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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Coakley gets a winner at his local track

Fri 25th Aug 2023, 20:11

Definiteadare and Michael O'Sullivan with winning connections Definiteadare and Michael O'Sullivan with winning connections
© Photo Healy Racing

Definiteadare was a popular local winner of the Thorn Plant Hire Handicap Chase in the hands of Michael O'Sullivan.

Put in at 16/1 overnight, the David O'Sullivan-owned winner was sent off 13/2.

A dual winner over hurdles a couple of years ago for Tom Cooper and now in the care of fellow Kerry handler Charles Coakley, the Court Cave gelding was given a patient steer and came through to lead between the final two fences.

The loose More Info was wandering around in front but the winner managed to stay out of harm's way and kept on well to beat Hard Rain by three lengths.

Coakley said: ""I'm only 15 minutes away from the track and while I've won at a lot of racecourses, Killarney has been a bogey for me and that's my first winner here.

"The pressure is always on to have a winner in Killarney and I've been trying for a few years so this is great. He was in good order and we were unlucky with him on his last couple of runs.

"Michael did everything super and he said his only worry was the loose horse. I got him recently to train and Listowel will be our next outing.

"I train eight horses, we might have one runner tomorrow but he is first reserve."

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.