Winning jockey Conor McNamara © Photo Healy Racing
Ifyoucatchmenow was an aptly named winner of the Boylesports Grand National Trial as she collared Agusta Gold late on to land the spoils in the €100,000 prize at Punchestown this afternoon.
Agusta Gold had jumped to the front six from home in the marathon contest, over three-and-a-half miles, and kicked for home after the second last, appearing to have her rivals on the stretch.
Ifyoucatchmenow was under pressure in fifth coming away from that fence but stuck on gamely, for Conor McNamara, and powered home on the run-in.
The Willie Mullins-trained mare got on terms with Agusta Gold in the closing stages and stuck her head in front in the last strides for a head victory.
14/1 shot Ifyoucatchmenow was well held in a beginners chase, behind Minella Gold, at Navan last time out and was making her first start in handicap company over fences today.
Mullins said:- “It’s great for Conor. We have been using him for a while and it’s nice to get a big winner for him.
“She stays every yard of that trip. I thought she would have won more races by now but maybe she just needs that extended trip.
“We’ll look for something over that trip on soft ground. She’ll struggle to get into the Irish National and she could go for the 3m6f race here at the Festival meeting.”
(Quotes by Alan Magee)
