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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Shantelle makes all under O'Farrell

Fri 23rd Aug 2019, 18:32

             Shantelle and Katie O'Farrell Shantelle and Katie O'Farrell
© Photo Healy Racing

After a good run when third to Walking On Glass at Sligo on Tuesday evening, Shantelle (6/1) went two places better when making all under regular partner Katie O’Farrell to win the Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle by three lengths from the 9/2 favourite Cailean’s Angel. Happy Jacky (6/1) was another two and a quarter lengths away in third, and it was a further eleven lengths back to fourth home Mary Fields (16/1).

It was a second career win for the ten-year-old mare by Shantou, with O’Farrell also having ridden her to victory at Ballinrobe in May 2018.

She seemed to appreciate being out in front which was a change in approach from her usual running style.

"She (Katie O'Farrell) had a plan going out to be handy and she was probably crying out to be ridden that way," said winning trainer Dick Donohoe.

"She's after finding a bit of form and she's tough and winged everything there.

"For the owner John Kennedy that's a great boost as he's battled illness in the recent past.

"She has entries at Ballinrobe and Bellewstown and as she's so tough another run would be a possibility. We'll see."

Additional reporting by Eamonn 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.