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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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- Review down royal 3rd Nov
Review down royal 3rd Nov
< Melon led home a Willie Mullins one-two in the feature race at Down Royal, the WKD Hurdle.
The 2-5 favourite burst between stablemate Coquin Mans and Wakea for home and looked to have the race won in a matter of strides
A sketchy leap at the last gave his rivals some hope, but that was soon quashed as Melon strode clear to beat his stablemate by four and a half lengths.
Davy Russell completed a quick double when guiding Just Janice to victory in the Grade Three Lough Construction Ltd. Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle.
Russell held the John Kiely-trained 9-2 chance in the rear of the field as hot favourite Mystic Theatre led the field, but she fell at the third last.
Avoiding the worst of some scrimmaging on the turn for home, Just Janice swept past her remaining rivals and galloped on well to beat Creation by four and a quarter lengths.
Russell's double started when Poli Roi justified cramped odds of 1-4 to land the Eventsec Maiden Hurdle.
Gordon Elliott's charge cruised upsides long-time leader Asbury Boss at the second last and soon put the race to bed, with even a slightly awkward leap at the last not enough to stop him scoring by three and a quarter lengths.
Elliott secured his second win when Tombstone landed the Porter And Co. Beginners Chase.
The 11-8 favourite looked set for a thrilling tussle with Gilt Shadow in the straight, but the latter took a crashing fall at the last, allowing Jack Kennedy to cruise home on Tombstone, 16 lengths ahead of Thebarrowman
Elliott then made it a treble when 4-9 favourite Felix Desjy landed the Killyhevlin Hotel Flat Race, though Cask Mate made Patrick Mullins' mount battle all the way to the line.
Gerry Lynch's 16-1 chance Alaliya landed the Allianz Handicap Hurdle under Liam Gilligan, while Michael McDonagh's Crazywork De Vassy (9-1) took the Toals Bookmakers Handicap Chase under Mark Enright.