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Punchestown 2024
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Review killarney 22nd Aug
The Game Changer clears the last under Jonathan Burke from Hurricane Jojo (inside) and Queen Alphabet (nearest)
© Photo Healy Racing
< The Game Changer followed up his terrific third placing in the Galway Hurdle by taking the feature event at Killarney, the Download The Free Racing Post Mobile App Handicap Hurdle.
Racing in the familiar colours of the Gigginstown House Stud, the five-year-old was given a fine ride by claimer Johnny Burke, who bided his time before creeping closer to the front-end action as they came down the straight.
The Charlie Swan-trained top-weight (11-2) has not always looked an easy ride and he didn't hit the front until nearing the final flight, after which he negotiated the short run-in to beat Queen Alphabet by three-quarters of a length.
The main prize on the Flat section of the card was for the Easy Clean Limited Rated Race and it went to the Jim Bolger-trained Fiscal Focus who put two poor runs behind him.
Kevin Manning looked to be going best as they entered the final quarter-mile, but he had to pull out the stops to get the 9-2 shot home after a duel with Ruler Of France and there was only half a length in it.
Manning and Bolger doubled up when debutante Altesse (5-1) stuck on gamely to catch the odds-on Fastnet Mist inside the final furlong to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden by three-quarters of a length.
Aidan O'Brien's Rule The Waves (11-4) won at the fifth time of asking when he was brought up from the rear by Seamie Heffernan to assert in the final furlong for an easy victory by four and three-quarter lengths in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery.
The Denis Hogan-trained Winter Lion (5-1) went up 12lb for winning at the Galway Festival but it didn't stop him, Chris Hayes making full use of his stamina to go clear in the straight and gallop on strongly to take the seamusweldon.com Handicap by two lengths.< On My Own (16-1) lost the lead going to the last but rallied to take the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle under Luke Dempsey, while Johnny Burke doubled up on Discover Wexford (4-1) in the Killarney Oaks Hotel Maiden Hurdle.