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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Cromwell's front-runner leaves rivals Gasping

Sun 6th Oct 2024, 15:45

Al Gasparo  Al Gasparo
© Photo Healy Racing

Having made all to easily win his maiden over course and distance in May, 2/1 favourite Al Gasparo again led all the way to notch his second win of the year in the rated novice hurdle at Killarney.

The Al Namix gelding, trained by Gavin Cromwell for Swords Bloodstock Limited and Dermot Fagan, was pursued from the second-last by Lieber Nicc but stayed on well to fend off that rival's challenge by two lengths.

Winning rider Keith Donoghue said: "I wanted to go a good gallop as he is a good striding horse and it worked in his maiden hurdle here during the summer. We decided to keep the same tactics, he is a good jumper and he did it well.

"He travels and looks like he is travelling well but actually doesn't quicken off it. In time he'll strengthen up and progress and we might step him up in trip now and see where he goes."

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.