Search
Punchestown 2024
Punchestown 2024
- irishracing.com
- Punchestown
- News
- Review leopardstown 4th Nov
Review leopardstown 4th Nov
Lady Wingshot & Ronan Whelan approaching the line
© Photo Healy Racing
Jim Bolger brought the curtain down on the Flat season with a superb Leopardstown treble highlighted by the victory of Lady Wingshot in the Knockaire Stakes.
Already a Group Three winner this campaign, Listed company held no fears for the filly, who was sent off the 2-1 favourite and raced in fourth place for most of the way.
Ronan Whelan sent her into the lead approaching the final furlong and she quickened up smartly to leave the opposition trailing, beating Ondeafears by four lengths.
The new champion apprentice had already won the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden on another Coolcullen inmate in Bunairgead (3-1 favourite), who strode clear from the furlong pole to win by three lengths.
Rory Cleary completed the trainer's treble when Miracle Cure (7-2) romped away with the Book Tickets Online Handicap, winning by a length and three-quarters.
The other Listed race on the card, the Eyrefield Stakes, fell to the Patrick Prendergast-trained Sugar Boy who was completing a hat-trick on his step up from handicap company.
Chris Hayes opted to race wide of the rest in search of better ground and it paid off as the youngster (4-1) powered away from the top of the straight to win by six and a half lengths.
Aidan O'Brien, champion trainer once again, introduced a potentially smart juvenile in the shape of the Galileo colt Foundry (9-2), who streaked clear to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF (C & G) Maiden by five and a half lengths under Seamie Heffernan.
The season concluded with a thrilling finish to the Leopardstown November Handicap, in which Ado McGuinness's Face Value (12-1), who held a big lead at one stage, was passed by Albert Bridge on the home turn but rallied to score by a neck under Ian Brennan.
At Cork, Dessie Hughes's Munster National winner Raz De Maree (11-2) completed a big double by landing a dramatic Paddy Power Cork Grand National under Bryan Cooper, after leader Outlaw Pete threw it away by running out at the final fence.