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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Touch landed with Bibliotheca
Michael Graham
Touch landed with Bibliotheca
Bibliotheca comes in clear
© Photo Healy Racing
Bibliotheca landed a gamble at Ballinrobe under an enterprising ride from Leigh Roche.
The five-year-old mare was drawn in stall 13 but was pushed up to grab the lead in the early stages.
She soon moved clear and had increased her advantage to over half a furlong sweeping past the four pole.
She was ridden two furlongs out with a 15 length lead and whizzed round the home bend to score by seven lengths from a staying-on Temasek Star (7/1).
The winner was backed from 10/1 to 5/1 favourite at the track and from as big as 25/1 before racing.
Handler Willie Browne said: "This track seemed to suit her and she was second here twice last year and was touched off one day. She was due one.
"The plan was to make the running if she could get out (from a wide draw in 13) and everything worked to plan for a change. She was flattered but it's great to win.
"She was (rated) 70 this time last year and she ran well in Roscommon when she couldn't get to the front and was only beaten 5l and the third and the fifth have won since."
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes