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Punchestown 2024
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- Hightimeyouwon knows where the winning post is
Michael Graham
Hightimeyouwon knows where the winning post is
Hightimeyouwon mows down Who Not What, far side
© Photo Healy Racing
Hightimeyouwon came with a late thrust to mug Who Not What in the mile handicap at Leopardstown.
Who Not What attempted to slip away from the field inside the final quarter of a mile and found for Wayne Lordan on the rail.
However, Hightimeyouwon raced in touch and was switched out in seventh by Adam Caffrey on the run to the final furlong.
He motored home in the closing stages and claimed the leader in the final strides. The seven-year-old gelding went off at 18/1 and beat the 16/1 runner-up by a neck. Fastman (8/1) kept on the same distance away in third with Helpmeout (13/2) a head back in fourth.
Ado McGuinness said: “He gave him a good ride. He looks like a big three-mile chaser, but he wants it like the road.
“If he gets a smell of soft ground at all, he doesn't seem to act on it. He was good around Dundalk, but he was quite disappointing a few times on soft ground.
“He had come down a few pounds but not that much.
“Adam gave him plenty of room, he doesn't like being crowded either. He pulled him wide and he stayed at it well, galloped home well. Adam is down to 5lb now, but he's still good value.
“We'll try and find something else and rattle on with him. It's his second win since we got him so the boys are delighted.
“He had very good form years ago in premier handicaps and if, he wins again, he could sneak into one of them again.
“I'm sure we'll find something for him in Galway, it might not suit if it's slow ground.”
This was Hightimeyouwon's fifth career success.
The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident in the latter stages of this race, involving Jaafel ridden by C.J. MacRedmond, Eloquent Arthur (GB), ridden by S.D.Bowen, Thefullbackline (GB), ridden by G.M. Ryan, Dagoda ridden by C.T.Keane, and Maid To Shine ridden by M.P. Sheehy where it appeared interference took place. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence, C.T.Keane stated that he was starting to drop back when he received slight contact. M.P. Sheehy stated that he was going backwards when he had to take a precautionary check. G.M. Ryan stated that he felt he had kept a straight line. C.J. MacRedmond stated he had room to go for the gap that he took and did not contribute to the interference. S.D.Bowen stated that his mount drifted left and felt he straightened his mount as quick as he could. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards found S.D.Bowen was in breach of Rule 214 by riding carelessly. Having considered his record in this regard, the Raceday Stewards suspended S.D.Bowen for five racedays. Mr. Kieran O'Connor accompanied S.D.Bowen at this enquiry.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson