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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review curragh 22nd Jul
Review curragh 22nd Jul
< Great Heavens found a devastating turn of foot in the testing conditions to destroy the opposition in the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh.
John Gosden's filly, a full-sister to King George runner-up Nathaniel, looked a beaten horse as she struggled to make any headway when the pace quickened in the straight.< Shirocco Star did Was no favours when she took charge in the closing stages, but William Buick pulled the 5-4 favourite into daylight and she flew down the outside and cleared away to score by three lengths.
The highly regarded Caponata lost her unbeaten record to the David Wachman-trained Tannery (5-1) in the Group Three Kilboy Estate Stakes.
Dermot Weld's charge was sent off the 11-10 favourite and all seemed to be going to plan when she hit the front inside the final quarter-mile, but Wayne Lordan produced Tannery with a late charge and she got up to win by half a length.
The Jebel Ali Stables & Racecourse Anglesey Stakes was diminished by the absence of likely hot favourite Cristoforo Colombo, but Grafelli (9-4) could hardly have won the Group Three event with more authority.
Jim Bolger's colt, a Naas maiden winner last time, was never far off the leaders and asserted on the outside a furlong out under Kevin Manning before pulling six and a half lengths lengths clear.
Grafelli made his debut in the Curragh race won by The United States and the runner-up, Mick Halford's Dibayani (8-13 favourite), took the Darley EBF Maiden, leading going into the final furlong under Johnny Murtagh and holding Orgilgo Bay by a cosy half-length.
Ado McGuinness's hugely improved Bubbly Bellini (11-2) picked up a big pot when forging ahead close home to take the Bettor.com Rockingham Handicap by three-quarters of a length under Ian Brennan.
Nina Carberry won her fourth Thalgo Ladies Derby Handicap when the Dick Brabazon-trained Placere (7-2) ran right away from last year's winner Paramount to score by eight lengths.