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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

First win in Ireland for Never Back Down

Fri 17th Sep 2021, 18:45

Never Back Down and Joe DoyleNever Back Down and Joe Doyle
© Photo Healy Racing

The Irishinjuredjockeys.com Handicap (Div I) went to the first reserve Never Back Down (22/1) who registered his first success for the best part of three years.

A four-time winner for Hugo Palmer, most recently off a rating of 100 at Lingfield in November 2018, the Kodiac gelding tanked along with loads of enthusiasm in the front rank from the outset.

Despite appearing to be over-racing in the hands of Joe Doyle, the 6-year-old kept on well in the straight to hold the staying-on Hightown Heights (6/1) by three quarters of a length with the 3/1 favourite Jack Berry House back in third.

It was a first win in Ireland for Never Back Down, scoring here off mark of 56.

Winning trainer Joseph Murray, who was leading up his charge, said: “His work had improved in the last couple of weeks and maybe the step up to a mile helped. He likes it here in Dundalk as well.

“He had good form here previously and we were hopeful of a good run more than confident.”

Quotes from Gary Carson

1st
22/1
Tote €24.10 €5.80
2nd
0.75L
6/1
€2.50
3rd
1.75L
3/1Fav
€1.30
4th
3.75L
15/2
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.