18+ | Commercial Content | T&Cs apply | Wagering and T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly | Advertising Disclosure
icon
Mark Nunan

Mark Nunan

Viva Devito an effortless bumper winner under Townend

Thu 9th Dec 2021, 17:12

Viva Devito and Jody TownendViva Devito and Jody Townend
© Photo Healy Racing

The 5/6 favourite Viva Devito was an effortless 16 length winner of the Garrarus Beach (Ladies Pro/Am) Flat Race in the hands of Jody Townend.

Fourth in a Punchestown festival bumper for previous trainer Gearoid O’Loughlin, the Malinas gelding settled better than he had on that occasion in a first-time hood, albeit he still raced keenly enough.

Having tracked the leaders, he took the lead over half a mile out and was quickly well clear of his rivals. Bugs Moran came through in the final furlong to finish a remote second.

Willie Mullins trains the winner for Chris Jones.

Townend remarked: “He’s a big galloping horse. He’s still a big frame and is going to fill out again next year. He’s definitely one to look forward to for the future.

“For a big horse he handled the track better than I thought. He ran pretty free the last day but the hood seemed to do the job on him today and he settled well enough.”

Quotes from Alan Magee

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.