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Nolan loves Vinabell's 'heart of a lion'

Vinabell, yellow, delivers her challengeVinabell, yellow, delivers her challenge
© Photo Healy Racing

Vinabell stuck at it best to take the two and a half mile handicap hurdle in Fairyhouse by a length and a half.

Eamonn Corbett's mount was strongest on the run-in to score at 14/1 having been double that price in the morning. Brosna George the 4/1 favourite, followed her home with Can't Be Done (13/2) and Zagnzig third and fourth respectively.

Handler Shane Nolan said: "The last day she ran very well, it was her first run in a handicap. She finished 15th but she travelled well but didn't jump brilliant and made a few mistakes.

“She had to go 15 wide the whole way around then but she travelled really well. She probably didn't get home but I wouldn't say she didn't stay, it was probably just the few mistakes and being trapped out wide.

“She's a grand little filly, she's only a pony. She's tiny but she has the heart of a lion to burst through the gap there as she has so little experience.

“She did it very well. She might get one more run or she might go straight out. She won't be kept going as she wants nice ground.

“Hopefully she'll be a nicer filly next year as she should be stronger. She's well bred so hopefully we'll get another day out of her.”

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.