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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

3 winners in 3 days for Luke McAteer

Fri 4th Sep 2020, 14:30

Verbal Fencing and Luke McAteer (left) beat Barretstown by a nose in the nurseryVerbal Fencing and Luke McAteer (left) beat Barretstown by a nose in the nursery
© Photo Healy Racing

The Paddy Power Live Streaming Nursery produced a thrilling finish as the front-running Verbal Fencing (11/4) got the verdict by a nose in a head-bobber with Barretstown (28/1).

The homebred Vocalised filly, trained by Jim Bolger, made the running until tackled inside the final furlong by the eventual runner-up, who met a bit of interference just after the road crossing two furlongs from home.

The scopier colt looked like he might prevail, but the winning filly, in first-time headgear, battled well and her head was down at the right time.

Reserve White Pepper (25/1) came home well from off the pace to be a closing third, three quarters of a length further back.

The winner is a half-sister to two winners, and had previously been third in a nursery at the Curragh, a place behind Omakase who disappointed in 12th on this occasion having been sent off the 9/4 favourite.

It was an eighth winner in the last three weeks for the resurgent Bolger stable, and a third in three days for 7lbs claimer Luke McAteer who said: "She's tough and she stays well. She probably hasn't much speed, but stuck at it well to the line and going further she will be a better filly.

"She was very tough and when the boss has one like this you always have a bit of confidence that you can win.

"Big thanks to Kevin (Manning), he told me I would win if I made the running and got her up there early. She got to the line and that is what it is all about."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham

1st
11/4
Tote €3.90 €2.20
2nd
nose
28/1
€14.80
3rd
0.75L
25/1
€6.90
4th
1.5L
28/1
bf
4.75L
9/4Fav
About Mark Nunan
Mark has followed racing since he was a teenager and worked for many years as a broadcaster with the Irish version of Racecall. He joined the Press Association in 2019 and is also a contributor to the Racing Post. A native of Kildare, he now lives in Sligo.