McBratney & Slevin double up with Magical Sal Magical Sal (4/1) was the winner of the J Murdoch Contracts Maiden Hurdle for jockey JJ Slevin and trainer Colin McBratney, who enjoyed a quick-fire double in Downpatrick. The daughter of Salvador ran a superb second on her latest start and backed that up with a gutsy performance to edge out her rival Thesilverbridle by half a length with a good front-running ride by Slevin. Speaking after the race, McBratney said: "She ran well the last day, I don't know how strong a race it was. "Looking at the form today, I thought Philip Rothwell's horse (Young Doran) and John McConnell's horse (Thesilverbridle). The only thing I did say to JJ was that Philip's horse stayed on past tired horses, so go today and make sure you make the running - let them make the mistakes. "She didn't jump particularly well, in front she was a bit lonely. JJ was brilliant on her, he waited until he got something beside him going to the top of the hill. She jumped that and he was able to fill her up. "She's a tough mare. "That would be my third double. "The yard is going well and it is great as I went through a very lean spell. It was depressing to be honest. You have to ride the tide and see what happens." Slevin had won the opener on Joseph O'Brien's Shoda. (Quotes from Michael Graham)
