The Magic touch may be needed
THE ground at Clonmel was good yesterday and if it stays that way for tonight’s meeting at the venue, don’t back off Magic Spear in the first division of the bumper. The Colm Murphy- trained six-year- old ran a lovely race on racecourse debut in a bumper at Leopardstown in January when finishing second (beaten a length and a half) to Ted Veale. It was 35 lengths back to the third-placed Finish The Story.
On that evidence, Magic Spear appeared to have a major chance when reappearing i n another bumper at Navan in March. But after travelling well for most of the race at Proudstown Park, the Dr Massini gelding got bogged down in the mud in the closing stages and could only finish fourth to Irish Thistle.
Murphy, who has made no bones about Magic Spear’s preference for good ground, is very hopeful of a big run tonight provided ground conditions remain in the gelding’s favour.
Margaret Mullins’ Return Spring, who shaped promisingly when finishing third to Elsie on racecourse debut at Punchestown just over a fortnight ago, may land the second division of the bumper.
However, John Kiely’s newcomer Fairy Catcher is feared. Regal One, runner-up over hurdles here on racecourse debut a couple of starts back, also catches the eye.
Racing begins with a two-mile, four-furlong maiden hurdle, for which Beabus Jack is the tentative choice. Charles Byrnes’ trainee was understandably a bit sloppy at some of his flights when appearing for the first time in a two-mile, two-furlong maiden hurdle at Sligo last month.
But he stayed on well at the finish to finish an eye- catching fourth to Curragh Golan and should appreciate the extra quarter-mile here.
Clean jumping by this obvious stayer tonight may be good enough to see him to victory. But both Sir Harry Cash and Cuteasafox, who finished second over timber at Killarney and Punchestown respectively on their latest starts, have also to be considered.
Henry De Bromhead’s Special Tiara, a former point-to-pointer, made a nice racecourse debut at Killarney last month when nearest to the winner Moyaliff at the finish.
The Kayf Tara gelding will have come on from that run and can edge tonight’s extended two-mile maiden hurdle. Bombadero, if returning to his best, could prove very menacing to the selection.
De Bromhead’s Indigo Blue, a French import who finished sixth in a handicap hurdle at Limerick on his Irish debut, appeals eachway in the extended two-mile handicap hurdle.
Jessica Harrington’s The Bull Hayes is the form choice for the beginners’ chase, after his good run at Roscommon last time when he finished second to Absolutlyfantastic. JOHN OXX’S highly-regarded Alanza earned a trip to Newmarket after finishing best under Johnny Murtagh in the pouring rain at Leopardstown to justify odds-on favouritism in the Ballycorus Stakes.
Murtagh pushed her past longtime leader Marvada approaching the furlong pole and she dug deep to score by a neck.