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Punchestown 2024
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- Dooly's second stint starts well
Alan Magee
Dooly's second stint starts well
Kims Dream stretches clear under Shane Gray
© Photo Healy Racing
Noel Dooly got his “new training career” off to a flier when first reserve Kims Dream showed a blistering turn of foot to take the Racecourse Challenge For Cystic Fibrosis Handicap.
The dual-purpose mare only got into this extended 1m3f 47-65 rated event after Rock Of Fire was taken out due to the fast ground conditions but she certainly took full advantage.
Shane Gray brought her wide to get a run entering the straight, and she passed a good portion of the 14-runner field in a matter of strides before stretching clear to beat Table Forty Six by five lengths.
The winner justified good support having been backed on course from 13/2 into 5/1, while Gun Shoot was a further length and a quarter back in third.
This was something of a “second coming” for the successful trainer as Dooly explained: “I only took out my licence two weeks ago so that’s great. I had two winners before but gave in my licence about six years ago and I’ve been working for Lar Byrne. We train in the same place in Clonroche.
“She won over hurdles in Clonmel a few runs back and was off a good mark here. She may go for the mares hurdle at Galway next Sunday, although that might come a bit soon. She could go to Cork either.”
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy