Donohoe hails 'outstanding talent' at Dundalk Sixteen-year-old apprentice jockey Nicola Burns has been the standout talent to emerge from this season’s Dundalk’s winter series and today steered her ninth winner, landing the Put The Fun In Fundraising At Dundalk Handicap on Autocrat (4/1). Burns began race-riding in October when steering a Curragh winner for her trainer father Robbie Burns and today steered Autocrat to a nicely judged success. Eighty Eight held a clear lead for much of the race but Autocrat gradually improved to challenge, eventually moving by a furlong out, to score by 4.5 lengths from Acheron. Successful trainer Dick Donohoe praised the rider, saying “having a horse to go fast in front suits him and the race set up ideally for him although Nicola rode a perfect race. She didn’t go chasing the leader too mad and knew what to do. “As soon as she got Autocrat in the ‘mirrors’ of the leader, he was always going to win and he stays well and is a strong stayer over that trip. Nicola is an outstanding talent, she looks the real business and hopefully now she stays lucky.” “He is a grand horse who has won five times around here.” Jockey Burns has already ridden for 29 different trainers this winter, riding winners for 7. Quotes from Michael Graham
