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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Halford & Whelan land nursery

Mon 20th Sep 2021, 17:48

Unconquerable Keen and Ronan Whelan (noseband) win from Coumshingaun (left)Unconquerable Keen and Ronan Whelan (noseband) win from Coumshingaun (left)
© Photo Healy Racing

The Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale Nursery went to 4/1 joint favourite Unconquerable Keen under Ronan Whelan.

The Clodovil colt, bred by owner Nick Hartery, had finished a promising third on nursery debut at the Curragh and, having raced handily, came through to head the front-running Rhythm Of Zain over a furlong out.

He was soon tackled by Coumshingaun but shrugged off that one’s challenge by a length with It’s Snowing finishing another lenght and a quarter back in third.

The other 4/1 joint favourite New Star never got involved before finishing eighth.

Winning trainer Michael Halford remarked: "He's a fine big horse and he's only getting the hang of sprinting now.

“We liked him, even from early in the year, and he was the first two-year-old we ran, we've only run three two-year-olds.

“He was very professional today and Ronan said if anything he got there a bit soon on him. When he picked him up, now he knows what to do.

“He has plenty of size and scope and he's got a good mind.

“He's a horse that we'd trade on but if nobody comes for him we'll keep going because I think there is a nice bit more to come from him.”

Quotes from Gary Carson

1st
4/1JFav
Tote €5.30 €1.70
2nd
1L
9/1
€3.20
3rd
1.25L
11/2
€1.70
4th
0.5L
9/2
bf
2L
4/1JFav
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.