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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Viv gets her turn for 'Trixie'

Mon 26th Aug 2024, 19:02

Lucky Viv 
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."

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.