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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Jungle Cove makes winning debut over hurdles

Tue 28th May 2024, 18:32

Jungle Cove (far side) is about to be left clear by the fall of Eoin's Charm  Jungle Cove (far side) is about to be left clear by the fall of Eoin's Charm
© Photo Healy Racing

Smart Flat handicapper Jungle Cove (10/1) made a winning start over jumps when landing the Sheridan Electric Maiden Hurdle under Conor Smithers.

Owned and trained by Jessica Harrington, the grey raced handily and led on the approach to the second-last. Narrowly in front of Eoin's Charm jumping the last, the seven-year-old was left clear when that rival capsized and kept on well to beat Zulu Mike by four and three-quarter lengths.

"With those older horses, even a slight bit of a change can sweeten them up and today he duly obliged," said Smithers.

"He wouldn't have done a whole pile of jumping. Every now and again, he would have done a little school up the strip, to sweeten him up more than anything, but he was always quite good at doing so. I gave him a little school yesterday just to get his eye back in and he was super.

"If a new kid comes into us, maybe on a Saturday, they get the privilege of riding him. He's kind of a legend in the yard and everyone loves him.

"That was a good start and I think he could be above-average over hurdles."

1st
10/1
Tote €17.70 €2.90
2nd
4.75L
15/2
€2.50
3rd
3.5L
11/4
€1.40
4th
4.25L
11/2
bf
4L
9/4Fav
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.