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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Stroll Patrol shows her turn of foot
Michael Graham
Stroll Patrol shows her turn of foot
Stroll Patrol, right, picks off the leaders in the Curragh
© Photo Healy Racing
Stroll Patrol (20/1) unleashed a strong finishing burst to cut down Your Pal Tal and In Salutem in the extended six-furlong handicap at the Curragh.
Andrea Atzeni, in the Qatar Racing Limited silks, raced along the rail in seventh as Balmont Mast and Whozthecat set the fractions.
Your Pal Tal and In Salutem came through to lead inside the final furlong but Stroll Patrol got a lovely split between horses at the furlong marker and stayed on strongly to get up in the closing stages by three parts of a length.
Your Pal Tal came in second at 25/1. In Salutem was half a length away in third at 9/1.
Andrea Atzeni said: "She's always been a nice filly. She was a little bit disappointing the last few times but Johnny (Murtagh) was very confident today before the race. To be honest with yout the filly looks a lot better this time and fast ground suited her as well.
"She felt different today, she has come to herself. She looked good in the paddock, felt good going down and was very good in the race. On her form back in the day she'd be there with a great chance. She did it well. She has a great turn of foot. They went a nice gallop and she settled well and she picked up well."
Johnny Murtagh said: "She came with a big reputation earlier in the year but it hadn't quite happened for her yet.
"Colin Keane said the last day to drop her back in trip as she wasn't short of speed. Andrea gave her a lovely ride and said she felt like a different filly. She probably likes the warmer weather.
"It was a nice pot to win and hopefully she can go on to better things. We always felt she was better than a handicapper and earlier in the year we were scratching our heads how she hadn't won.
"She showed a nice turn of foot and likes that ground. I had her in at Naas on Wednesday but I'll probably treat her like a good one now and mind her."
The Stewards enquired into an incident in the final furlong involving Balmont Mast, ridden by C. O'Donoghue, and Bainne ridden by K.J. Leonard, where it appeared Bainne ran short of room on the rails and was forced to check. J. F. Levins attended this enquiry with apprentice K.J. Leonard. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Stewards found C. O'Donoghue in breach of Rule 214 by riding carelessly and having taken his record into account the Stewards suspended him for two race days.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson