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Punchestown 2024
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- Battle provides double for Oxx & Champ Murtagh
Donal Murphy
Battle provides double for Oxx & Champ Murtagh
Call To Battle completed a double on day for his trainer John Oxx and his jockey Johnny Murtagh as he took the Listed Eyrefield Stakes in good style.
The son of King's Best finished sixth on his debut at Gowran behind stable mate Akeed Wafi in September before loosing his maiden tag on his next start at the Curragh beating Golden Hill by two and a half lengths.
Running in the famous colours of Neil Jones the winner was third halfway. He then improved to challenge two furlongs out as Alla Speranza for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning hit the front.
Call To Battle found more on the run to the line and took up the lead inside the final furlong, keeping on well to score by half a length at the odds of 7/2.
Alla Speranza, the only filly in the race, kept on for second at 9/2 while the 7/4 favourite Tibet for Aidan O’Brien and Seamie Heffernan could only manage a disappointing sixth.
Winning trainer John Oxx said afterwards: "I'm delighted, he won well. He stays well and gets through that ground. He is well named as he finds a bit extra.
"He will be a nice horse over a distance next year. He is from a good family and could be a St Leger horse.
"Hopefully he will run in good races as he is Listed winner now. It remains to be seen how he will handle good ground."