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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- O'Brien filly halts Weld sizzling run
O'Brien filly halts Weld sizzling run
Diamondsandrubies and Seamie Heffernan account for Chinese Light and Pat Smullen
© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld's lightning start to the season was expected to continue with 4/7 chance, Chinese Light in the Book Online At TipperaryRaces.ie Fillies Maiden, but Aidan O'Brien put a spanner in the works with the Seamie Heffernan-ridden Diamondsandrubies (6/1).
The victorious Fastnet Rock filly dwelt but she was soon tracking the pace that was set by Chinese Light.
Pat Smullen tried to fend them off, on the latter, but she was headed by Diamondsandrubies over a furlong out. The Ballydoyle representative went on to score by two and a quarter lengths.
"She did it nice and is a well bred filly," said O'Brien.
"She will have no problem stepping up in trip, her dam got a mile and a half, and she might go for a mile and a quarter Listed race at Navan next. She seemed to handle that ground but I was worried about it for her." (TW & EM)