Queally's Vixen a first winner for John Kirwan The Bank Of Ireland Handicap Hurdle saw young amateur John Kirwan ride his first winner as Winsor Vixen (4/1) finished strongly to win by three quarters of a length from Moyode Lady. Ballinaboola Steel, having a third run in six days, led turning in but was collared in the straight and finished another length and three quarters back in third. The 10/3 favourite My Lovely Boy, who had beaten Winsor Vixen at Cork last month, was pulled up. The winning Kayf Tara mare had some placed form for John Kiely a few years ago and won a point-to-point for Alison Murphy in 2018. She had been placed on both starts since joining Declan Queally, having been acquired on ‘Done Deal’ according to the winning rider in a televised interview. “Declan’s a very good man to learn from. He’s given me a great chance and I’d like to thank him for that, said the Dungarvan native. Declan Queally, assistant to winning trainer Declan Snr, said: "That’s a first winner for John Kirwan and he’s a grand-nephew of one of the best point-to-point riders that we’ve seen in Nicky Dee. “He spent a year with John Kiely but he advised after doing a year there that he come to us. “We’re only four miles away from John. He’d have a higher class of horse but we’d have more horses and there would be more opportunities with us. “Everyone is delighted. He is only after riding in seven or eight point-to-points and he’s thrilled.” Additional reporting by Eamonn Murphy
