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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Donal Murphy
Slattery & Skehan on the mark with Warrior
Wilms Warrior and Damien Skehan pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing
Andy Slattery and Damien Skehan combined to take the bumper at Kilbeggan, the Follow Us On Twitter INH Flat Race, with Wilms Warrior
Successful on her second start in a point-to-point at Horse And Jockey in March, the five-year-old daughter of Dubai Destination ran a fine race to finish fourth on her racecourse debut at Clonmel in May.
Stepped up to two and a half miles today, she was as short as 7/4 this morning. She opened on-course at 5/2, touching 3's before going off an 11/4 chance.
After racing keenly behind the leaders, she improved into second with a circuit to race. She hit the front from four furlongs out, and was ridden over a furlong from home, going on to score by three lengths.
Newcomer Barrahooley finished second under Nina Carberry for Gordon Elliott at 3/1 (from 4's), while Mother's Best (8/1) was four and a quarter lengths back in third for Nicky Stokes. Tara Gig was sent off the 2/1 favourite (from 5's last night) and he finished fourth under Jamie Codd for Andrew McNamara junior.
Andy Slattery said afterwards: "Damien said that she would be better in a better race. He said she was pulling herself up in front.
"She is probably unlucky not to be unbeaten. She was very unlucky in Clonmel where we sat way out of our ground and she did the same thing in a point-to-point where she pulled up in front.
"She's won a point-to-point and a bumper now. She's in a long time so we might give her a run in a mares hurdle and then give her a break.
"Her owner Mick Murray is from Dungarvan and is a horse physiotherapist."
Additional reporting Gary Carson