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Punchestown 2024
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- McNamara tips his hat to Doyle
Michael Graham
McNamara tips his hat to Doyle
Mandarin Monarch relishes a staying trip
© Photo Healy Racing
Mandarin Monarch forged on well to land the concluding two mile one handicap in Limerick.
The seven-year-old gelding made progress over a quarter of a mile out, and was steered into the lead by Joe Doyle with a furlong and a half to travel.
He wasn't for stopping in this staying test, as he closed it out by a length and three quarters. Cabalgata (11/1) finished second, a short head in front of 3/1 favourite Penny Out
Andrew McNamara said: "He's been a great servant for us. He ran a nice race at Fairyhouse when he didn't get the clearest run up the straight and Joe (Doyle) said the step up to two miles would be a help to him. The horse is probably getting a bit slower as he gets older.
"He'll go to Galway now, the lads who own him are from there and they've been bursting to go there since they bought him but haven't made it yet. He'll probably run in a two-mile handicap hurdle there. It's Joe's first winner for me and I've found him very good to deal with."
Additional reporting by Tom Weekes