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Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
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Review leopardstown 22nd Jul
Dermot Weld was full of praise for Famous Name as he cruised to victory in the Jockey Club of Turkey Meld Stakes at Leopardstown.
Sent off the 4-7 favourite, he gave a stone and a ready two-and-a-half-length beating to Steinbeck always looking in control with the pair finishing well clear of the third.
Weld said: "He's probably the most consistent Group-performing horse in Europe, that's his ninth win and he remains unbeaten this year.
"He's an absolute joy to train and the ground conditions were ideal for him, and when conditions are right he is extremely hard to beat.
"He's better than ever and Pat (Smullen) said the same, he's better as a five-year-old.
"He's a very high-class horse and we'll discuss plans with Lord Grimthorpe (owner Khalid Abdullah's racing manager).
"We'll keep an open mind and look at races in France, in particular the Prix Jacques le Marois.
"We'll also look at the Arlington Million. Ground conditions are important, he needs an ease in the ground."< Zoffany did what his odds suggested he would with a stroll in the Group Three Korean Racing Authority Tyros Stakes.
Johnny Murtagh was on a tight rein throughout as Aidan O'Brien's two-year-old tracked stablemate Hugh Ruler before cantering to a two-length call.
Beaten just once, when sixth in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Dansili colt was giving O'Brien a third successive Tryos success after Cape Blanco last year and Rip Van Winkle in 2009.
Ladbrokes and William Hill left the winner unchanged at 25-1 for next year's 2000 Guineas.
Murtagh said: "He travelled very well, the ground wasn't ideal but he got through it and he's a smart horse."
Like Weld, Noel Meade has a big week coming up at Galway and showed he is in decent nick as he sent out Gracchus (9-1) to victory in the Rochestown Handicap.
Meade said: "He was entitled to win, he had a couple of respectable runs on the all-weather in Dundalk and in Gowran Park.
"He's in the mile-and-a-half handicap in Galway and he'll probably go for that."
Odds-on backers suffered