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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Dun Na Sead speeds home over the flying five

Fri 23rd Jun 2023, 20:52

Dun Na Sead, far side, sees them offDun Na Sead, far side, sees them off
© Photo Healy Racing

Dun Na Sead (10/3) blasted home to take the honours in the Mount Charles Handicap over the flying five furlongs in Down Royal.

Oisin McSweeney 's mount disputed the lead with the gambled-on Livingston Range (20/1 to 8/1) and held a narrow lead at the half-way stage.

She showed good pace in the final furlong to win by half a length from Tamazu (16/1). Arnhem was three-parts of a length back in third at 16/1.

Trainer Kieran Cotter said: "A fast five (furlongs) seems to be the call for her alright - Tipperary, Cork and here. A stiff five she seems to be getting caught late on.

"The last time she won in Dundalk she won off this mark. She had some consistent efforts and she wasn't really coming down the ratings.

"We were fairly confident coming here today if everything went to plan. She has loads and loads of pace.

"We have been banging this drum for a while but at the Guineas meeting (at the Curragh) there wasn't one race for a five-furlong horse. Now we have the Derby weekend coming up and we have one race, the Rockingham which is a top-end handicap. They wonder why there are no sprinters in Ireland - you have to put the races on for them. They (sprinters) have their part to play and we have done well with them.

"We didn't look beyond today - today was the plan for a while. We will see what he (handicapper) does. Hopefully he won't give her more than a pound or two."

1st
10/3Fav
Tote €4.34 €1.60
2nd
0.5L
16/1
€5.50
3rd
0.75L
7/1
€2.40
4th
1.5L
14/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.