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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

First racecourse double for Rebel county trainer Paul O'Flynn

Mon 5th Oct 2020, 18:07

Different Spot and Darragh O'Keeffe jump the last Different Spot and Darragh O'Keeffe jump the last
© Photo Healy Racing

Trainer Paul O’Flynn, based in Ballyclough near Mallow, completed a 66/1 double when Different Spot (7/2 fav) took the Towers Hotel Handicap Chase.

The Stowaway 7-year-old hit the front under Darragh O’Keeffe four out and was clear up the home straight before crossing the line seven and a half lengths ahead of Highest Benefit (18/1), with Capture the Drama (25/1) another head away in third.

A point-to-point winner in 2018, Different Spot joined present connections this year and, after a couple of fair runs in maiden hurdles, was an encouraging third in his first handicap chase at Listowel last month.

The winning handler was a substitute on the Cork team that won their seventh, and most recent, All Ireland Football title in 2010 when they defeated Down in the final.

Winning trainer Paul O’Flynn said: "The horse came from Enda Bolger's and had bits of problems but we sorted them out and he is a lovely horse. He never had leg trouble but had niggles which were at him a bit and he is a brilliant horse to get.

"Darragh (O'Keeffe) did a lot of work with him and has nursed him along and he is a good horse. We've no race in mind next but will have a look tonight.

"That's my first racecourse double but I've had doubles in point-to-points in the past."

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes

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.