The Last Marju takes flight© Photo Healy Racing
Trainer Denis Cullen's association with Nick Peacock's Wicklow Bloodstock yielded another winner at Killarney today as the pair's The Last Marju (4/1) overturned 4/9 favourite Nick Lost in the Irish Examiner Novice Chase.
The Last Marju was today scoring a fourth career success for the pair and also followed up his course win at the July Festival when again scoring today under jockey Denis O'Regan.
Trainer Cullen, who recently won a Cork hurdle with Peacock's 2015 Champion Hurdle runner-up Arctic Fire, later stated “I'm delighted with him (The Last Marju) and he has done it well. He likes this track and it's his third time winning here.
“Denis felt the step to 2m4f was no bother to him and if we were going to win it, we were going to win it with a turn of foot. I don't think he has an issue at this trip and now and he jumped fantastic.
“He has grown up a lot since last year and has learned how to settle and enjoys jumping fences.
“I'll have a lot at Listowel or a Graded chase at Tipperary next.
“I'm delighted for Nick Peacock too as he has been great to me and it's great to have this horse and Arctic Fire in the yard.
“There was a good neighbour of mine who passed away a couple of months ago, Michael McDonnell, who recommended to Nick that I get the horses to pre-train and this horse ended up staying with me to go jumping. It has worked out really well with both horses now.”
Regarding Arctic Fire, he added “I haven't schooled him over fences yet and there isn't anything for him for a couple of weeks so we'll mull things over but I'd imagine he'll stay over hurdles for the moment.
“I'll probably give him a go in a Graded hurdle and see if he can be competitive at this stage and then decide if he could jump a fence.”
