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Punchestown 2024
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Review tipperary 5th Oct
Rebel Fitz and Barry Geraghty power to victory at Tipperary
© Photo Healy Racing
< Rebel Fitz recorded win number 18 of his illustrious career with a commanding victory in the Istabraq Hurdle at Tipperary.
The conditions of the Grade Two contest suited Mick Winters' nine-year-old and he was sent off the 3-10 favourite on his return to the smaller obstacles, with Barry Geraghty taking no chances as he tracked main rival Darwins Fox through much of the contest.
The jockey sneaked a look back for non-existent dangers as he took the lead shortly after the second-last and Rebel Fitz, who hadn't been particularly fluent, flew the last to win by four and a half lengths.
Ruby Walsh returned to action from a four-month lay-off following surgery on his shoulder with one ride on the card, and Indevan obliged with a ready victory in the Grade Three Like A Butterfly Novice Chase.
Willie Mullins' 5-6 favourite got in a bit close to one or two of his fences, but there were no alarms and after Walsh sent him into the lead entering the straight it was straightforward, the six-year-old coming six lengths clear.
Paul Carberry drove Rich Coast into the lead between the final two flights in the Grade Three Dolores Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle and Noel Meade's 8-1 chance came away to beat favourite Macnicholson by three and a half lengths.
Dermot Weld's filly Big Break (3-1) won the main race on the Flat programme, heading Brendan Brackan going to the final furlong in the Group Three Coolmore Stud Home Of Champions Concorde Stakes and doing enough under Leigh Roche to hold the runner-up's renewed challenge by half a length.
Connor King got Seanie to the front from his wide draw in the Tote Jackpot Races 3 To 6 Handicap and David Marnane's 9-1 shot had the race in the bag at the furlong pole before winning by a length and three-quarters.< Vilman stepped up on his Curragh third to land the Athassel House Stud EBF Maiden, though Mick Halford's 4-5 favourite never looked to be travelling well and had to pull out the stops for Shane Foley to score by a neck.