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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

McGuinness doubles up with Eglish

Fri 10th Jan 2020, 20:22

Eglish and Alan Persse (right) win the apprentice handicapEglish and Alan Persse (right) win the apprentice handicap
© Photo Healy Racing

Bottom-weight Eglish (6/1) built on a couple of placed efforts at the track before Christmas when taking the Crowne Plaza Race & Stay Apprentice Handicap.

There was plenty of pace on in this 7f contest, and Alan Persse was able to get a nice position behind the leaders before delivering a winning challenge on the daughter of Heeraat from over a furlong out.

She kept on to hold the running-on pair Bolly Bullet (5/1) and JM Barrie (9/2) by half a length and the same, while Donnacha O’Brien will have to wait just a little longer for his first winner as his 3/1 favourite Flower Garland looked in need of a longer trip as she finished fifth.

The winner, completing a quick double for trainer Ado McGuinness after Bowerman (10/3) in the fifth, had been third and second in two nurseries in the closing weeks of 2019.

“She had a great run here the last day and had a lovely light weight tonight,” said McGuinness.

“Alan did exactly as he was told and gave her great ride. I told him to sit in behind the leaders and he did that.

“She's inclined to be a bit keen sometimes but he settled her lovely and she picked up nicely.

“I have her in Wolverhampton on Wednesday and she could go there as I'm bringing a load of horses over there next week.

“If she's sound in the morning she could be on the bus.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

1st
6/1
Tote €6.80 €2.40
2nd
0.5L
5/1
€2.40
3rd
0.5L
9/2
€2.10
4th
0.5L
8/1
bf
0.5L
3/1Fav
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.