Might Be Magic (left) is strongly pressed by Kick Start and Roman Numeral at the last© Photo Healy Racing
Might Be Magic trained by Tom Foley for his daughter Sharon and ridden by son Pat, provided the Bagenalstown-based family with a heart-warming success in the two-mile handicap hurdle.
It was feared the eight-year-old gelding would never run again after badly fracturing his pelvis over two years ago but the trainer forever associated with the great Danoli never gave up hope.
Foley explained, “Surprises are great! He won here (on New Year’s Day 2011) but a few months later at Naas he didn’t get to the first hurdle. He broke his pelvis in three places and we thought he’d never run again.
“Earlier this year he ran at Cork and he was second but after that he disappointed so the owner said to give up on him. He’s always had ability and battled on well today.
“The softer the ground the better he likes it. He won’t be running in the Champion Hurdle or anything and hopefully the handicapper won’t be too hard on him!”
The 14/1 chance certainly did battle as he was headed briefly after the last by Kick Start who looked sure to score.
However Might Be Magic dug deep for his amateur rider and rallied strongly to get back up for a half-length success. Roman Numeral had every chance but weakened to finish over four lengths further back in third, with Court Jester completing the placings in fourth.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
