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

Mark Nunan

Great when a Plan comes together

Fri 20th Sep 2024, 15:13

 Only One Plan (right)
Only One Plan (right)
© Photo Healy Racing

Only One Plan (7/1) got up close home to take the MB McGrady & Co Chartered Accountants Handicap Hurdle in the hands of Tiernan Power Roche.

Trained for Michael Cawe by Philip Rothwell, the seven-year-old moved into second on the approach to the final flight and gradually reeled in British-trained front-runner Mary on the run-in to score by half-a-length.

Tiernan Power Roche said: "It has taken me a while alright (second winner since turning conditional), but I'm delighted. 

"The horse probably deserved it, he wasu nlucky a couple of days and back down a bit of grade today. 

"His jumping might have gone a bit funny -he went a bit guessy, but he was very good today. He didn't put a foot wrong. 

"He was tough, he was gutsy, he wanted to get there. He tried and he stuck his head down the whole way to the line. 

"I was a little bit worried about Ian Williams' one (Mary) that obviously won from the front the last day (in Stratford). I was just afraid if she was able to get a good enough breather down the hill that she could pick up again. 

"I gave my lad a squeeze and he winged the second last and I knew I had a bit there just to hold on to. We got to the last and he winged that again and, thankfully for us, we were able to find a little bit more. She (Mary) started to come back to me and we found a way up the hill. 

"It was a good performance."

Quotes from Michael Graham

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.