Mullins shines on quirky but talented Vischio

A Listed winner on the Flat just over a year ago, Vischio (11/2) recorded her fourth win over flights in the Festival Flexi Ticket Is Back Handicap Hurdle.

Tricky at the start, the seven-year-old was cajoled into action by Danny Mullins who rode without stirrups early on before regaining his irons with impressive alacrity once he had her running and in a rhythm.

Settled towards the rear of mid-division, the winner made a sweeping move on the outer after two out and took over on the run to the last before being ridden clear to beat Cozone by an emphatic seven lengths.

Dick Donhoe, who trains the Holy Roman Emperor mare for the Goatsbridge Syndicate, said: "It took her a while to get back to top form, she's been running fairly well but had a mid-life crisis in the middle of this year and seemed to fall out of love with starting!

“In fairness when she gets going she'll give you everything, she's just a bit quirky.

“Danny is a bit of an acrobat in fairness to him. He's taken his feet out of the irons the last few days and I was always worried if he'd get them back but there is never any issue with him.

“She's in the sales at Goffs next week. She'll be sold as a broodmare prospect, or for racing.

“That was always the plan and it's great to finish on that note.

“She's been a great story all the way through. She was first bought for a friend of mine who was fighting cancer at the time. Unfortunately he didn't get the rewards out of it as she was only starting to win before he died.

“My cousins Mag (Kirwan) and Michael (Donohoe) bought her at the sales then. Mag is fighting cancer as well, and going well at it. She is getting a serious buzz out of it.

“She's won nine times now so she's a smashing mare. She had the mark to win over hurdles for a while, the Flat was getting tougher after winning a Listed race.”

Quotes from Gary Carson