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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Desert Heather completes hurdling hat-trick

Sun 15th Oct 2023, 15:28

Desert Heather (nearest) lays it down to Solitary ManDesert Heather (nearest) lays it down to Solitary Man
© Photo Healy Racing

The I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Hurdle produced a cracking finish with progressive mare Desert Heather (15/8 fav) completing a hat-trick of wins when edging past the always-prominent Solitary Man close home to score by a neck.

Both horses are rated 128 but the Declan Queally-trained winner, ridden by Ray Barron, was in receipt of 18lbs from the runner-up.

The daughter of Cloudings was returning from five months off having won twice at Kilbeggan in the spring. 

Declan Queally jnr. said: "There was a small entry so I rang Harry (Gettings, owner/breeder) to say I was going to stick her in.

"She was only back in the yard, from being out in the field, six weeks so it was a fair trial of her but she is a lively little thing and is able to gallop.

"Ray's 5lb claim helped and she was right at the weights so it is mighty. There is a three-mile Grade 3 novice hurdle here in three weeks so we'll probably go for that."

Quotes from Tom Weekes

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.