Junta Marvel has the placed horses on the stretch© Photo Healy Racing
After four winners yesterday on day one of the festival, Willie Mullins bagged a treble in Punchestown today when Junta Marvel delivered in the Grade 3 mares' bumper at Punchestown.
The Masked Marvel mare came through on the bridle to lead over two furlongs out and Jody Townend could afford a peek over her shoulder in the straight.
She asked her mount to go for home over a furlong out and the mare responded generously to win by two lengths at 4/1 from Rhaenyra who showed plenty of promise in second at 80/1. She drew seven and a-half lengths clear of the third, Cuta Des As (10/1).
Junta Marvel made a winning debut in a mares' bumper at Limerick last month.
Mullins' other winners today were Grangeclare West and Gaelic Warrior
He said: "She wasn't firing all season and we eventually got a run into her after Cheltenham, she was sick in the early part of the season.
“She won in Limerick and she just kept improving, I'm very happy with her.
“She has a lovely pedigree to go jumping next year. Being by Masked Marvel, I'd say she'll be a stayer, she gallops all day and she jumps well at home. She'll be one for the mares novice hurdles next season.”
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
