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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Lily Of The Glen toughs it out under Leonard
Michael Graham
Lily Of The Glen toughs it out under Leonard
Lily Of The Glen and Killian Leonard, red and white, away from the stalls
© Photo Healy Racing
First-reserve Lily Of The Glen made the most of getting a run in the second split of the 1m2f handicap in Dundalk as she delivered for trainer Natalia Lupini.
The 9/1 shot worked her way to the front racing to the final furlong and soon edged right. An absolute wall of horses held chances at the furlong pole but Lily Of The Glen was tough off the front as she passed the post half a length up on Stardayz (10/1). Gemini Man was just a neck away in third at 11/2 from much bigger in the morning.
Lupini said: “She has been competitive in these handicaps at this level before and it was nice that everything fell right for her today.
“Luckily enough she got in as a reserve and Killian (Leonard) gave her a lovely spin around. He got a lovely position from a bad draw and she stayed on well. He said she battled well to the line.
“Hopefully the handicapper will be kind and we'll find another race for her at this sort of level and trip. I'd say that's her trip and we'll see how it goes over the winter.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson