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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- O'Keeffe drives Stealthy Tom home
Michael Graham
O'Keeffe drives Stealthy Tom home
Stealthy Tom negotiates the last
© Photo Healy Racing
Stealthy Tom was driven out to account for a rallying Strong Roots in the second division of the two mile one handicap hurdle at Wexford.
The well backed 11/4 favourite (from 6/1 in the morning and with two notable non runners) picked off front-running Strong Roots at the penultimate Flight.
He looked to have the race won as he began to move away from Strong Roots but the latter, to his credit, rallied on the run-in forcing Darragh O'Keeffe to get busy on an idling leader.
The favourite came in by two lengths from the 8/1 runner-up. Muyam Spirit completed the placings 10 lengths adrift in third at 15/2.
Trainer Enda Bolger said: "That was nice and he got a nice ride from Darragh. We were just a bit worried about the ground when we got here but he handled it well, and kept off of the bad ground. We will keep him going for the summer.
"He didn’t inherit (half-brother) Gilgamboa’s ability but he is a genuine little fella and he jumps well. He is only a six-year-old, so there is a long way to go with him."
Additional reporting by Donal Murphy