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Intenser a welcome winner for Duke

Intenser (farside) is driven out by Rory Cleary to beat Sauanna Belle and Ohh LalaIntenser (farside) is driven out by Rory Cleary to beat Sauanna Belle and Ohh Lala
© Photo Healy Racing

Brendan Duke saddled a welcome winner when Intenser battled to victory in the nursery at the Curragh.

Rory Cleary produced the Intense Focus gelding to challenge at the furlong pole and he knuckled down well to lead in the closing stages for a half length victory over Sauanna Belle

The Jackie Bolger-owned gelding had run with promise at Down Royal in May but had been last of eight on his most recent maiden start at Tipperary in early June.

It was a first winner since mid-April for the trainer and he said:- “They have been running great all year but I've had 11 seconds and six that have been beaten less than a head.

“I signed up for a course on the internet during the week about how to survive in the wilderness as that's how I felt!

“I'm delighted he's won. It's made a big difference gelding him. He just got there and the handicapper probably did a good job rating them.

“Hopefully we'll find another day somewhere and we've been thinking about the nursery in Galway for a long time with him.”

1st
14/1
Tote €16.00 €4.20
2nd
0.5L
11/4
€2.20
3rd
hd
9/4Fav
4th
1.25L
9/2
About Gary Carson
Gary started out as a trainee/assistant journalist with the Sporting Life newspaper and has worked in the racing industry for over 25 years. He has been with the Press Association since 2013 and won the Irish Field Nap Table in 2016. He enjoys working with horses and trained his own horse, Mamaslittlestar, to win a point-to-point in 2019.