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Punchestown 2024
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Donal Murphy
Tiger roars to a second success
Wee Tiger and Eoin O'Brien pictured on their way to victory
© Photo Healy Racing
Without a win in his first twenty-seven starts, Wee Tiger recorded his second success in the space of twelve days, as he made all in the three mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF Handicap Hurdle.
Available at 7/2 in early shows, the Ray Hackett trained gelding came in for good market support, opening on-course at 2/1, before going off the clear favourite at 7/4.
Sent straight to the front by Eoin O'Brien, he travelled best entering the straight and soon went a few lengths clear.
He was ridden and kept up the gallop from the second last, going on to score by an eased down length and three parts from 33/1 outsider Whatever It Takes in second.
The front two, who raced in first and second throughout, were seven lengths clear of Batchelors Walk (33/1) in third.
The hat-trick seeking Running In Heels proved easy to back, and she finished fourth.
Hackett said afterwards: "He just got away with the ground and we're lucky his race wasn't in another hour.
"He settled well and doesn't have to make the running but he seems to enjoy bowling along here.
"We have him in Galway on the Wednesday and hopefully he gets in there now. I'm delighted with him.
"Eoin seems to click with him and is a great jockey in fairness to him; he comes in to school and ride work for me."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes