Drinmore Chase winner and 4/9 favourite Jessies Dream was overturned in the three runner Grade 2 Tote Pick Six Killiney Novice Chase at Leopardstown, with Magnanimity scoring under a strong ride from Davy Russell.
Jessies Dream, under Timmy Murphy, appeared to travel quite well but lost ground when jumping badly right at the final fence, when on the winner’s tail. Magnanimity, who raced lazily at times and needed all of Russell’s strength throughout the race, eventually held the challenge of Jessies Dream, who stayed on one-paced on the run-in, by three parts of a length.
Afterwards winning trainer Dessie Hughes stated “Magnanimity looked good when he won his beginners’ chase the last day but the form got a knock at Thurles the last day. Magnanimity is a real old fashioned staying chaser, wants three miles and likes heavy ground.”
He added “we’ll go for the P.J. Moriarty Chase next and he will have an entry in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham – hopefully the ground won’t be too quick for him. Being out in front didn’t suit him today as he can be lazy at times.”
Thomas Weekes
