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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Marvel brings up 200 for season for Mullins

Fri 31st Mar 2023, 11:43

Junta Marvel Junta Marvel
© Photo Healy Racing

The mares' bumper saw Junta Marvel (85/40) make a winning debut at the expense of 5/4 favourite Bioluminescence

The market principals both made progress from mid-division on the approach to the straight but it was the Willie Mullins-trained inmate who was always travelling the better of the pair. In front a furlong and a half out, the five-year-old was ridden out to beat the market leader by two and a half lengths with the pair drawing clear of the remainder.

Winning rider Patrick Mullins said: "It was a good performance, she was a little keen early on but we got to pick a nice strip of ground. Being by Masked Marvel, she loved the ground and while we hoped to have her ready for a Listed bumper, she could still make the grade 3 mares' bumper at Punchestown next month.

"John Turner bought her as a three-year-old and while I'm not sure she'll replace Billaway, he'll have plenty of fun with her.

"That's 200 wins for the yard this season, our best was 212 so hopefully we can beat that. We've had a brilliant season, it's not over yet with Fairyhouse, Aintree and Punchestown ahead."

Quotes from Tom Weekes

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.