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Punchestown 2024
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Review leopardstown 9th May
< Midas Touch stamped his class on the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown to enhance Aidan O'Brien's superb record in the Group Two contest.
Johnny Murtagh sat in last spot on the 2-1 joint-favourite as stablemate At First Sight took them along, but he had the move covered when market rival Address Unknown went into the lead approaching the furlong pole.
Midas Touch quickened up well and swept past to score by two lengths, giving the Ballydoyle handler his eighth victory in the race.
Dermot Weld was out of luck with Address Unknown, but he completed a treble on the card including the victory of promising filly Bethrah in the Derrinstown Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial.
Winner of a Limerick maiden last month, the 5-1 shot went in pursuit when favourite Atasari took the lead with a furlong to run and for a while it looked as if she would have to settle for second spot.
But she responded well to Pat Smullen's urgings and grabbed the prize in the shadow of the post, winning by a neck to book her Irish Guineas ticket.
The treble was completed when 1-3 favourite Famous Name took the www.totegoracingclub.com Amethyst Stakes (Group Three), but it was far from easy.
The five-year-old was sent on in mid-race by Smullen and readily saw off Duff but King Jock stayed on stoutly in the straight and got to within a diminishing short head at the line.
The trainer and jockey also won with Precious Gem (8-1), who wasn't far behind Fame And Glory in Listed company last time and found it easier in the Property Properly Handicap. She led a furlong out and won readily by a length and three-quarters.
Tommy Stack's newcomer Wave Of Applause was sent off at evens for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Maiden, but she had to pull out the stops for Wayne Lordan to get her head in front of long-time leader Catalpa Sail on the line.
John Oxx's Troas (9-2) stepped up on his promising debut over course and distance last month to take the Join The Tote Go Racing Club Maiden, staying on strongly under Fran Berry to overhaul