. Hopefully, now that she has got her head in front, she can keep on improving because she ran true and good to the line."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham