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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Table serves it up to rivals
Table Forty Six led his rivals a merry dance to claim the qualified riders race under Pauline Ryan.
Ken Condon 's front-runner had her rivals in trouble from the two furlong marker and stayed on strongly inside the final furlong for a cosy three-and-a-half length success.
6/4 favourite Salute Him couldn't match the winner and eventually lost second as Fantasy King stayed on.
The winning mare was making her first start on the level since last September having been kept busy over timber lately.
"I genuinely thought that fourth place was the best we could hope for on ratings," said Condon.
"It was only at ten to ten yesterday that I saw there were only five declared so thought it was worth going.
"She has to have real quick ground. My wife Pauline gave her a great ride and she was allowed to dictate the pace from the front.
"After her win three runs back she had two poor fourth placings but the ground had slowed fractionally for her.
"She'll go back hurdling now. That'll keep the wife happy for a while!"
The stewards handed a two-day ban to Derek O'Connor, rider of Salute Him, for causing interference to Born To Excel in the home straight.
David Roche, who rode the last placed Bluebell Rock was also given a two-day ban for continuing to use his whip on his mount when it was clear his chance had gone.