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Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Queally's Vixen a first winner for John Kirwan

Mon 10th Aug 2020, 20:28

Winsor Vixen provided jockey John Kirwan with his first winner Winsor Vixen provided jockey John Kirwan with his first winner
© Photo Healy Racing

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

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.