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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Born By The Sea scores for the Gilligans

Fri 23rd Aug 2019, 17:34

Born By The Sea (left) jumps the last as Rocket  Man comes down.Born By The Sea (left) jumps the last as Rocket Man comes down.
© Photo Healy Racing

There was little between Born By The Sea (4s into 5/2 on course) and the odds-on favourite Rocket Lad (4/6) racing to the last in the opening Racing TV Maiden Hurdle, with the former just holding a fractional advantage as they took the final flight.

David Mullins went for everything on the favourite but Emmet Mullins’ gelding didn’t get high enough and crashed out, leaving Liam Gilligan’s mount to come home seven lengths and four lengths ahead of the 25/1 chances Get A Price and Sand Fly

The winner had been a bit unfortunate himself when falling at the last at Cork last month when in contention, and had run well subsequently behind Mr Everest at Galway.

"That was well deserved but most importantly Rocket Lad and David are up okay," said winning trainer Paul Gilligan.

"A lot of thanks must go to John Bleahen who mentioned the horse to me, and my wife Natalie is into him with three guys from Moycullen.

"They had a horse with me before that got a fall and was killed one day at Fontwell.

"This fella will probably step-up in trip now."

Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy

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.