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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Larkin and Coakley on the scoresheet again

Mon 11th Jan 2021, 18:52

Emphatic and Ross Coakley (left) collar Buachaill Oir (centre)Emphatic and Ross Coakley (left) collar Buachaill Oir (centre)
© Photo Healy Racing

Emphatic (6/1) won the concluding Join Us On Instagram @dundalk_stadium Handicap (Div II) as he wore down long-time leader Buachaill Oir (11/1) inside the final furlong.

Half a length was the winning margin with Sideshow Bob (5/1) back in third. The gambled-on 9/2 favourite Fascinating Spirit beat only one home.

Emphatic had gained a breakthrough win at this venue in November. Trainer John Larkin teamed up with Ross Coakley for that success and the pair also combined for a couple of wins in the closing weeks of 2020 with Foreign Legion.

A delighted winning rider Coakley remarked: “He’s done it well and I really appreciate the support of Breen White and John Larkin. We’ve had a lucrative winter campaign so far and John’s horses are in super order.

“This horse tries his heart out. The surface is riding a bit tighter with the rain and that’s probably why he lugged a bit right. I’d say he was feeling the surface a bit.

“He had form on soft ground and I’d say when he gets back on the grass with a bit of juice in the ground then there should be more to come.

“He runs very well at the Festivals, the likes of Galway (runner-up twice there in 2019), and the owner loves being part of those Festivals so I’m sure he will be aimed at them again.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

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.