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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Miss Agusta up and running over flights for Elliott and Kennedy

Sun 29th Oct 2023, 13:14

Miss Agusta delivers on hurdle debutMiss Agusta delivers on hurdle debut
© Photo Healy Racing

Miss Agusta made a successful to flights when taking the opening maiden hurdle over an extended two miles in Ballybrit.

Gordon Elliott 's mare was uneasy in the market as she drifted from 5/6 to 11/8, however, she still retained favouritism.

She was runner-up in two of her five bumpers - in the valuable Goffs Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown in April last year and in a Listed mares' bumper at Fairyhouse in April this year.

The daughter of Well Chosen closed on 50/1 leader Saddle Her Up two out and, although she didn't put in her best jump there, she took a narrow lead approaching the last.

Jack Kennedy drove her home on the run-in by two and a-half lengths from the game runner-up. Notkeepinyagoing (7/2) finished well for third, a further half a length away.

Kennedy said: "We didn't go overly quick and she was a bit keen. She settled at times and then she started running with me the odd time, but I think she'd settle away the finest in a strongly-run race.

"She couldn't have done much more - I'm delighted with her as it is testing out there, but she went through it fine."

Additional reporting by Tom Weekes

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.