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Punchestown 2024
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- 220/1 first double for Conor Maxwell
Donal Murphy
220/1 first double for Conor Maxwell
Ocean Bright clears the last under Conor Maxwell
© Photo Healy Racing
Having won the previous contest aboard Definite Knockoff Conor Maxwell quickly doubled as he took division one of the Bellewstown Golfcourse Handicap Hurdle aboard the Dermot McLoughlin trained Ocean Bright
Sent off the outsider of the field at 33/1, the grey daughter of Cozzene led at the fifth and she was clear after six out, keeping on well in the home straight to score by four and three parts of a length. Your Busy was second under Ruby Walsh for James Nash at 10/1 while Court Knee was a further two and a half lengths back in third under Danny Mullins for Jim Culloty at 6/1. Tales Of Milan completed the placings three and three parts of a length back in fourth under Roger Loughran for Dessie Hughes at 12/1, while the 13/8 favourite Derg Princess pulled up injured before the third last and she was unfortunately put down after breaking her hind leg.
It was a first double for Conor Maxwell and it was made extra sweet as Bellewstown is his local track, he said afterwards: "She jumped for fun and pinged every hurdle."
McLoughlin added: "All she does is gallop all day. She loses races in the stalls and she ran here on Friday (finished down the field in the race won by Sabaidee). "She was fit and well and we let her take her chance. The loose horse probably helped her."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee