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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

O'Connor shines on Donohoe's winner

Wed 31st Jan 2024, 16:28

River Derwent beats Eighty Eight 
River Derwent beats Eighty Eight
© Photo Healy Racing

River Derwent won the second split of the 47-65 handicap at odds of 12/1.

Twice fifth since winning over course and distance in November, the Kingman gelding was fitted with blinkers for the first time and raced in rear of mid-division. 

Donagh O'Connor asked him to improve on the stands' side from early in the straight and he was one of five horses in with every chance at the furlong pole. Gaining the upper hand in the final 100 yards, the six-year-old, owned and trained by Dick Donohoe, stayed on well to account for Eighty Eight by half a length.

Donohoe said: "His win in November worked out well. I reached for the blinkers today because he had lost five or six lengths out of the gates the last twice.

"He has come back off a lay-off today nice and fresh, and the rider was outstanding I thought.

"He is in again on Friday (in a claimer over the same distance) and that is the plan, we'll see what happens."

Quotes from Michael Graham 

1st
12/1
Tote €13.00 €4.30
2nd
0.5L
4/1
€1.60
3rd
0.75L
4/1
€1.50
4th
0.75L
28/1
bf
shd
10/3Fav
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.