Lucky Viv © Photo Healy Racing
Placed in four similar contests including on her second start of the year at Killarney, Lucky Viv (7/2) got a deserved turn in the Paddy Smyth Memorial Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Owned and trained by Fermoy-based Michael 'Trixie' Barry, the daughter of Yeats was patiently handled by in-form John Shinnick before making steady headway on the final circuit.
Shinnick steered her through a gap on the inner to lead before the last and the six-year-old stayed on well to score by three-and-a-quarter lengths from Ah Fuhgeddaboudit
"They told me to produce her after the last but I had to take the gap and she saw it out well," said the winning rider.
Barry added: "She deserved to get her turn. She was wrong earlier in the year, she was tying up, but she came back to herself in Killarney and improved a bit for that run.
"She's a genuine mare who'll probably go handicapping now."
