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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

O'Connor doubles up on Brassil's bumper winner

Fri 3rd May 2024, 20:21

Don'tstopthemusic (red cap) Don'tstopthemusic (red cap)
© Photo Healy Racing

The Fastorslow connections were back in the Punchestown winners' enclosure after the Howden Insurance Brokers INH Flat Race as Don'tstopthemusic (5/2) ran out an impressive winner under Derek O'Connor.

The Kayf Tara gelding, a half-brother to Champion Chase winner Dodging Bullets, was tracking the leaders when things got a bit congested approaching the straight. O'Connor, completing a double after Its On The Line s win in the Champion Hunter Chase, took him to the outside on the home turn and was soon able to take a pull before sending his mount on to beat Coral River by six lengths.

“We always thought he was a nice horse, it just took him quite a bit of time to mature,” said winning trainer Martin Brassil

“I had been gearing him towards maybe a summer campaign but he's done a piece of work with Fastorslow in the last month, maybe once or twice, and we were very pleased with what we could see. 

“We won this two-and-a-quarter mile bumper with Longhouse Poet before so I said we'd let him take his chance in it and we got him here in nice shape. 

“We'll give him a little break now and have him back for Galway. 

“He's had a run in a hurdle race, the Christmas before last, and then was second in Galway. There were a lot of winners came out of that bumper, it was quite a good race on the day and we were happy with him then. 

“He takes a bit of time between races but maybe as he gets older it might come easier to him.”

Quotes from Gary Carson

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.