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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Coen excels on Donnelly's Dha Leath

Wed 6th Oct 2021, 17:34

Dha Leath and Ben Coen (far side) win from Chacha Dancer
Dha Leath and Ben Coen (far side) win from Chacha Dancer
© Photo Healy Racing

Division one of the Yellow Furze Handicap went to Dha Leath (12/1) who benefitted from a strong drive from Ben Coen.

Coen tracked the leaders on the 3-year-old filly, runner-up on three occasions last year, before challenging with two furlongs to race.

Soon in front, Coen kept his mount up to her work to see off persistent rival Chacha Dancer (4/1) by half a length with the 11-year-old maiden Paddytheirishman another two and a half lengths back in third at odds of 100/1.

Dha Leath, rated 76 at the start of the season, was making the breakthrough here off a rating of 59 on her fifteenth start.

Winning trainer Garvan Donnelly said: “She deserved that as she's been knocking on the door and the bit of rain that fell helped as she does like a bit of juice in the ground.

“She's by Mehmas but she stays well and she's tough out. She had dropped to a nice mark.

“She was doing things right as a two-year-old and we thought she wasn't too bad. I thought if she brought anything like that to the races today it would make all the difference. It was a long half furlong at the finish!

“She has a bit of form on the all-weather but I'd say she's probably better off on the grass and maybe she has improved for a little bit of time as well.”

Quotes from Gary Carson

1st
12/1
Tote €17.60 €3.60
2nd
0.5L
4/1
€1.60
3rd
2.5L
100/1
€5.90
4th
6L
14/1
€3.60
bf
3L
7/2Fav
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.