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Dullea's Cailin Dearg sees off more-fancied rivals

Cailin Dearg and Darragh Allen (left) win the bumper at WexfordCailin Dearg and Darragh Allen (left) win the bumper at Wexford
© Photo Healy Racing

All the fancied ones came to challenge Cailin Dearg (22/1) in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares’ (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race but Darragh Allen’s mount fended them off in the straight to win by a length. Patty D (11/4) was second with Mi lighthouse (9/4) in third and the 2/1 favourite Nudie beaten just a little over three lengths in fourth.

7lb claimer Allen had won on the daughter of Getaway at her local point-to-point in Bandon back in March.

She’d finished seventh at Listowel on her first run after a break last month.

Winning trainer James Dulleas said: "She is a free going sort and did similar (raced prominently) the day she won her point-to-point. Darragh (Allen) gave her a brilliant ride.

"Turning in I was getting a bit edgy but she is tough and is probably a better mare with horses coming at her. She found more when they came at her and she toughed it out.

"Her owner Padraig Butler does a lot of work with her and he deserves a bit of credit.

"I'm not too sure where she'll go from here. It looked a good race today and she possibly could be sold now. If not, she is a really nice mare to look forward to over hurdles."

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy

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.