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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

McGuinness lands claimer with well-backed Is That Love

Tue 18th May 2021, 14:49

Is That Love and Cian MacRedmond (centre) win from Robert Guiscard (right) Is That Love and Cian MacRedmond (centre) win from Robert Guiscard (right)
© Photo Healy Racing

The All 350 BoyleSports Shops Now Open Claiming Race saw the well-backed 7/2 second favourite (from 5s on the show) Is that Love record a comfortable success.

Twice a winner under today’s rider Cian MacRedmond at Dundalk back in March, the Es Que Love gelding travelled well behind the leaders before getting a split just inside the furlong marker.

The result wasn’t in doubt from that point as he ran on to win by two and a quarter lengths from the staying-on Robert Guiscard (16/1) with the front-running 9/4 favourite Eleuthera another length away in third.

The winner was supported from 14/1 in mid-morning betting after three horses had been withdrawn from the contest.

Winning trainer Ado McGuinness said: "That’s his third win this year. We got a wind job done on him earlier in the year and it made a big difference to him.

"He had slipped down to a nice mark and got plenty of confidence winning in Dundalk.

“We had him away the other day leading two-year-olds and he worked real well.

“If someone claims him they claim him, but he was just (well) weighted there and the draw (in stall three) helped. If he was drawn out in twelve I don’t think he’d have won.

"I think the draw there today is a key factor and the 7lb claim helped. Cian (MacRedmond) is a good kid."

The winner, and runner-up Robert Guiscard, were the subject of successful 'friendly' claims and remain with current connections and there were no claims for any other runners.

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.