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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

First winner under rules for Carl Millar

Mon 2nd May 2022, 18:20

Single Edition (red and white) makes allSingle Edition (red and white) makes all
© Photo Healy Racing

Gordon Elliott's Lucky Lyreen was sent off 5/4 favourite for the Energise Energy (Pro/Am) Flat Race but the Cullentra House trainer will have to wait a little longer for his 2,000th winner (in Britain and Ireland).

Lucky Lyreen, ridden by Jamie Codd, had the door kept firmly shut on him by Patrick Mullins on American Land at the elbow in the straight as the pair gave chase to the front-running Single Edition Once in the clear though, neither horse could make any impression on the Nigel Slevin-trained winner who kept up the gallop to score on his second start at odds of 20/1.

Fellow outsider Champella was second, beaten a length and a quarter, with another two and a half lengths back to American Land in third a place ahead of Elliott’s representative.

It was a first racecourse winner for 7lb claimer Carl Millar who said: "Nigel (Slevin) is very good to me and gives me plenty of opportunities. Today planned out for us so it was lovely to get it.

"I'm from Blanchardstown originally and I'm 19. I'm based with Gordon Elliott. He has been very good to me too and gave me my first winner point-to-pointing. I've had a couple (of winners) point-to-pointing and a couple of places, and a couple of placed bumper horses for Nigel and Gordon.

"He is keen but there was never a matter of fighting with him, just relax him and get into a rhythm. That's what he did, he was relaxed and in my hands.

"He found plenty, he is a horse that will stay on and I hadn't far to go. I know the horse, I ride him most days at home."

Quotes from Michael Graham

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.