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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review PUNCHESTOWN 28TH MAY
Review PUNCHESTOWN 28TH MAY
Ruby Walsh stole the show at Punchestown's evening meeting with a fabulous four-timer.
The champion jockey completed the quartet when the Willie Mullins-trained Euro Leader made all to land the featured www.punchestown.com Chase in good style.
The gelding had found the going too hot in Grade 1 events at Fairyhouse and Punchestown but proved too good for his rivals in this grade.
Tiger Cry, under Conor O'Dwyer, looked a big danger before the straight but faded badly to finish third. Khairambar stayed on to chase the winner home by two-and-a-half lengths.
It had been a similar story in the Kildare Nationalist Hurdle as Walsh showed his strength to get Akhtari home by three-parts of a length from Mind The Square.
O'Dwyer was also aboard that rival and appeared to be travelling ominously well turning for home. But he didn't find as much as anticipated and couldn't find a way past the Dessie Hughes-trained Akhtari.
Walsh was seen at his brilliant best when delivering Mr McAuley with a perfectly timed run to claim the Exchange Marketing Hurdle.
Mick Halford's gelding had failed to transfer his bumper form to hurdles previously but Walsh got a great tune out of him and produced him to collar On The Net after the last for a neck success.
'The going, trip and jockey were a big help today. He needs the better ground and we'll keep him going and try and find another race quickly,' said Halford.
Daly Said It proved a much easier winner in the opening Bank Of Scotland Maiden Hurdle. Walsh sent the Tony Martin-trained gelding to the front before the last and he stretched clear for a six-length verdict over Dubai King.
Winning-owner Seamus Ross enjoyed a quick double when Reisk Superman took the Sheehy Motors Audi Handicap Hurdle for Shane Donohue and Davy Russell.
Walsh looked set for number five when Livingstonebramble came to challenge at the last in the Abbey Electrical Handicap Chase but he couldn't find a way past Ursumman in the closing stages.