Magee will hope that Sky’s the limit at Fairyhouse
STRANGFORD handler Stevie Magee will aim for success with Above Us Only Sky at Fairyhouse today in an attempt to continue the momentum built up by local trainers since the return of racing.
Magee, who is a pharmacist, carries on the family tradition set by his late father Joe by training a couple of horses at their home base.
His filly, by Dark Angel, remains a maiden but has accumulated a dozen placed efforts during her career, including five for the local trainer since her purchase last year for the Ballywooden Partnership — named after Magee’s stud and training complex.
Above Us Only Sky ran a cracker on Thursday of last week at Gowran Park only to be denied on the line by a short head.
Top jockey Seamie Heffernan, who partners the Ballydoyle runners again, takes the mount so the filly will lack nothing from the saddle in the Sobac Soil handicap.
Warrenpoint trainer Leanne
Breen runs La Novia, having been bought out of Michael Halford’s stable last year for £9,000.
Johnny Levins’ Inteldream chases a hat-trick in the 1m 4f handicap having notched a double when trained by Marco Botti last season.
Dermot Weld’s Nostra Casa may benefit significantly for his handicap debut, however, and it may pay to side with Andy Slattery’s mount.
The jumps action isn’t kicking off until Monday but Winner
Takes Itall (15/8) lived up to his name to switch his attention from hurdles to the Flat with great success for Joseph O’brien at Gowran Park yesterday.
The five-year-old, owned by JP Mcmanus, looks sure to be kept busy between the two codes over the summer months after a convincing maiden victory under Shane Crosse.
“That was impressive,” Crosse said.
“We knew he was a nice horse coming here and I rode him like the best horse in the race.
“He’s a horse that stays further and is one to look forward to. He has plenty of options now between Flat and hurdles.”
Johnny Murtagh also continued his impressive form with a 74/1 handicap double at Gowran yesterday and he looks to have a decent horse in the shape of Mirann (9/1) after the French recruit scored on debut, having switched from Alain de Royer-dupré.
Ben Coen steered the fouryear-old son of Motivator home half a length clear, while So Suave (13/2) scored by a similar margin on his handicap debut under Danny Sheehy.
Aidan O’brien looks to have yet another smart prospect on his hands after Laburnum (2/1) — a full sister to Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Roderic O’connor — made a winning maiden debut under Seamie Heffernan.