Simone is ridden out by Steven Clements to beat Lighthouse Warrier© Photo Healy Racing
Shane Nolan recorded his first double, as Simone took the concluding Punchestown Event Centre INH Flat Race, following on from Caolaneoin s win in the second.
Simone, who is a half-sister to Simonsig, was last seen finishing a good fourth in a Grade 3 Mares Bumper over the course last month, and she went off a well-backed 9/2 chance this evening (from 6's).
Settled towards rear by Steven Clements, the Adam Potts owned victor took closer order from five furlongs out, and was pushed along in fourth on the entrance to the straight.
She was switched to the outside with over a furlong to race, and soon came with her challenge, getting to the front inside the 200 yards, keeping on well to score by a length and a quarter.
Point-to-point winner Lighthouse Warrier finished second under Jamie Codd for Jonathan Sweeney at 5/1, while Peacocks Secret (13/2) was three and a half lengths back in third with Patrick Mullins in the saddle for his cousin Emmett. Narcissistic was sent off the 7/2 favourite (from 5's), and he finished fourth.
Nolan said afterwards: "It's brilliant. It's my first double and I was also having my first winner at Punchestown this evening.
"She was due that. The last day she was very unlucky not to have got blacktype, she got stopped up the straight.
"I probably shouldn't have run her in Wexford or Down Royal, on the ground, she didn't handle Wexford at all.
"Her two runs in Leopardstown earlier on were very good against good horses. Hopefully she'll keep improving.
"She could go to the sales or she could go hurdling. We don't mind whether we keep her or sell her. She's well bred so we wouldn't mind keeping her as a broodmare."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
