Magical Lady will be changing her brand name when she runs in the Guinness Galway Hurdle at the end of the month, but only victory there will dilute the winning taste of the Murphy's brew in Killarney.
Yesterday's success in the £20,000 Murphy's Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle added to a £25,000 pot in a similarly titled race here at the May meeting. Now it's full steam ahead for Galway before Magical Lady, in foal to Be My Guest, departs on a new career.
"She was put in foal at the start of May, so the 120 day limit isn't until well into August," said her trainer Pat Hughes.
Magical Lady has been given 10st 4lb in the long handicap for the Galway feature, one of only eight horses on 10st or over. Theatreworld tops the list on 12st.
The six-year-old will certainly be prominent at Galway if allowed repeat the front-running tactics that worked so spectacularly yesterday. Garrett Cotter sent her straight into a long lead, and apart from Orange Order in the early stages, nothing else got within shouting distance. The favourite, Galletina, was pulled up. Cotter had earlier won the Great Southern Novice Chase on Moscow Express, but those who made the Frances Crowley-trained gelding the 4 to 5 favourite had an anxious time.
Moscow Express made a number of mistakes and was involved in a struggle with All For Max and West Leader when the latter crashed at the last and slightly hampered All For Max.
Tralee trainer Tom Cooper sent out Flying In The Gale to make most of the running in the Kerryman Handicap Chase and hold off Solvang by a neck.
Bhutan was a well backed favourite for the Lake Hotel Handicap and duly won very easily, but a number of gambles came unstuck in the Grand Hotel Handicap, where Mission Hills came fast and late to beat Willyever by a length.
"She was on her head the whole way and will need further," said Pat Flynn, who trains the filly for the 10-member Rathgormack Syndicate.
Youwannabequick and Carol Durkan made all the running to win the Ladies race, and the 1 to 2 favourite Scottish Song did the same under Fran Berry to land the Ross Hotel Race for Tommy Stack.
