Motorcyclist Dunlop-owned horse wins Navan bumper

Motorcycling royalty was amongst the winners at Navan today as the Michael Dunlop-owned Sundrenched narrowly won the concluding BarOneRacing (Pro-Am) Bumper for trainer James Lambe and jockey Liam McKenna.

Sundrenched was well held on his only previous run at Fairyhouse last December but today battled gamely inside the final furlong to defeat Hes A Hardy Bloke by a head.

Sundrenched's owner Michael Dunlop is a brother of the late motorcyclist William Dunlop and a nephew of former World Champion Joey Dunlop and was today having his first winner as a racehorse owner.

Following today's race trainer Lambe said “he (Sundrenched) is owned by a very brave man in Michael Dunlop. He rides in the Isle Of Man TT and I'm delighted for him; he's over practicing today in England for the British Super Bikes.”

Regarding Sundrenched, he added “he's a good horse. On his first run he ran in a good bumper in Fairyhouse and the horse that was second (Ferny Hollow) won the Cheltenham festival bumper.

“He had a break when the Covid came. He had no gallop on grass, he's just been hacking away at home, and we ran him here hoping he might be placed. He'll improve a lot from the run.

“I had a good bumper horse a few years ago called Drumbaloo and this fella is as good if not better.

“This fella has a future. He'll go for a winners bumper. Whatever he did today will be nothing as this horse will improve a lot from it.

“I don't have many good horses but I know when I get one and this fella is a good horse.”

Quotes from Gary Carson