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Punchestown 2024
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Review naas 3rd Jun
Connacht Council nearside gets up to deny Zalty (farside) with Lightin Hopkins in the centre
© Photo Healy Racing
< Sandiva justified 7-4 favouritism with a taking performance in the Coolmore Stud EBF Fillies' Sprint Stakes at Naas.
Sent over from Richard Fahey's North Yorkshire stable following a six-length debut demolition at Nottingham, the daughter of Footstepsinthesand took the step up to Listed level in her stride under Pat Smullen.
The more experienced Heart Focus fought bravely in defeat but she was two lengths down at the line, while Fig Roll was third.
Aidan O'Brien's Reply took advantage of the drop to Listed level with a convincing victory in the Owenstown Stud Stakes.
Although without success since September 2011, the Oasis Dream colt had run several excellent races in the interim, including when second to Hitchens in the Greenlands at the Curragh on Guineas day.
The 2-1 favourite settled behind the pace for Joseph O'Brien and burst clear passing the two-pole before holding Tobann by two and a quarter lengths.
The O'Brien team also claimed Listed honours with Stubbs (8-13 favourite) in the Alfred Nobel Rochestown Stakes.
The race was won last year by Dawn Approach and Stubbs looks to have an exciting career ahead of him after supplementing last month's Navan maiden triumph with an explosive length and three-quarter defeat of Sacha Park
John Egan gave Ramsa a great ride to claim the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Egan, who also trains the daughter of Shamardal, sent the 7-2 chance into a clear lead over a quarter of a mile from home and, although her stride was shortening, she dug deep to repel the fast-finishing favourite One True Love by a nose.< Slipper Orchid maintained Mick Halford and Shane Foley's good run of form with victory in the www.thetote.com BBQ Evenings Handicap.
The filly came under pressure over a furlong out but really started to motor inside the distance and ultimately scored a shade cosily by half a length from Tarrsille
Smullen doubled up for the day on Connacht Council (5-1) in the Follow Us On Facebook Handicap.