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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Power Roche off the mark in conditional ranks

Fri 16th Aug 2024, 19:50

Miss Lia  Miss Lia
© Photo Healy Racing

Miss Lia (9/2) claimed the Majestic Hotel Mares Maiden Hurdle under Tiernan Power Roche to give trainer Philip Rothwell a third winner in eight days.

The daughter of Califet, owned by David L'Estrange, had shown ability in a couple of bumpers before finishing mid-field in her first hurdles outing at Kilbeggan.

She made steady headway from mid-division to lead at the second-last and stayed on well to account for Mazza's Mahler by four lengths.

Rothwell said: "That's Tiernan's first winner as a fully-fledged conditional. I asked him to come work for me a couple of months ago and he said he would at the end of the point-to-point season. He is a very nice guy and has so much experience over hurdles and fences.  

"We'd a lot of handicap winners last season and I felt that unless I got somebody with a bit of experience and with a claim, that I was going to struggle big time. I'm really lucky that I have Tiernan and Conor (Owens). Conor is flying but wouldn't have the experience of Tiernan to ride over a fence yet. I think between the two of them I have a very good team of claimers and I'd be hoping that one will grow with the other. They are a big asset to me. 

"This is David's first horse with me. He is an amazing owner and huge supporter of Irish jumps racing, he puts a huge amount in. It's great to have a winner in his colours and I'm really pleased.  

"She had the form to win it, we fancied her and she got it done." 

Quotes from Donal Murphy

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.