18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Martin impressed with in-form claimer Shane Fitzgerald

Thu 5th Aug 2021, 20:49

Tecumseh Sherman and Shane Fitzgerald  Tecumseh Sherman and Shane Fitzgerald
© Photo Healy Racing

The 11/4 favourite Tecumseh Sherman made all under in-form 7lb claimer Shane Fitzgerald to take the Lough Gill Handicap Hurdle.

The lightly-raced 9-year-old, a half-brother to former Pierse Hurdle and Grade 1 novice chase winner Barker, was challenged at the second-last by Guido Reni (9/2) but asserted after the last and held the late effort of Pump Road (3/1) by a length and a half.

Guido Reni finished half a length further back in third.

A bumper winner at Downpatrick in 2019, the King’s Theatre gelding came into this contest having been placed in three of his four outings in maiden hurdles.

It was a double for the winning rider after The Little Yank earlier.

Winning trainer Pat Martin said: “Shane came highly recommended by (jockeys’ agent) Garry Cribbin and I think he made the difference, his 7lb looked very valuable there.

"He jumped better than I thought he might because I was a bit concerned that he would be a bit novicey in his first handicap. He’s a very willing and consistent horse that tries really hard.

"He had some good runs on soft ground so I thought he’d handle today’s conditions although he wouldn’t have minded faster ground, but maybe some of the horses who came out (because of the rain-softened ground) would have been a bigger threat.

“It’s a great boost for my owner Eamonn Duignan whose daughter is getting married on Saturday, so this will pay some of the bills!”

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.