Magnum Bids to be a Force at Sedgefield The Irish are well-represented at Sedgefield this evening and the chief among the five raiders would appear to be Magnum Force, who is odds-on with all the layers for the Pete & Verona 20th Anniversary Novices' Hurdle. Here Denis O'Regan's mount bids to supplement his gains from Down Royal over a fortnight back, as he makes his third appearance for Colin McBratney. A dual winner on the level for Willie Mullins, the five-year-old son of Redback was picked up for 2,800 Euro by current connections at Goffs last October. He is the first foal of his dam, Dalal, who is a maiden half-sister to the dam of the Irish 1,000 Guineas runner-up, Penkenna Princess. McBratney said this afternoon: "He won in Down Royal last Monday week ago, May Day, and he is a horse that likes a bit of nice ground. I couldn't find anything for him in Ireland so we said we'd come here for a bit of nice ground seeing as the way Ireland is at the minute with rain. "I bought him in Goffs, he'd won on the flat, and he was recommended to me by Harold Kirk. The horse was sound but just needed a bit of time. He won with a bit in hand the last day, Roger Loughran rode him and was very happy with him. He took it up jumping the last and won readily. I'd be very hopeful tonight."
