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Punchestown 2024
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Alan Magee
Lee completes Down Royal treble on Keke
Keke (No.2) and Billy Lee
© Photo Healy Racing
Billy Lee moved onto the 40-winner mark for the season when completing a treble at Down Royal as Keke following up a win at Navan earlier this month by taking the G Dunlop Electrical Handicap.
The 9/4 favourite tracked the leaders in this five-furlong sprint and eventually got a gap entering the final furlong.
The Eddie Lynam-trained gelding quickened up nicely to collar Cuban Grey in the closing stages by a neck with Realtin Fantasy half-a-length back in third.
Lynam said: "It wouldn't be the simplest track to ride this lad on. You got to take your time early because he would get keen.
"It worked out well and we got the right result. On another day he could have been fifth or sixth (the way they finished).
"People talk about riding for luck but when you are riding for it, you need it. He was a bit unlucky in Naas one day and he was a bit unlucky in his maiden back here.
"If you look at it there, they have gone 11 seconds, 10.9 seconds mid-race, so we were buying lengths when they were cheap and gave them away when they were expensive!
"He might improve a pound or two, I hope. You'd love to try him over six. The only day he bombed out was the day we rode him prominently. He's just not the brightest horse in the world."
Lee was also on the mark earlier aboard the Jack Davison-trained pair Shamrock Breeze and She’s Quality.
Quotes by Michael Graham