From left to right: Keelan Forde, Jonathan Burke, Adrian and Finian Maguire © Photo Healy Racing
The Adrian Maguire trained Golden Kite recorded back-to-back wins in the Live The Dream With Tote Connacht National Handicap Chase, providing his rider Jonathan Burke with his first win since turning professional last month.
The twelve-year-old son of Anshan now has four National successes to his name, having won the Midlands National at Kilbeggan in 2010 while he also won the Munster National at Limerick later that year.
Having raced just twice since last years win, finishing fourth to Hareth over hurdles at Limerick last month, the Anthony Calnan owned gelding was sent off at 8/1.
Settled in second behind Rodriguez he got on terms at the fifth last and led after the next.
He asserted from two out and while he wandered to his right approaching the last he was soon straightened up by Burke and he was driven out on the run-in to score by three parts of a length. Cherryantor ran a huge race to finish second at 25/1 under Danny Mullins for Iggy Madden, while Prince Rudi who opened favourite on-course, finished a further six lengths back in third under Ian McCarthy for Stephen Nolan at 5/1. Down Under went off the well-backed 9/2 favourite (opened 6/1 on-course) and he finished fifth under Ben Dalton for Fran Flood.
Adrian Maguire said afterwards: "Every rain drop of rain that falls you would be a bit worried as he handles it as quick as it gets.
"He gets a free ticket to the Galway Plate but it is unlikely he will run as it will be too well watered, although the race would be ideal for him.
"Jody McGarvey (won this race on Golden Kite last year) is injured but Johnny is the new kid on the block and he gave him a super ride. It was poetry in motion until the last.
"This is his day and that is his fourth National."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham
