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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Kings Halo a welcome winner for Dullea

Thu 30th Mar 2023, 21:03

 Kings Halo (nearest) Kings Halo (nearest)
© Photo Healy Racing

Kings Halo fitted with a tongue-tie for the first time, was always prominent under Danny Mullins en route to winning the J.J. Kavanagh & Sons Handicap Hurdle.

The Fame And Glory gelding was better at the final two flights than the challenging Magic Conqueror and stayed on well for an all-out success by a neck. The 11/1 winner edged right after the last and made contact with the runner-up a couple of times but there was no alteration to the placings after an enquiry, albeit Mullins picked up a three-day suspension for careless riding.

Kings Halo, second over fences at Tramore on New Year's Day but pulled up over the larger obstacles at Down Royal later in January, was gaining a first victory.

Winning trainer James Dullea, for whom it was a first success since August 2021, said: "It is great to get the win and I thought he'd have done this a couple of months ago but did it today. He disappointed on his previous run at Down Royal when things didn't happen for him and putting a tongue-tie on him today was a help.

"Danny gave him a great ride, I'm delighted for the syndicate who have been very patient with him as he has had problems along the way. We'll go for something similar next."

Quotes from Tom Weekes

1st
11/1
Tote €12.40 €2.70
2nd
nk
16/1
€3.80
3rd
4.5L
40/1
€9.10
4th
10L
80/1
€17.20
bf
1.25L
7/2Fav
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.