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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Don Diablo off the mark over hurdles
Mark Nunan
Don Diablo off the mark over hurdles
Don Diablo and Jordan Gainford
© Photo Healy Racing
After drawing a blank at the Punchestown Festival, Denise Foster's Cullentra House stable was back amongst the winners when Don Diablo (3/1) landed the BoyleSports Opportunity Maiden Hurdle.
Never out of the first three in five previous starts, the Flemensfirth 6-year-old led three out and kept on well to see off the challenge of Easca Peasca (5/1) by three and a half lengths.
It was an eventful contest from the outset with 7/4 favourite Que Famoso being one of three horses to lose their riders at the first flight of hurdles.
Winning rider Jordan Gainford said: "His runs were very solid. I got breathers into him and he enjoyed it. He jumped well and did it well, so hopefully he will be a nice horse going forward.
"It was a very messy race but we kept it simple, that was the plan."
Quotes from Michael Graham