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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Fifth career win for dual-purpose Arthurian Fame

Wed 7th Oct 2020, 16:00

Arthurian Fame and J.J.Slevin (left) win from Behind The Curtain (blue, white stars)Arthurian Fame and J.J.Slevin (left) win from Behind The Curtain (blue, white stars)
© Photo Healy Racing

It was all change at the second-last in the Faber Audiovisuals Novice Hurdle as the 8/13 favourite Ruaille Buaille who had led to that point, blundered badly and lost her place.

It had been a steadily-run affair and in the sprint uphill after they rounded the final turn, three-time Flat winner quickened up beat to beat Behind The Curtain (28/1) by a length and a quarter.

The market leader, hampered when he tried to renew her effort up the straight, finished back in fourth.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained winner, who’d won his maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan in July, had to squeeze through a narrow gap on the rail when switched right to make his challenge after the last.

Winning rider JJ Slevin (who picked up a three day suspension for improper riding in that incident), said: "We went very slow and that was always going to suit me.

“He had the pace and he had the bottle as he had to muscle his way through.”

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.