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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Double for Hanlon as Ardglen obliges
Double for Hanlon as Ardglen obliges
Ardglen provided his trainer John Hanlon with a double on the card as he took the feature Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Chase with Declan Bates aboard.
Hanlon certainly has his string in top form after having three winner, Trabajo, Murchu and Alfa Beat in the Kerry National, at Listowel last week and continued the trend in the first this afternoon with Streets Of Newyork
His winner here Ardglen, won two Handicap Hurdles in the space of four days in December of last year at Limerick and Tramore respectively.
He then disappointed on his next two starts finishing down the field at both Fairyhouse and Limerick.
Having got his mark over fences by running in three novice chases last September and October he took his opportunity today winning at the very short price 5/4 favourite. Westmeath Bachelor (12/1) made most of the running but he was headed by the winner at the second last. Despite making a slight mistake at the last he kept on well to score by a length and a quarter as Westmeath Bachelor came with a renewed challenge, but it was ultimately too late.
Caherleen completed the placings a further two and three parts of a length back in third at 9/1.
Winning trainer John Hanlon said afterwards: "He was entitled to win off that mark. He is entered in Perth on Thursday but I don't think we will bother with that now.
"I thought the other were getting to him near the line."