Magic steps up to land claimer

Mister Magic justified support in the opening claimer at Naas when scoring for in-form trainer Johnny Murtagh.

The Red Jazz colt was produced to lead inside the final furlong by Shane Foley and held the finish of Moltoir by three-parts-of-a-length in the six-furlong contest.

The winner was backed from 16/1 this morning and went to post an 7/1 shot for the first of seven juvenile races today.

Mister Magic was making his sixth career start and had been sixth in a Down Royal nursery off a mark of 56 on his previous outing. The runner-up Moltoir was rated 23lb superior today.

"I thought it was a nice for him, and he's always shown a nice bit at home. We fancied him the last day in Down Royal but the ground turned to heavy,” said Murtagh.

"I think he's better than his mark and if he's not claimed there could be another one in him before the end of the year. He enjoyed the better ground."

There were no claims after the race.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)