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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Michael Graham
Ben Siegel guns down his rivals
Ben Siegel, centre, gets up from Razdan, right and Kojin, left
© Photo Healy Racing
Ben Siegel s power-packed finish enabled him to get up in the final stride of Ballinrobe's Lakes Gift Card Handicap at 10/3.
The 3/1 market leader Kojin came to claim Rugaday approaching the home straight and was ridden by Shane Foley to go for home over a furlong out.
He kept on, however, Ben Siegel stormed after him in the final 100 yards with Razdan (10/3) also unleashing his challenge from further back.
Ben Siegel hit the line first by a head from the flying Razdan (who lost many lengths at the start) and a nose to Kojin.
Winning jockey Chris Hayes said: "He was good. Obviously the drop back in trip on a fast trip like this was a concern but Noel (Meade) was fairly confident. I tried to keep it as simple as I could and swing him out for one solid run up the straight.
"He is probably good for another length maybe, I thought he pulled up when I got there. I wasn't overly hard on him, I thought he was going better for hands and heels than the couple of smacks I gave him.
"He will improve for going back up in trip."
Benjamin 'Bugsy' Siegel was an American mobster who was a key player in the development of the Las Vegas Strip.
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy