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Oliver newcomer punches above his weight

Colm O'Donoghue (left) & Gary Carroll (rider of the winner Punch Your Weight) with Andy Oliver after the raceColm O'Donoghue (left) & Gary Carroll (rider of the winner Punch Your Weight) with Andy Oliver after the race
© Photo Healy Racing

The Andy Oliver trained newcomer Punch Your Weight kept on best under Gary Carroll to take the last at Cork, the Family Fun Day Out Maiden over seven furlongs.

The 3yo son of Hawk Wing was sent off at 14/1 but he belied those odds racing in mid-division early on before keeping on best under pressure from over three furlongs out, getting up inside the final furlong to win by a length and a quarter.

The Dermot Weld trained Fastidious attempted to make all under Pat Smullen but he just couldn’t hold off the winner and had to settle for second under Pat Smullen at 7/2. Paene Magnus finished four and a half lengths back in third for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning at 2/1 while the 7/4 favourite Overcall could only manage fifth under Fran Berry for Jessica Harrington.

Andy Oliver said afterwards: "I'm very pleased with that. He was a very green horse. Gary (Carroll) said that he picked up as they went around the corner and just kept staying.

"I'm delighted with that and it looks like he will get further. The ground isn’t an issue with him and he will probably step up in trip.

"I was hoping for a good run but to win like that on his debut suggest he could be a good horse."

Oliver had a shorter priced runner in the seven furlong contest in the shape of 8/1 shot Velocity Of Light He finished fourth under Colm O'Donoghue.

Interestingly the dam of the winner was Sun Slash whose two career success came at Cork.

1st
14/1
Tote €26.40 €3.20
2nd
1.25L
7/2
€1.70
3rd
4.5L
2/1
€1.60
bf
1.75L
7/4Fav
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.