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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Mullins at treble through Junta Marvel

Thu 27th Apr 2023, 10:04

Junta Marvel has the placed horses on the stretchJunta Marvel has the placed horses on the stretch
© Photo Healy Racing

After four winners yesterday on day one of the festival, Willie Mullins bagged a treble in Punchestown today when Junta Marvel delivered in the Grade 3 mares' bumper at Punchestown.

The Masked Marvel mare came through on the bridle to lead over two furlongs out and Jody Townend could afford a peek over her shoulder in the straight.

She asked her mount to go for home over a furlong out and the mare responded generously to win by two lengths at 4/1 from Rhaenyra who showed plenty of promise in second at 80/1. She drew seven and a-half lengths clear of the third, Cuta Des As (10/1).

Junta Marvel made a winning debut in a mares' bumper at Limerick last month.

Mullins' other winners today were Grangeclare West and Gaelic Warrior

He said: "She wasn't firing all season and we eventually got a run into her after Cheltenham, she was sick in the early part of the season.

“She won in Limerick and she just kept improving, I'm very happy with her.

“She has a lovely pedigree to go jumping next year. Being by Masked Marvel, I'd say she'll be a stayer, she gallops all day and she jumps well at home. She'll be one for the mares novice hurdles next season.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.