Carraig Mor (Declan Queally up) impressed all present at Ballindenisk last Sunday© Photo Healy Racing
In 1992 Adrian Maguire guided Sibton Abbey to Hennessy Gold Cup glory at Newbury and of course he famously started off Denman 'between the flags.' 'The tank' won the early winter highlight in 2007 and 2009, so it was fitting on the weekend of this year's renewal of the big three and a quarter miler, that Maguire would introduce another potential top-notcher in the shape of Carraig Mor.
Joncol won a divide of the four-year-old maiden at Ballindenisk in 2007 whilst Zemsky was a close second in another split of the youngster's contest that day. Well many were of the opinion that they saw a horse with similar raw-talent when Carraig Mor triumphed under Declan Queally at 'the hill' last Sunday.
Closely related to Cheltenham Festival winner, Betty's Boy, Carraig Mor was expected to deliver at the first-time of asking and he duly achieved a debut success, impressively accounting for Mount Gunnery by three lengths.
Maguire has care of the Old Vic gelding for Chalkmead Limited and this attractive individual left a lasting impression on all those present at the United Hunt Club point-to-point. No doubt Carraig Mor is a name to remember.
The market-leader made all, he jumped well and himself and Mount Gunnery left Sparkling Wine all of twenty five lengths behind in third.
It should be noted that John 'Shark' Hanlon said the following of Paul McMahon's Sparkling Wine in an Irish Field stable tour on September 1st: "He is a brother to Sparkling Tara and he is a big horse that does everything right.
"We might just start him off in a point-to-point. He stays very well and he jumps super, so it's possible that we'll go down that route before he lines up in a bumper." (EM)
