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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review punchestown 26th Apr
Review punchestown 26th Apr
< Sizing John capped a brilliant year with a stirring triumph in the Coral Punchestown Gold Cup on day two of the Festival.< Coneygree dictated matters to suit himself and after losing the lead to Djakadam when nodding on landing two out, battled back gamely.
Sizing John (9-10 favourite) was on their outside and little separated the trio as they jumped the last, but Sizing John and Djakadam pulled clear and in a pulsating head-bobbing finish, Jessie Harrington's star got the verdict to add to his victories in the Irish Gold Cup and Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Jockey Robbie Power was also on the mark in the same colours of Ann and Alan Potts when 14-1 shot Sizing Granite gave Colin Tizzard his second victory of the week in the Guinness Handicap Chase.< Champagne Classic struck a significant blow in Gordon Elliott's title assault as he held off the Willie Mullins pair of Penhill and Tin Soldier in the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle.
Stepping up in grade after his win in the Martin Pipe, the 14-1 chance travelled sweetly to take the lead approaching the last and he saw it out really well to dispose of Penhill by two and a quarter lengths.
Elliott followed up when Fayonagh supplemented her Cheltenham success in the Racing Post Champion I.N.H. Flat Race.
In contrast to her Champion Bumper win, when she came from the back, the 11-8 favourite made the running and strolled five and a half lengths clear of Paloma Blue to help Jamie Codd edge closer to the amateur jockeys' crown.
Codd later saw off title rival Patrick Mullins when 11-4 favourite Minutestomidnight denied Mystic Theatre in the Weatherbys General Stud Book EBF Mares Flat Race.
Blinkers worked the oracle for C'est Jersey (7-1) in the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle, while Ryan Treacy got Harrington's Magic Of Light (11-1) up in the dying strides in the Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle.