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Punchestown 2024
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Donal Murphy
O'Brien quickly doubles-up with Antilles
Antilles leads home Colfer Me
© Photo Healy Racing
Antilles made all in the McAuley Place Nursery, completing a quick-double for Aidan O'Brien, who was successful in the previous contest with Turnberry Isle
Last on debut over the course and distance in July, the son of War Front finished fifth on his next two starts.
Making his debut in handicap company this afternoon, the bay colt proved easy to back, opening on-course at 7/1 before eventually going off at 10s.
Pushed along from the stalls by Michael Hussey, he soon got to the front, and was three lengths clear as they entered the straight.
He was ridden from the two furlong pole, and while his advantage was rapidly diminishing inside the final furlong, he just held on to prevail by a neck. Colfer Me (8/1) was the one lunging late, but he ultimately had to settle for second under Shane Crosse for Joseph O'Brien. Crimson King (11/2) completed the places another four lengths back in third, while the 7/4 favourite Ferretti who is also trained by Aidan O'Brien, could only manage a disappointing fifth.
Hussey said afterwards: "The plan was to make it but he was just a bit slow away with the blinkers. Once I got him out he travelled away well and kept going to the line. He just got a bit tired at the line but faced it out well."
Additional reporting by Alan Magee