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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Icee shortens the journey home for Hourigan

Sat 12th Jun 2021, 16:44

Icee M B A and Tom Hamilton (nearest) jump the last upsides runner-up Natural BreezeIcee M B A and Tom Hamilton (nearest) jump the last upsides runner-up Natural Breeze
© Photo Healy Racing

Having finished third behind Arizona Flyer the winner of the first division, on her previous start at Tramore, Icee M B A (7/1) landed the second split of the Toals Bookmakers (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle (80-95).

Ridden by Tom Hamilton, the daughter of Yeats got past front-running 18/5 favourite Natural Breeze in the final 100 yards to win by a length and a quarter.

It was a just a second start in handicaps for the 6-year-old who, in similar vein to the previous winner who had come from Kanturk, made a long journey from Patrickswell Co. Limerick worthwhile for trainer Michael Hourigan.

“"I named her after my seven grandchildren at the time and there's an eighth one there now but I couldn't put that one in!

"She's not too bad but she is what she is.

"You're never confident nowadays, you couldn't be. I was coming here 35 years ago and I was very confident. Confidence isn't around now; you could meet anyone here today now."

Quotes from Michael Graham

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.