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Punchestown 2024
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Carlos makes it three for Ballydoyle
Johnny Murtagh got himself into the winners' enclosure when Don Carlos completed a treble for trainer Aidan O'Brien in the Newgrange Race at Navan.
The Galileo colt was making his return to action having finished well-beaten when last seen in the Lingfield Derby Trial back in May.
Murtagh nursed his mount into contention at the furlong pole and he went on in the closing stages for a cosy length-and-a-quarter success over 7/4f Choose Me
"He's a nice big horse and we thought he would be a nice three-year-old at the start of the year," said Murtagh.
"The ground was a bit firm for him at Newmarket and then he ran in a Derby trial. He had a little bit of a setback and has had a bit of time off to recover.
"Aidan said he would improve for the run and he has won snug. Hopefully we can find something for him before the end of the year.
"It's testing up the hill and I didn't want to commit too early. He was always going to win from a furlong out and I didn't have to punish him." Exodus had earlier been an impressive winner of the colts & geldings maiden under Seamus Heffernan while Eirnin had edged the verdict from stablemate Diamond Brooch in the fillies maiden.