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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Heffernan completes quick double on Royal Tribute

Thu 16th Jun 2022, 18:08

Royal Tribute (blinkers) beats Castletownshend (red cap) Royal Tribute (blinkers) beats Castletownshend (red cap)
© Photo Healy Racing

The seven-furlong handicap saw Royal Tribute (12/1) record his first success and, in so doing, provide Seamie Heffernan with the second leg of an opening race double.

Formerly with Richard Hannon and now under the care of Denis Hogan, the Kingman gelding turned for home in sixth place and came with a good run down the outside of the field to lead inside the final hundred yards. He scored by a length and three quarters from the front-running Castletownshend with the running-on Inishmot Prince just a short head further away in third.

The 7/4 favourite Cleveleys was always on the back foot after a tardy start and was stopped in his tracks when staying on, with a place chance, in the final furlong.

Royal Tribute, placed a couple of times at Dundalk over the winter, came into this after finishing second in a claimer at Sligo last month.

“I would have been disappointed if I didn't win the first (on With Love and now I'm delighted that I've had a double,” said Heffernan.

“When things fall his way he quickens and the race couldn't have panned out any better.”

Quotes from Gary Carson

1st
12/1
Tote €13.00 €2.40
2nd
1.75L
22/1
€7.20
3rd
shd
4/1
€1.80
4th
1.25L
10/1
bf
nk
7/4Fav
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.