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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Unterberg strikes again for Hourigan & McSweeney

Wed 31st Jan 2024, 14:36

Unterberg (noseband) beats Solar Breeze  Unterberg (noseband) beats Solar Breeze
© Photo Healy Racing

A winner over 1m4f at Dundalk at the last meeting before Christmas, the 5/2 favourite Unterberg followed up off a 5lb higher mark in the extended mile-and-a-quarter handicap.

Having raced close to the pace, the New Bay gelding led over a furlong out. Strongly pressed in the closing stages by Solar Breeze the five-year-old just did enough to fend off that one's challenge by a short head.

Winning trainer Laura Hourigan was on lead-up duties.

Jockey Oisin McSweeney remarked: "He is (in a rich vein of form), he seems to like it up here. He is in good nick and he just enjoys it.

"I just had to get up from a wide draw, I didn't want to be too far back because he galloped all the way to the line for me the last day.

"If I was going to do anything, I was going to make plenty of use of his stamina.

"I was looking for something to come with me because he has a little look around himself, but he's got it done."

Quotes from Michale Graham

1st
5/2Fav
Tote €3.50 €1.10
2nd
shd
10/1
€3.60
3rd
1.75L
15/2
€3.30
4th
0.5L
12/1
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.