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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Max Flamingo a cosy winner for Casey

Sun 15th May 2022, 17:16

Max Flamingo  Max Flamingo
© Photo Healy Racing

Handicap ratings were proven right in the Gerard O'Sullivan Memorial Novice Chase as 1/1 favourite Max Flamingo ran out a comfortable winner.

Jack Kennedy ’s mount, seventh in the Irish Grand National on his previous outing, lived up to his mark of 144 as, having been prominent throughout, he went on after three out to beat the 128-rated Baptism Of Fire by a comfortable four lengths.

Winning trainer Francis Casey said: "I was very happy with him, he is improving the whole time.

"In the National he was the unlucky horse and had no race at all. He got boxed in and in fairness to Denis (O'Regan, previous jockey) he tried to get him jumping into it but kept jumping into the back of horses. He never got a breather and ran a remarkable race under the circumstances.

"Jack (Kennedy) says he would win a Grade 2 but whether or not he'd go for a Grade 1 I don't know. He said he'd love to ride him in the Galway Plate but that's another day so we'll see. Denis said he'd win a Munster National or maybe the Irish National next year.

"He came home from the Irish National and didn't blow in the yard and put on 25 kilos since. He's hot property at the moment but needs a month's break."

Quotes from Tom Weekes

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.