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Punchestown 2024
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Give Thanks for clash of generations
Eziyra
© Photo Healy Racing
The Group Three Irish Stallion Farms EBF Give Thanks Stakes is the highlight on a quality card at Cork this evening and sees a real battle of the generations.
Roscommon one-two Flying Fairies and Glamorous Approach lead the way for the older fillies after their exploits in that Listed contest but the Classic generation have Eziyra to call upon.
Dermot Weld 's filly was third in the Irish Oaks at the Curragh last time so takes a drop in class for this contest.
Aidan O'Brien 's Key To My Heart and Puppetshow add further strength in depth to the three-year-old challenge.
O'Brien has a trio of three-year-olds in the Listed Platinum Stakes, with Belmont Derby seventh Whitecliffsofdover and Royal Ascot also-ran Sir John Lavery joined by Pavlenko who opened her account in a Curragh maiden last time.
Weld could trump them all with an older filly this time, though, as Rose De Pierre followed up a Listed win at Leopardstown with a good second in Group Three company at Naas last time.
Weld's newcomer Shelannga will have to be really smart to stop O'Brien's Magical in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
A full-sister to the high-class Rhododendron, Magical created a favourable impression when second on her debut at the Curragh and could be the answer, though stablemates Hence a full-sister to Group One winner Alice Springs, and Athena who is closely related to Irish Oaks winner Bracelet, both have to be considered.
There's a decent pot on offer for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap, which may be what has prompted Michael Halford to run two, in recent Leopardstown scorer Hunaina and the hat-trick seeking Surrounding
Dangers abound, thoughm as Legitimus Sorelle Delle Rose and Always Dancing all hold strong claims.
Curragh runner-up St Brelades Bay heads the weights for the Ticket Sales Online Apprentice Handicap, while the Follow Us On Twitter Handicap sees jockey Pat Smullen team up with Willie Mullins to ride Shoulda Lied