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Maguire seals Amateur National on Nine Graces

Nine Graces heads for homeNine Graces heads for home
© Photo Healy Racing

Finny Maguire took the honours in the Amateur National at Punchestown after he rode a stalking race on Nine Graces

The eight-year-old mare raced third behind Prince Zaltar and Daily Present rounding the home turn and relished this test of stamina over an extended two-miles-six-furlongs.

She travelled best of the three as the race heated up and came through to lead before the last.

Finny Maguire kept her up to her work to score by four lengths at 11/4. Prince Zaltar (4/1) was booked for second and was two and a-half lengths in front of Daily Present (5/2f).

Barry Connell said: “We were kind of expecting that, she’s very fit.

“When she was running over hurdles, off a higher mark, three miles on soft ground was what she wanted.

“Her jumping was a revelation there, she was very quick. She’s not the biggest mare but she’s just very accurate.

“She might squeeze in, off her revised mark, into something nice - a nice, staying handicap chase like the Leinster National in Naas.

“She’s a winter soft-ground mare. I’d be hoping next year that she could make up into a graded mare over a trip.

“I’m delighted for Finny, who is working full-time for us. He’s getting the opportunities as we’re splitting the rides between Sean (Flanagan) and himself. He’s a very good rider.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.

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