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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Maddens' outsider gets bumper in stewards' room

Sat 10th Jun 2023, 19:09

Onlyamatteroftime (right) fights out the finish with the grey I Will Be BaieOnlyamatteroftime (right) fights out the finish with the grey I Will Be Baie
© Photo Healy Racing

The 4/11 favourite I Will Be Baie just got home by a neck from 25/1 outsider Onlyamatteroftime in the Anglesey Lodge Equine Hospital (Pro/Am) Flat Race but the result was turned around after a stewards’ enquiry.

Under a right hand drive from Patrick Mullins, the market leader shifted left and bumped the second-past-the-post inside the final furlong and Shane O’Callaghan’s mount rallied well close home to give the officials a difficult decision.

Winning trainer Niall ‘Boots’ Madden said: “I fancied him but heard a world of talk about Willie Mullins’ horse.

“I was amazed how easily he cruised into the race and he deserved to get it (in the stewards’ room), I think.

“I’d say he could be sold. The owner (daughter Sarah Ann) wants to sell, she wants money!

“He’s a full-brother to (three-time winner) Forgetthesurprise”

Before heading to the enquiry, Patrick Mullins said of I Will Be Baie: “He's a horse we think an awful lot of and I think the second horse must be alright.

“We turned in and we quickened the whole way up the straight. I think my lad had a little bit more in the tank and I think he'll improve.

“I'd imagine he might go on his holidays now, I think he's more of a winter horse really. He got away with that ground, he handled it fine.

“That bumper has produced three Cheltenham winners in the last ten years, Marine Nationale, City Island and Faugheen so we're hoping he might follow suit.”

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.