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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Kiely enhances fine record in Irish Cesarewitch

Sun 10th Oct 2021, 16:45

Line Out's trainer John Kiely Line Out's trainer John Kiely
© Photo Healy Racing

The Paddy Power Irish Cesarewitch was won by 18/1 chance Line Out under Shane Foley.

The Shantou gelding, a five-time winner over jumps, raced in mid-division before making headway racing downhill to the home straight. He got a clear run through the big field to lead over two furlongs out and was ridden out to beat Turnpike Trip by a length and a half.

Willie Mullins, whose Burning Victory was runner-up in the English equivalent at Newmarket yesterday, saddled the third and fourth here in Maze Runner and the 2019 winner Royal Illusion

Line Out, who only started racing under Flat rules this summer, had won a two-mile maiden at Tramore in August and was fitted with headgear for the fist time in a 32-race career.

Winning trainer John Kiely said: "He wasn't the bravest of jumpers and he always had that little bit of class so I was aiming for this and praying that we'd get in.

“I was afraid we were a little low in the handicap but it came right at the end and it was just what we hoped for.

“I've had the race in mind for him since last year. When you're thinking about it for a while it's great when it happens.

“I've been associated now with three winners of this race. I won it in 1969 under my father's name and we won it with Clara Allen in 2005. We had our first runner in it in 1953, which finished fifth.

“The race has been very good to me.”

The 84-year-old trainer added:- “I'd rather be riding him (at home), I don't ride anymore, but I broke him in. I've ten in training at the minute, if you have ten good ones they'll do!”

Quotes from Gary Carson

1st
18/1
Tote €17.50 €2.42
2nd
1.5L
10/1
€11.33
3rd
nose
8/1
€2.80
4th
3.5L
25/1
€10.30
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.