Maguire follows up in style

Maguire’s Glen further advertised the good form of the Liz Doyle yard and looks one to follow after adding to a recent Cork success with a comfortable victory in the Welcome To Chef Phelim Byrne Seasuir To The Ivy Room Handicap Hurdle.

Ms Doyle’s plans for this 2m4f event were very much last minute on a number of fronts as the six-year-old gelding only got in as first reserve after Catimini was pulled out, while jockey arrangements also had to be changed.

Brian O’Connell was originally booked but was stood down (stiff and sore) after being unseated in the previous race, and Adrian Heskin was the lucky replacement.

The well-backed 9/2 joint favourite (from 6’s) headed Horendus Hulabaloo just before the final flight, and drew clear on the run-in to beat that rival by five and a half lengths. Go Paddy Go was a further five lengths back in third.

Doyle said, “I was very surprised he won the last day. He was broken as a four-year-old and everything happened a bit too quick for him.

“He got a touch of a leg and he had a year off which transformed him. He came on physically and mentally over that year and he has a nice little engine.

“I might look for something in Punchestown, maybe something like the Martinstown Final. It’s all about keeping a lid on him as he’s a bit cracked. He got a great ride, although it’s a pity for Brian.

“I was at a funeral today and got a call from the Byrne’s to say their horse (Catimini) wasn’t running. Edward (Horgan, owner) told me to run him and credit to him for that as it was too short a notice for him to make it here.”

Additional reporting by Donal Murphy