Dunum completes his hat-trick for Lupini

Dunum completed his hat-trick with a game victory in a tight finish to the Hollywoodbets Handicap over nine furlongs at the Curragh.

The Natalia Lupini-trained gelding had won twice at Gowran Park since joining the Craigavon-based handler.

He went to post 5/2 favourite this evening and was tucked in behind the leaders early.

Wayne Lordan got a nice split between horses to challenge at the furlong pole and the Ivawood gelding just edged ahead in the closing stages to record a neck win over Grappa Nonino

“Wayne gave him a brilliant ride as always,” said Lupini.

“He was in good form so we decided to enter him. It's great to have a runner here let alone a winner.

“I'm delighted for Maurice (Burns) as he bred him as well.

“He had two wide draws on his last two starts. He had improved at home and we thought we had a bit more in hand today with the good draw.

“We can drop him back to seven furlongs or a mile, maybe on softer ground. The good ground helped him a bit as well today to stretch out over a mile-and-one.”

Lupini's Alma Libre had just been pipped in the preceding Apprentice Derby and she added:-

“She ran a blinder and we were a bit gutted to get chinned on the line. Mikey gave her a great ride. The horses are running well.”