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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Ainippe looks smart on debut
Gary Carson
Ainippe looks smart on debut
Ainippe and Colin Keane
© Photo Healy Racing
Ainippe showed a smart turn of foot to run out a stylish winner of the opening juvenile maiden at Naas this afternoon.
Market principals Kasbah and Simply A Star battled it out at the head of affairs in the five furlong contest but the pair were joined at the furlong pole by Ger Lyons' charge.
Colin Keane asked the daughter of Captain Rio (14/1) to quicken into the lead inside the final furlong and she powered away in the closing stages for a three-and-three-quarter length success.
5/4 favourite Kasbah (9/4 this morning)) chased her home with 11/8 shot Simply A Star (drifted from 11/10) in third.
“It's the first horse we have for Robert Sinclair and he's a lovely owner to have,” said the trainer's brother Shane afterwards.
“We thought five furlongs might be a bit sharp for her but she travelled like a nice horse and Colin said she had plenty of speed for five.
“But on that run we'd probably step her up in trip and hopefully get some black-type.
“She was showing us at home that she could gallop and that she was ready for a day out. She doesn't have any major entries and she'll improve a lot from that.”
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)