Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- Home
- News
Donal Murphy
Sunset too Hot for Nursery rivals
Hot Sunsent (nearest) and Our Louise battle out the finish
© Photo Healy Racing
Despite proving easy-to-back, Hot Sunset made the breakthrough in the Knocknarea Nursery Handicap.
Third on her last two starts, the Joe Murray trained filly was as short as 10/3 in early shows, but drifted out to a starting price of 8/1.
Settled behind the leader in second, the Hot Streak bay was ridden over a furlong from home and soon challenged the front-running Our Louise
The pair had a good scrap inside the final furlong, with Hot Sunset getting on top in the closing stages, going on to prevail by half a length under Joe Doyle for owners Patrick O'Brien and Stephen Luddy.
Miss Louise (10/1) had to settle for second under Siobhan Rutledge for Liam McAteer, while Arch Enemy (4/1jfav from 11s this morning) finished fastest of all down the outer and was another half a length back in third. Shinkansen was the other joint-favourite and he finished a disappointing sixth.
Lisa Sheridan, wife of the winning trainer, said: "She's a lovely little filly who takes her racing really well. She'd a good run in Navan the last time when she battled well, and she saw it out well today.
"She'll go for something similar and should stay a bit further.
"I'm delighted for the owners, Patrick O’Brien and Stephen Luddy, who are here with their families and friends and they gave her a good cheer home."
Additional reporting by Mark Nunan