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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Embassy Gardens lands bumper after ding-dong battle

Mon 27th Dec 2021, 17:25

Embassy Gardens (navy and yellow) comes to challenge Santonito (on rail) Embassy Gardens (navy and yellow) comes to challenge Santonito (on rail)
© Photo Healy Racing

The Paddy Power 'I'd Love A Pint But It's 8pm' Flat Race produced a terrific finish as 4/6 favourite Embassy Gardens and Santonito (7/2) went head to head all the way up to the straight.

To be honest, the freeze frame on the line suggested a dead-heat but the judge’s verdict was that the favourite was up by a nose under Patrick Mullins.

It was a victorious debut for the son of Shantou and Grade 1-winning hurdler Adriana Des Mottes as he completed another Leopardstown treble for winning trainer Willie Mullins who said: “He was very green and then getting a slap across the face in the final stages (from the whip of the runner-up's rider) and the other horse coming out on top of him didn't help,” said Mullins.

“Hopefully he'll improve a little bit from that. I'd say the second horse has improved from his last run. My fella has been showing me plenty at home."

Quotes from Gary Carson

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.