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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Heads Up shows off his engine in Punchestown

Sat 23rd Nov 2024, 16:01

Heads Up runs his rivals raggedHeads Up runs his rivals ragged
© Photo Healy Racing

Heads Up was an impressive winner of the bumper at Punchestown as he made all and routed the opposition by 24 lengths.

He jumped off with a clear advantage on his seven rivals and never relented. In the straight, he galloped away remorselessly from his struggling rivals to come home well clear at 4/1. Shesakindofmagic was a remote second at 66/1 and was three and three-quarter lengths in front of Pour One More (33/1).

John McConnell said: “How did I get him beaten in two bumpers?

“He’s still a little bit immature mentally and ran off the bend past the stand first time. He’s not doing everything right, but has enormous ability.

“Finn (Buckley) said he felt like he was never out of second gear the whole way.

“It’s my first horse for Darragh (McDonagh) and he’s been very patient with him.

“He’s only four and we’ll definitely stick with bumpers, but whether we give him a break and bring him back for a good spring bumper I don’t know.

“Whatever he’s doing here, jumping is his game.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

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.